The dam and the demons

Is it possible to overestimate the value of talking and praying with like-minded individuals?

Recently I have been privileged to get together with people whose spiritual credentials I hold in high regard. It was great to talk and pray (I wish we’d prayed more and talked less – but we’re human and my being in the group didn’t help!)

Last night there were seven of us firing each other up. I was so excited and wound up at the thought of imminent revival that when everyone had gone home I couldn’t sleep – so I prayed instead! I repented of the fact that I hadn’t got as much out of the time as I could have done. I repented of the fact that I’d dominated the conversation. I also praised God that I am what I am (warts and all) and that subject to the ongoing influence of grace WYSIWYG!

I wish we could have prayed all night, I genuinely didn’t want to stop. God is doing some wonderful things – I’ve never considered myself a prayer warrior and prayer is something I have had to be disciplined about – yet prayer is starting to come naturally and I sense the overwhelming presence of God’s spirit with me when I pray!

Friends I believe that we are standing on the verge of something big, something Pentecostal, something comparative to the SA 1870-1890.

A couple of months ago at the UK congress an African Officer (who I didn’t know from Adam) came up to me resplendent in his white uniform , hugged me and said “Don’t worry brother the revival is coming it wont always be like this!” What made his comments even more remarkable was the fact that we had just come out of an excellent meeting! (It obviously wasn’t as excellent as he is used to!)

I have this vision...

I see a great huge demonic dam behind which swell the stored up (but withheld) blessings of God.

Beneath the dam (on the dry side) is a well established but somewhat complacent and ragged camp of demons. The village is dilapidated and they are disorganised and unfit. Yet from this dry spot these ‘powers’ tease and taunt The Salvation Army with experienced and relative ease.

A hundred years ago these flabby minions were some of the devil’s best, keenest, most eager, well honed warriors. However, over the years they have become apathetic. From the security of their camp they consider their job done. The dam has held back the water for over a hundred years. It is a feat of remarkable and despicable engineering.

The dam is constructed of hypocrisy, legalism, a lack of compassion, a lack of holiness, a love of reputation, ecumenical status, misplaced priorities, commercialism, a lack of faith and worldliness.

Yet there has recently been a flurry of activity in the camp. Rusty swords are being sharpened, dry shields are being oiled, out of condition bodies are exercising for someone has noticed a crack in the dam and then another and then another. Resources have rapidly been requested from other parts of the realm. High ranking 'principalities' have visited the camp and taken the guardians of this distant outpost to task.

The prayers of the remnant are starting to crack the dam. The cracks are getting bigger and fasting and repentance is seriously threatening the integrity of the structure. They never expected this archaic, autocratic, incestuous, once evangelical dinosaur to stir. They had made this mistake before? Why hadn’t they learnt their lesson that with God nothing is truly dead until he says so!

Friends, the dam is coming down and the village and its occupants will be washed away. The raging torrents will cleanse and feed and remove anything that is not firmly anchored in Christ.

Booth used to weep over Acts 2 and cry out in prayer “do it again Lord, do it again!”

Friends - God is about to ‘do it again’

In his absolute generosity he has allowed us to be alive at this time and to be a part of this? This is going to happen in our life time, it is going to happen around us and in and through us!

Thank you Jesus!