October 22, 2007
100 year since the Azusa street revival! What now?
Dear friends, brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For many years I heard about the celebration planning of the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that started on Azusa Street In 1906.
Over the whole world and in many churches has this great event been celebrated, at least in those churches that affiliated to the Pentecost movement, thou this is not something only for the Pentecostals.
There have been arranged special prayer rallies and many meetings combined to the Azusa Centennials that took place in Los Angles in May last year., and to In European Azusa Centennials that took place in Oslo, the capitol of Norway, - 07. May 18th – 23rd
I came to Dallas TX, in May 06, attending the International Convention Of Faith Ministries
www.ICFM.org annual leaders conference, just few days after the Azusa Centennials celebration finished, and the reports that people brought back, was that this conference was the best conference ever they had been to. Great preaching and awesome worship, from some of the leading preachers and worship leaders in the world,
(I believe them.)
The same Azusa Centennials took also place in Oslo Norway , in May this year.
Thousands of believers came from all over Europe and other parts of the world to participate, and to have a great time listening to great preaching and worship.
I guess it was a lot of Hallelujah, Amen and Praise the Lord shouts among the believers, and that’s how is should be when people come together under great anointed preaching from some of the most respected preachers and singers in the world.
So what does I want to express through this article?
Let me first of all express that I am a huge fan of celebrations and big mega meetings like this. I love it.
However there have popped up some questions that I believe it of vital importance for us as leaders to ask ourselves, after having attending this great Azusa Centennials celebration, of the awesome outpouring by the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street in 1907.
Five questions you may ask yourselves:
1. Where does the road go from this day, for me and you personally, for our church and the community we belong to?
2. What do we want to see happened in our country, churches, our personally lives, and in our families?
3. Are we going to look back on this special year, and all these great events that have taken place around the world, and say; Ok, all this was really good, however we will go back to our safe environments and fellowships and start to live our so called ”normal Christian life”. We shall live as we always done in our families, job and churches.
Off course we need to think about all the daily challenges that come up in our family, friends, school, job etc.
However I believe with all my heart that God our heavenly Father, have so much more in store for every one of His children, and He is just longing to pour out all His blessings on us.
4. What changes have taken place in your life, family and church, after this celebration?
5. Are we ready to step out of our safety zone, into new areas where the Lord wants to lead us, even if it cost us everything?
Maybe some of us will say:
Off course it was important for us to have this year of celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that happened in 1907 at Azusa Street .
But you must understand that we are living in 2007, and this is the modern time. We don’t do things the same way they did in 1907. We are running our churches in total different way than what Mr. William Joseph Seymour and his men did.
In our church we have modern work tools to use in our meetings: We have multimedia, fancy scene show, trendy music, and nice dressed preachers who is preaching something that is kittling in peoples ear, or according to what the pastor and leadership have decided to be preached.
Is this really what we want to see in our churches over our countries?
Don’t you believe that God our Father have more He wants to see accomplished in and through our lives, families and churches?
God want’s revival; first in my life, and then in all the people around me!
God is longing after that I and you shall be filled by His precious Holy Spirit’s fire and power, and set the whole world in fire for His kingdom.
God is eager and passionate to see His people taking His word deathly serious and start acting on it.
Matthew 28: 18 – 20 is a great portion of scripture that all preaches love to preach from. This is in fact one of the most important thins that Jesus told His disciples before He went up to heaven.
Let us read what Jesus is saying; 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Dear friends: This is the reason why we are preaching, and why we arranging all the conferences and crusades all over the world.
I believe that this is what is most important and lay strongest, on both Jesus and God Jehovah’s hearts.
This is what the Holy Spirit wants to see alive in our lives, churches and in all believers.
If we loose this, then we have totally misunderstood why we are still living on this earth, and why God has placed us here.
God has given all His children a special calling and commission.
Read John 15: 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
What is Gods calling to His children?
To proclaim the gospel about Jesus death and resurrection, His work of reconciliation for all people and nations through out all ages, until He comes back again.
2 Cor 5: 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing
their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Can you see the importance of Jesus words in Matthew 28: 18-20?
Now is time as never before, for all Gods chosen servants to raise up in the Holy Ghost fire and power, and starts to proclaim His Gospel without shame or any compromise, everywhere we go.
In Ephesians 4:11-13 (Amplified Bible) we can read something very interesting;
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles
(special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the
Gospel, travelling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),
13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of
the []full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood
(the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection),
the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
It’s not first of all the five fold gifts to the church God is concern about, but the believers, the body of Christ.
God wants His whole body, every one of His dear children to be perfect and fully equipped for effective ministry.
God wants His whole church to be involved in mission and evangelisation, to proclaim reconciliation to all people, in all the nations of the world.
Then the end will come!
How can we make this possible?
I want to address this following statements to all pastors, oldest and leader team in your church.
You have to make place for the different gifts to come into their rightful place or position they are called by God to function in. This is your work!
You as pastor can not take care of all the preaching and teaching in the church. Every gifts that God has placed in the church needs to come into action.
Let me give you some simple example; but unfortunately very few churches seldom or never practising this. (At least here in Norway where I am living)
If you are pastor or some kind of leader, and dreaming of having a church that is radical in evangelisation, reaching out to people everywhere in your city and community, then you need to call in the Mr. Evangelist.
He is really the one who best can impact the people with a spirit of passion and love to see sinners come to Jesus and be saved, healed and restored.
If your church wants to become more like a missionary minded church, you need to let the missionaries come in and share from their hearts.
Or do you want to have a greater flow of knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, let the teacher come and teach from his revelations of the Word.
Do you want a church that is flowing in great worship and music? Release people with a strong calling to worship and music ministry.
Ps. In the Old Testament we can read many places about the importance of music and worship before
the Lord.
Do you want to see more healings and miracles take place in your church? Let the healing minister come and serve.
Are you longing for an atmosphere of strong prayer? Then step into that area and release people with strong passion for prayer and intersession on their life.
My dear friends. You find this in all areas of church life and culture. What you preach and teaches in your church is exactly what you will see dominate and impacts your church.
I have often heard pastors and leaders say to their congregation;
We shall lay the running field/line ready in front of you to run on! And we shall really help people come into their calling in life and see them start function.
My dear friends: It’s not enough just to say it. We need to do it to.
As church we have to show people how to get into the running field, give then necessary work tools, financial support, teaching and guiding etc. etc.
This is important to do if we are going to see our people grow into maturity as Christians with boldness and confidence to do what they are called to do.
Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified Bible)
15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].
16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
17 And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18 They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming
the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).
Not before we have this in order will we see an Holy Ghost revival brake loose in such a way I believe God wants it to be.
Dear pastor and all you leaders; Release your selves from all control and insecurity, and give place for people’s creativity and enthusiasm. Only then will you see your church starts to grow with new born Christians.
To all of you who are in some of the five fold ministries: Teach and train believers in a practical way, how to live, operate and to flow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit in their ministry. Release over to them the same spirit that’s in you.
I know with all of my heart that this will bring radical changes in your personal life, churches and cities.
The Holy Spirit revival is braking forth, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be lifted up everywhere.
In Jesus service
J
an
R
oger
V
oll
Jan Roger Voll - Evangelist
ICFM Area Director Norway
www.ICFM.org
www.janrogervoll.com
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