John R. Houk
© April 17, 2016
I was reading a Cindy Jacobs post in the Elijah List about
how revivals begin and tend to wane. Then she follows with a brief but
inspirational path of the best way to retain revival on individual level to
keep one self in continuous state of revival.
I really enjoyed Ms. Jacobs’ thoughts, but I began to think
of all the historical moves of God that have had an influence on American
Christianity. The one thing I have noticed about the success and waning of
these revivals is that they – in my opinion – began as an honest move of God
Almighty emphasizing an area Christian faith had become weak in experiencing,
then something began to happen such as the original leaders involved in God’s
movement began acting beyond their calling to expressions to keep a heightened desire
for actions that were outside the Biblical context of the Word of God. OR the
next generation in movement began extra-Biblical teachings also in a vain
effort to maintain a heightened sense of spirituality. OR the next generation
or even succeeding generations grew weary of seeking a heightened experience and
so began to inject man-made rules for the sake of order in a movement’s
tendency to form a Denomination with rules of faith based on the Founder’s or
the many Founders’ original inspired message so that gross error would not
enter the flock-community’s actions of faith according to doctrinal beliefs and
a mission statement of purpose.
The thing about the third “OR” is that sensitivity to the
voice of the Holy Spirit tends to atrophy causing the flock-leaders to try to
maintain a doctrinal conservatism as close as possible to its founders or to
flow the other direction in human decisions transform doctrinal beliefs and
mission statement to conform to the standards more acceptable to the
environment of the overall cultural acceptance then going on in the present.
Both stands atrophy the new creation in Christ human spirit
to the purpose of God’s Holy Spirit on earth as a trainer-helper-councilor to
that human spirit.
An example of the Holy Spirit’s purpose on earth until
Christ returns in power is laid out John chapter fourteen. You should read the
entire chapter for a better context but let’s look at what Jesus says the Holy
Spirit will do when the person of Jesus returns to the Father (and I like the Amplified Version because it
melds original sources with scholarly amplifications of various experts to
provide a textual context of certain words or phrases meant):
15 If you
[really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
16 And I
will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener,
and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—
17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot
receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize
Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you
[constantly] and will be in you.
18 I will
not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless];
I will come [back] to you.
19 Just a little while now, and the world will
not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live
also.
20 At that
time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My
Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.
21 The
person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and
whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to
him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
(Bold Text by Editor - John 14:
15-21 AMPC)
The point is when faith is defined by either man-made
Conservative doctrine or man-made liberal (aka progressive) doctrine the voice
of the Holy Spirit tends to not be heard.
At this point I was going to delve into the various moves of
God affecting America however I just realized there might be a couple of posts
to do that train of thought some justice. So I’ll save those thoughts for
another day.
In the meantime, below are Cindy Jacobs’ thought that might
inspire you to seek God’s wisdom in the Holy Spirit to work toward maintain a
more constant state of revival in one’s personal life.
JRH 4/17/16
**********************
Why We Need Reformation
By Cindy Jacobs
Apr 13, 2016
From the desk of Steve Shultz:
This is a very thought-provoking word from Cindy Jacobs on "Why we
need revival." Many have different thoughts and opinions on what revival
is and what it will look like... but one theme I've heard over and over from
others is this: Revival happens with prayer and repentance and when we are in
darkened times where the world needs Jesus...I think we could all agree we are
in that time!
Cindy shares: Revival occurs when God pours out deep
conviction of sin, souls are swept into the Kingdom, miracles occur daily, and
the power of the Lord saturates the hearts and souls of Christians.
Read this word by Cindy and let her practical steps and insight help to
prepare you for all God is doing!
By the way friends...our "What is God Saying for
2016?" Elijah List conference set is one of our TOP SELLERS right now! And
YOU CAN ORDER THE CDs, DVDs OR MP3 DOWNLOAD just below!
This truly, truly, truly was the best conference yet and I've NEVER
EVER heard so many positive words coming forth from God's prophets. Our
speakers were: Chuck Pierce, Jane Hamon, Dutch Sheets, and Dr. Alveda King
(niece to Martin Luther King, Jr).
Here is the link to purchase this TOP SELLER in DVD, CD, or MP3 audio
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The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
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Why We Need Reformation
When revival happens, a huge number of people enter the
Kingdom of God. Everyone is suddenly excited about God and the possibilities of
what life in Jesus can mean for their future. Church memberships swell, and
huge numbers of Bibles and Christians books and pamphlets are sold and
distributed. Lives are transformed, and the more lives transformed the more
Jesus becomes the talk of the town. He is the answer to everything, and as
people turn to Him with their problems and concerns, miracles happen. It is an
incredibly powerful thing to be a part of! It is literally Heaven on earth.
However, as time moves on, the influence of society and
culture moves back in. People get comfortable being Christians but return to
their old ways of getting answers to their problems, and suddenly miracles
aren't as common anymore. People stand around at the gates of the Kingdom and
never venture in. Rather than transforming the culture around them, they allow
the culture to conform them back to the way they were before, and within a few
years everything starts to look as it did pre-revival.
When Revival Occurs
Some would say we need to live in a constant state of
revival. Being a revivalist is deeply relevant to my personal calling, so allow
me to make a few comments:
Revival occurs when God pours out deep conviction of sin,
souls are swept into the Kingdom, miracles occur daily, and the power of the
Lord saturates the hearts and souls of Christians. We would like to
see this happen on a regular basis in our churches. But there are steps that we
need to take beyond this that will lead to seeing whole nations changed by the
power of the Gospel. Once people are swept into the Kingdom, we need to
disciple them on how to live transformed lives. This involves equipping and
teaching. (Photo via Wikipedia)
The third step is integrating changed lives into the
society that needs to see the transforming power of God. We teach people
how to be salt and light in their workplace and other areas of influence. Each
Believer should be trained on how to become a reformer wherever God has placed
them in their everyday lives. This means that a mother will raise her children
with a Biblical world view and teach them how to be nation changers. Dads model
this to their sons and daughters.
Churches raise up generations of children and teenagers with
an understanding that they have a mandate to be agents of reformation in
society. Believers see their vocations as a vehicle to release God's principles
and Kingdom manifestation into each workday, whether they work at the grocery
store, in the classroom, or in a political office. The reformation mandate is
infused into every part of the nation through the praying, teaching, working
"army of the Lord."
I believe with all my heart that God is going to add a new
evangelism thrust to infuse our nations with righteous Believers. Then, we will
not only save people's souls, but show that the Word of God really works in our
nations. In addition to that, through the supernatural power of the Holy
Spirit's working, we will see people healed of plagues like AIDS as well as
raise up scientists who come up with the cure of the disease!
If we are to see nations transformed, we must go beyond a
mandate that only sees souls saved to seeing Christians grow in the Lord and
seeing the Kingdom of God invade every sector of society. God wants
His Kingdom will to be done on earth through us! If a nation is transformed
without being reformed, it will soon fall back into its original
state of decay.
What Do I Mean by Reformation?
I would define reformation as an amendment
or repair of what is corrupt, to build the institutions of our governments and
society according to their God-ordained order and organization. It means to
institutionalize God's will in how we do our daily business, deal with the
poor, administer justice, make our laws, teach our children, and generally live
our lives. It is to give people a license to do good and not a license to
sin. (Photo via deviant art)
It means turning our communities into places where God's
blessings flow from person to person just as God sees them flow in Heaven.
Cindy Jacobs is an author, speaker, and teacher
with a heart for discipling nations in the areas of prayer and prophetic gifts.
She and Mike – her husband of 41 years – co-founded Generals International in
1985. She is a respected prophet who travels the world, ministering not only to
crowds of people but to heads of nations. Her first calling is and always will
be prophetic intercession. Each year she travels, and she has spoken on nearly
every inhabited continent to tens of thousands. Cindy has authored books, loves
to travel and speak, but one of her favorite past-times is spending time with
her husband Mike and their children Daniel and Mary Madison, along with her
grandchildren.
________________
Learn to Listen to the Holy Spirit
John R. Houk
© April 17, 2016
_______________
Why We Need Reformation
The Mission of the Elijah List
HE ELIJAH LIST is called to transmit around the
world, in agreement with Holy Scripture, fresh daily prophetic
"manna" from the Lord, regarding the days in which we live.
DESCRIPTION AND GENERAL PURPOSE OF ELIJAH LIST
Our purpose is to give trustworthy, daily prophetic
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base has grown to about 148,000 subscribers. Our goal is that, armed with these
prophetic words or revelatory teachings, each person will be encouraged in
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when 9/11 occurred, the requests to subscribe to the ELIJAH LIST email
list suddenly, within hours, grew from approximately 50 subscriptions per day
to 600 requests per day. This indicated to us the desperate hunger on the
hearts of God's people and those "considering" whether to become one
of God's people -- to know what God was saying about these unprecedented and
historic events.
1
Corinthians 14:3 "But
everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement
and comfort."
Through this "strengthening,
encouragement, and comfort," people can be built up in their
personal faith and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They are then more able to
pray and operate in this increased faith to pray effectively against the
schemes of the enemy, to worship with power that outwits the Devil and to build
others up through the same prophetic words along with Scripture.
JUDGING PROPHECY
ELIJAH LIST has determined to find and publish
the most credible prophetic words possible through "tried and tested"
men and women of God and to post them to the entire list so that they may be
individually judged by members of the Body of Christ. We are instructed in the
Bible not to forbid prophecy, but instead to "let (or allow) two or three prophets speak" and
let the others in the Body evaluate what was spoken (or written). So rather
than being "guarantors" that each and every published word will come
true, we are posting words largely from those with whom we have relationship,
who are most likely to … READ THE REST
What is the Story of the Elijah List?
Question: How did you get started and who are you?
by Steve Shultz, Publisher,
THE ELIJAH LIST
www.elijahlist.com
Now with more than 150,000 Subscribers
THE ELIJAH LIST
www.elijahlist.com
Now with more than 150,000 Subscribers
Back in the early 1990's, while still working in the
business world -- BEFORE the words "Internet" or "World Wide
Web" were being used by the average consumer, I was given a word by a
prophet in Texas. He said to me, "You will be connecting the prophets by
computer."
I thought, "What's that about? Nothing like that is
happening now. Not even anything close."
I had experienced some prophetic dreams and had given one
or two prophetic words but not much more than that. Over time, the Lord began
to put me more and more into the prophetic "stream" and my
prophesying started being increased.
I began to take prophetic courses, and was trained
through CI (Christian International out of Florida) headed up by Bishop Bill
Hamon; however, I am not the same Steve Shultz who was on staff at CI. (That
has confused a few folks since there are now two Steve Shultz's in full-time
prophetic ministry.)
Later, I was invited to be on the pastoral staff of my
local church in Vancouver, WA. Eventually, invitations to speak other places
began to come in. One day in the Spring of 1997, I sat in my living room,
playing on the internet. I started trying to find some encouraging prophetic
words to send to a few friends. I emailed some words I had found -- once or
twice, each time manually typing emails of my friends in the "TO:"
slot.
Then I thought, I wonder if I could make a list of all my
friends? So I read up on it and … READ THE REST
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