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What kind of saint will God choose
as a partner for a sovereign visitation? The church world is a
spiritual desert because of spiritual weakness and religious
facade. There is much show and form but almost no broken saints
that have declared, “Revival or Death.” When a broken soul can
get a vision of God’s Shekinah falling like rain on sin-sick
lives and can see the joy of an army of the “Born Again,”
nothing else is acceptable. A prophet cried out,
“Where there is no vision, the people
perish:” (Proverbs 29:18a). The path to the place
where God literally comes down and mountains of grace flow down
at His presence is not cheap. It must happen again and it
pleases our Father to do it.
The Sovereign God is searching for
the right vessels. Let’s try to identify a few of the principles
out of Holy Scripture. Our Lord needs some saints - just one or
maybe a few - that have reached the place of Holy Boldness in
prayer. This is not arrogance or loud flesh but a boldness and
unwavering humility. Holiness of character and conduct that
Calvary has wrought in the soul is the foundation.
“All our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags” (Isaiah 64:6b). Works-oriented holiness will
not suffice. His blood, by the Holy Spirit alone, can lay the
foundation.
Faith and expectancy will grow out
of that pure soul as a search is pursued for the will of God on
earth. Until the Spirit can convince you that a sovereign
visitation is God’s will, you cannot know “expectancy.” The
Bible words for this expectancy is “hope” and hope means,
“joyous expectancy.” It’s that calm inward certainty that God
said it, wills it, and is in the process of doing it. For the
first time in my life, I feel this “hope.”
The saints expecting this sovereign
visitation must develop the right understanding of circumstances
around them. It does not mean the end of conflict or to expect
Satan to vanish. The opposite is true, the conflict will explode
and the devil will take out all stops. General Booth was known
to tell his workers, “Keep your eyes off the waves and fix them
on the tide.” Charles Finney would often say, “Look, the tides
are rising.” Watch for tears, little children often lead the way
and the tender saints begin to cry and mourn. It may start like
a sprinkle but let every sign of conviction and brokenness
encourage your soul.
Repentance in the church will begin
to break. Saints will begin to hunger after the Lord.
“As the hart panteth after the water
brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth
for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before
God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they
continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm
42:1-3). Do not take this sign as proof that the battle is won.
This is only the beginning and must be nurtured and backed up
with strong praying. A breaking in God’s house can be stillborn
if there are no saints of God that pursue this beginning with
passion.
Consciousness of sin, carnality, and
unfaithfulness will begin to produce confession and
rededication, followed by restitution. Saints will begin to ask
forgiveness, pleading for a ministry in God’s house and even
catch up on back tithes. The pastor will be thrilled with a new
respect that is manifest toward the preached word and a new
anointing on the Gospel will be evident. The windows of Heaven
will appear to be opening toward a downpour.
Tenderness for souls, the freedom
from prejudice of color or class, and the excitement of
rejoicing over the harvest will become visible. When God is
preparing for a full display of His glory, there can be nothing
but unity in the House of God. The power of prayer is ready to
break, and the Spirit of God is preparing the saints and His
vessels of honor.
Now, the boldness of Biblical
praying can truly reach its zenith. Until the soul trembles to
even consider entering God’s presence, little can come of
prayer. We only have one door into the Holy place, that door is
the veil of His flesh. “Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh;” (Hebrews 10:19-20). God has chosen that a
broken and bold entrance into His presence must precede His
revelation of Himself to His church. A sovereign visitation will
never be manifest during this church age except in this “Ole
Ship of Zion.” The world is full of religious row-boats, but
they are sailing nowhere. They will vanish or fade into
significance as God Himself visits His Holy Saints.
Prepare yourself for this “Shekinah
Visitation.” I suggest living in Romans chapters six and eight
for a few weeks. Pursue a deep-abiding purity by His blood. Wait
on a filling of the Holy Spirit that will consume you. Seek the
mind of God so you can feel what God is about to do in His
church and earth. Let His faith become your faith instead of
trying to make your faith His faith. |
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