Restoration of the Church

Since the Dark Ages, God has been restoring the Church to the power and glory that it demonstrated in the first century. This involves establishing its members in present truth (2 Pet. 1:12) so that the Body of Christ can become mature and prepared for the return of Christ.

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of REFRESHING may come from the Lord,
20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to RESTORE EVERYTHING, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
–Acts 3:19–21 NIV

What must we do when the Spirit moves as He did on that first Pentecost? Respond to the Lord through repentance and faith (v. 19). See also Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20.

What does such a response lead to?

Our sins and shortcomings are wiped out
Times of refreshing come from the Lord
We draw nearer to the day when Christ returns to earth

Cleansing and conversion are not the only benefits of responding to the moving of the Spirit. Receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit self-perpetuates revival.

Times of refreshing

Times or seasons of refreshing speak of continued revival.

Refreshing in Greek is the word anapsyxis, used only here in the New Testament. It carries the sense of “to cool by blowing, to refresh, to relieve, to strengthen.” It connotes alleviation and liberation. It refers specifically to the “definitive age of salvation.” This refreshing wind of the Spirit, this reviving with fresh air, comes from the presence or the face of the Lord. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament)

Seasons of revival are promised before the return of Christ. But we must accept them through repentance and faith and then walk in the truth revealed (2 John 1:4).

God desires to restore to His Church all that was lost during the Dark Ages. Accepting each new restorational move of the Spirit prepares us and brings us closer to the return of Christ.

Christ will not return until God “restores everything” (v. 21). Restore means to renew, to bring back to or put back into a former or original state. If God must “restore” things, then things must have first fallen apart, deteriorated (2 Thess. 2:3).

We must take part in this restoration by welcoming new outpourings of the Spirit and moving in the restored gifts of the Spirit: “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (1 Cor. 1:7 NIV).

God is restoring His Church from the “falling away” of A.D. 400–1500 through repentance, the restoration of sound biblical doctrine, and revivals of His Spirit.

Restoring the glory

Jesus must remain in heaven UNTIL God restores everything to His Church. If we’re not walking in the power and authority of the Church in Acts, then we’re not yet fully restored. That means there will be more change.

25 …Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
–Ephesians 5:25–27 NKJV

God is restoring the Church to maturity and perfection so that He can release Jesus from heaven to return to earth! But Christ is not coming back for a broken, helpless Bride. She’s going to be powerful, glorious, and holy!

The first century Church had the full revelation of New Testament Christianity (Jude 3), much of which was lost during the Dark Ages. Since then, God has been progressively restoring what the Church abandoned so that it will become mature so that Christ can return.

We’ll learn more about his maturing process next time.

Prayer for Revival

Council of the Lord Series #7

I listened in on the council of the Lord on August 16, 2018:

My son, we have surrounded you with glory. We have surrounded you with angels. We have surrounded you with saints of the most high. You have come before the throne of God boldly to find grace and mercy in your time of need, and we will certainly provide it.

Ask what you will, and we will hear your request, and we will grant it in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, that your joy may be full. For we desire that your joy may be full and that you receive answered prayer so that the Kingdom may come on the earth and God’s will be done.

Ask what you will, and it will be given to you. Know that if your heart does not condemn you, you have what you ask for.

Lord, I ask for revival. I ask for revival first in me and then in Jamestown. I ask for an outpouring of your Spirit that people may be drawn unto you and that signs and wonders be done in the name of your holy Child, Jesus.

Give us broken and contrite hearts, Lord. Give us hearts hungry for your presence and your glory and your power displayed in our midst. Do the work of establishing your Kingdom. Pour out your Spirit and let your Kingdom come here on earth, your will be done as it is in heaven.

If you are hearing or reading anything along these lines elsewhere, please comment with a link. Thanks and blessings.

Message of Revival

Council of the Lord Series #6

I listened in on the council of the Lord on August 14, 2018, during which they again spoke about coming revival:

We are going before you to prepare you and to prepare the hearers of the message that you will bring. There is a message of revival, there is a message of renewal; it is coming on the scene. We desire that God’s people be prepared for the coming move of the Spirit.

Prayer sparks revival. Prayer prepares the heart for the reception of the divine inflow. We desire to pour out the Spirit of God with signs and wonders, with repentance, with healing.

We will speak the word of the Lord to you. We will reveal to you that which is to come. We will show you how to take advantage of this outpouring of the Spirit and to position yourself for greatest benefit. For we desire that this outpouring of the Spirit make the path straight and smooth for the coming of the Lord.

We desire to impart boldness to those who call upon the name of the Lord. Boldness for witness, boldness to testify, boldness to reach out to heal and to perform signs and wonders in the name of the Holy Child Jesus.

We will anoint you with power from on high. We will anoint you with a message, we will anoint you with words, we will anoint you with gifts. We will anoint you with a humility and a brokenness that makes way in the heart for the fullness of the Lord.

We desire fit vessels to contain this glory. We desire vessels to pour out this glory upon others. We will draw you; we will draw them. We will prepare you; we will prepare them.

Doubt not but trust in us to do this work. Prepare your hearts. Call upon the name of the Lord. Ask for rain in the time of rain, and we will pour out upon our Spirit of revival upon you abundantly.

If you are hearing or reading anything along these lines elsewhere, please comment with a link. Thanks and blessings.

Whirlwind of Harvest

Council of the Lord Series #5

In the coming revival, a whirlwind of harvest will sweep the earth. I listened to the council of the Lord on August 7, 2018, and here’s the prophetic message I received.

My son, we have a whirlwind that we would release upon the earth. It is a whirlwind of glory and of power. It contains salvation and healing and deliverance. We desire to loose this whirlwind on those who follow not the way of the Lord.

We will loose it through the Church, we will loose it on the streets. We will loose it on the highways and the byways and everywhere people meet. People will be drawn into the Kingdom. Signs and wonders will follow the preaching of the Word.

Go forth, step forward, make the word known. Share your testimony. Speak of the goodness of the Lord.

We will equip you to bring in the harvest. For this is the beginning of the Great Harvest at the end of the age. Know that we will equip you to bring in that harvest and to raise up sons and daughters for the Lord who are fully equipped and then made ready to go out and work in the vineyard.

If you are hearing or reading anything along these lines elsewhere, please comment with a link. Thanks and blessings.

Seasons of Revival

Council of the Lord Series #4

Did you know there are cycles or seasons or revival? I listened to the council of the Lord on August 7, 2018, and here’s the prophetic message I received.

My son, the cycle of renewal goes round and round. There are times and seasons for the outpouring of the Spirit, and there are times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord. And we desire to restore completely that which the Early Church walked in, and we desire to go beyond.

For we desire that the Body of Christ, the followers of the Lord Jesus, do greater works than what He did while He was on the earth: greater works in numbers, greater works in capacity, greater works to reach greater numbers of people.

For there is a great harvest. The fields are white unto harvest. And the fields are ready for harvest. But are my people ready? We desire that my people be ready to receive that outpouring of the Spirit and to be used to draw into the Kingdom those who do not know the Lord.

We’re sending you out to the highways and to the byways, even far outside the cities and the established places where people may come and be invited to the wedding feast. For there is food galore, there is drink, there is blessing, there is fellowship at the table. We desire that you go forth and bring in those who are far from the gospel, that they may be drawn near to Christ and become members of His Kingdom.

We will pour our Spirit out upon you and enable you to do this, and we will draw them. And the prodigals will come running, will come running. And the love of the Father will be lavished upon them.

Bring out the ring, the robe, the fatted calf. The lost will be found again, and the Kingdom will swell its ranks with those formerly who walked in darkness.

Again, if you are hearing or reading anything along these lines elsewhere, please comment with a link. Thanks and blessings.

Further reading:

The Next Revival

Council of the Lord Series #3

What will the next revival be like? I listened in on the council of the Lord on August 6, 2018, and here’s the prophetic message I received.

My son, we once again desire to bring revival to the earth. We desire to add line upon line and precept upon precept. We desire to add rain upon rain, an outpouring of the Spirit to refresh and to restore all that has been promised to the Church.

We will go before you, we will go before many to bring in this promised ushering of the Spirit, for the Spirit shall come in, shall sweep in, and shall take over, and the Spirit shall orchestrate many things—not only during meetings but during movements—between meetings, between cities, between churches, between denominations, between countries and nations.

Know that the Holy Spirit is the Great Administrator and is able to do these things to bring about great changes, changes that religion, changes that governments cannot deny and cannot put down.

We will pour our Spirit out in many ways in many places. Fires shall spring up, and they shall not be quenched. The fire of the Lord burns ever brightly. Let it burn with the fear of the Lord, and let the Spirit, the Spirit of burning, baptize you with fire that you may be purified and go forth unto the nations to preach the gospel with signs following.

This is the next move of God. All nations shall come to know the King. The gospel shall be preached to all nations, and then the end shall come.

Do not be afraid, but give yourself and seek the Lord while He may be found. Ask for rain in the time of rain. Ask for revival. Ask for the outpouring of the Spirit, and you shall surely see it begin to be poured out.

We have a work to be accomplished. We have history to bring to a close. For we desire to get on with Eternity, where all rejoice in the presence of the Lord and the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.

Are you hearing or reading anything along these lines elsewhere? Please comment if so. Thanks and blessings.

Further reading:

Psalm 80:18
Psalm 85:6
Hosea 6:2
Deuteronomy 11:14
Joel 2:23
Zechariah 10:1
James 5:7
Isaiah 4:4-6
Isaiah 55:6
Habakkuk 2:14
Matthew 3:11

Spark of Revival in Perilous Times

Council of the Lord Series #2

In this series, I’m sharing things I’ve received through prophetic journaling from the council of the Lord. This is the message I transcribed on August 3, 2018.

My son, we have sent you into the earth to speak of the glories of the Kingdom. To speak the secrets of the Kingdom do those who have ears to hear.

We share with our servants the prophets those things that God desires to bring to pass in the earth, that people may be prepared and those who love His appearing may know ahead of time that which is about to [happen].

We will speak through you. We will draw you. We will anoint you. We will give you the voice and the platform by which to speak these messages. Know that we are preparing messages to bring to the earth for such a time as this—to prepare those for what is about to come, both good and evil.

We desire to spark revival upon the earth, that people may turn to the Lord, that times of refreshing may come, and that you may receive the presence of the Lord, and that the Kingdom may be established in the hearts of men, women, and children.

Times are perilous; perilous times will come also. We desire that you be prepared for these and that you help rescue those from the kingdom of darkness, that they may escape judgments that come about on the earth.

We will prepare you, we will speak to you, we will draw you into our presence. Continue to see yourself here. Continue to envision yourself in our presence. We will take what you offer, and then we will step in and empower it with vision from on high and the word of the Lord.

We will confirm to you our message so that you know that you are hearing from the council of God.

We have much that we would share. We desire that you tune in and that you practice, so that you may be able to receive this communication and be prepared to share it with others.

If this word witnesses with you, please leave a comment. I’ll post more prophecy from the council of the Lord soon.