Welcome to the VisionCast for the Prophetic:

Catching the Next Wave

Hosted by James W. Goll • October 2005
www.JamesGoll.com • 1-877-200-1604

1)   Catching the Next Wave

The ebb and flow of revival throughout church history has often been compared to that of the waves of the ocean. The tide comes in and out with subsequent waves of activity in between. Such it is with God’s manifested presence and this wonderful thing called “revival”, “the move of God’s Spirit” and even “city transformation”.

We don’t want to settle in and passively become the stewards of the “best of the past.” We must press into the heart of God and cry out for a fresh outpouring of His grace in our time! We must continue to cultivate that pioneering spirit that seeks to go where no man has gone before. The question then can be asked, “What does it take to catch the next wave?” To begin answer that question, let’s take a peek at some historic revivals of the past to learn of some of the common characteristics they contain.

2)   Five Historic Characteristics of Revival

Let’s start this journey by considering five overall characteristics of classic revival. To recognize and catch the next wave, perhaps it will help us to know what some of the characteristics of classic revival in the past have contained.

1. Passionate Denunciation of Sin
   
   There must be recognition that sin is an enemy - not a friend! James 4:4 reminds us, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself and enemy of God.”
   
   We need a generation of anointed proclaimers like George Whitefield who in the 1700’s preached like a lion and people had to listen whether they wanted to or not! Holy violence was often a characteristic of historic moves of God’s Presence.
   
   
2. Revelation of God’s Holiness
   
   I Peter 1:16 tells us, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Jonathan Edwards preached under this conviction in the 1700’s. Many other revivalists did as well. Consider the late Leonard Ravenhill, author of While Revival Tarries. It was said that Edwards was consumed with the extraordinary sense of the awful awareness of the Holiness of God.
   
   We need a return of standards of holiness that are not based out of legalistic laws but issues of the heart. We need a fresh holiness movement that actually has the fire of sanctification in it - much like the fire that rested upon the life of John Wesley. People would ask him the question, “How do you gather a crowd?” He would respond by saying, “I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn!” Oh, we need the fires of Wesley once again!
   
   
3. Deep Awareness of the Love and Mercy of God
   
   Romans 8:35-39 encourages with these words, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
   
   It was said that Francis of Assissi, as well as the evangelist D.L. Moody only preached about the love of God. David Brainerd, revivalist to the First Nations People of America, was moved upon by the revelation that the Lord Jesus Christ was a kind and compassionate master. Brainerd would be moved upon with deep distress pleading with his hearers to accept the everlasting mercy of God, as tears would stream down his face.
   
   
4. Heightened Consciousness of Eternity
   
   Consider with me some of the sermon titles of the fabled Jonathan Edwards:
   
   1. Sinners in the Hands of and Angry God
   2. Wrath Upon the Wicked for the Uttermost
   3. Eternity of Hell’s Torments

   Revelation 20:11-15 describes this reality as follows: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were it, and death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

   Today, we need a return to the teaching and revelation of eternal judgments of God and the realities of heaven and hell. When was the last time you heard sermon on hell? It’s not popular to preach this stuff today - but we better catch God’s heart to plunder hell to populate heaven.

5. Experiential Conviction of Sin
   
   John 16: 7-8 states, “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment.”
   
   This is God’s job - it is part of the job description of the Holy Spirit. Once again, we need God to squeeze our hearts. Notice, I used the term “experiential conviction.” Perhaps the move of God we need could be termed “When the Holy Spirit came with conviction!” It was quoted from a scoffer of Whitefield, “I came to hear you with a pocket full of stones to break your head - instead - your word broke my heart!”

   Yes, once again, we need a pure move of God like in the United Kingdom in 1859 when men “staggered down” due to the wounds to their conscience! In 1790 - 1800 in the frontier of rough Kentucky, people would cry out for mercy, as conviction would fall upon them. All I can say is, “More Lord!” Right here, today, in Nashville, TN or whatever city or nation you reside in.

3)   Three Preliminary Stages

Often times we are overly idealistic in our approach to revival. Many times leaders and other sincere believers are so focused on the “big enchilada” (the big tidal wave of gigantic proportions) that they miss the preliminary stages that might just lead to catching the big one!

The Old Testament prophets warned us to “not despise the days of small beginnings.” Let’s not miss birth in the stable while looking for the King to come riding on His victorious white horse! With this in mind, ponder with me for a moment, on three simple preliminary stages of revival.

1. An Intense Hunger for Change
   
   As I travel across the nations and denominational lines, I hear one main sound arising from deep within the global body of Christ. I call it hunger pains! I can hear a rumble deep within for change! Here are three little signposts that the rumbles of hunger are getting stirred up.
   

   1. Recognition of the way things should be.

   2. Awareness of the true current situation (Matt. 5:3).

   3. Touched personally in your heart concerning these realities with the desire for things to change (Matt. 5:6).
      

   Note: The first sign of “death” is the loss of hunger - you simply do not want to eat - you lose your appetite! On the contrast, the first sign of recovery is the return to hunger or the desire to eat! How hungry are you for more of God, His ways and His presence?

2. Prayer to God to Change Things

   The desire for things to change is not enough. It is but the beginning. If it is not turned back towards God through prayer it will eventually result in frustration and then in criticism. Instead, turn desire into intercession and move deeper into the stages of revival.
   
   Become a history maker and realize that we have been given keys that open heavens doors by the agreeing desperate prayers echoed from the heart of men and women, boys and girls. Cry out to the Lord for change to come to your life, your family, your neighborhood, your congregation, your city and nation. Prayer is God’s equal opportunity employment card. It does not take a special gift to pray! It takes a desperate heart!

3. Networking towards Unity

A third step towards “revival” that puts feet to your hunger and prayer is the relational work of networking resulting in progressive actions in a city or region towards unity. We need each other! Therefore, labor by the grace of God for the true bond of unity and peace in the body of Christ. Remember, it takes a citywide church to win a citywide war!

I challenge leaders around the world, wherever I go - to get God’s view of their assignment. Pastor a city - not just your flock! Come shoulder to shoulder with others in your area and just see what the Lord will do! Come lock arms with other pastors, intercessors and marketplace leaders and do something together for Jesus sake!

Get God’s heart for your region and walk with others. The whole context of the teaching of I Corinthians 12 on the body of Christ is not set in the context of one congregation in a city. Remember, it says something like, “Can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of you?” This teaching is set in the context of the “one church with many expressions in a city”.

Can Charismatic hands of healing say to the Evangelical shoes of the gospel of peace, “I have no need of you?” Give me a break! We really do need one another. The Calvinist needs the Armenians and the Pentecostals need the Liturgical! Heaven help us to identify the redemptive gift of God found in each of the tribes of the Lord’s body and learn to cooperate with one another instead of competing!

4) Parting Thought on Grace

How do we “catch the next wave” of the Holy Spirit’s? By grace! Yes, it is by grace! Salvation is not by works lest any man could boast. The moves of God then too, are actually more about our need than it is our works. The moves of God are about God’s history with man not just man’s history with God! Let’s try faith working through love and a heavy reliance on some amazing grace!

Lead us Lord! Teach us Your ways. Guide us in the path of ever increasing faith, hope and love. Reveal to us how amazing grace really is! By grace, help us to receive the next gentle yet crashing wave of Your great presence among us. Thank you for moving in our midst in Christ name! Amen!

 

5) From the Desk of James W. Goll

As you receive this Vision Cast, Michal Ann and I are leading our Prayer Tour in Israel October 11 – 24, 2005. We are so thrilled to be in the Land of Israel during this High Holy Day season for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles and the Succoth Celebration. We are joined by 32 other hungry believers. Pray for our safety, divine appointments, and strength for the journey.

New training materials continue to flow from our midst. The Seer 40 Day Devotional Journal is now out and it is a great tool for personal and small group use. Our 15th study Guide on The Nature of God has also recently made its debut! This has 6 valuable lessons on The Word of God and 6 more great lessons on God as Father, Jesus as the Messiah and the Holy Spirit. This Study Guide is foundational, practical and inspirational. The corresponding Tape Album will be available soon.

Be looking for details on our 2nd Annual Secret Place Gathering coming up the first weekend of January 2006 at the Nashville Vineyard in Nashville, TN. Michal Ann and I will be joined in worship by our friend Chris DuPré.

On a personal family note – our oldest son, Justin, just turned 22. He attends school at Video Symphony in Burbank, California. We miss him bunches! GraceAnn is a freshman at Belmont University in Nashville and Tyler and Rachel are being Home Schooled this year.

My wife and I continue with the vitamin therapy to build up our immune systems. I had PET and CT scans done recently and it shows that things are stable but still with some active cancer in the small remaining growth on my collarbone. So continue in prayer for us as we proceed on our journey towards restored health.

In Christ Jesus!

James W. Goll

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James W. & Michal Ann Goll's Itinerary

October 20 @ 7pm
Prophetic Encounters
Chris Poole and EN Team
Encounters Ministry Center
2389 Henpeck Lane
Franklin , TN 37064
615-599-5552
www.encountersnetwork.com

October 28-29
United Prayer Network presents
Kingdom Alignment  
James W. Goll , Dutch Sheets, Chuck Pierce, and Ray Hughes
Belmont Church
68 Music Square
Nashville , TN
931-363-6213
www.kingdomalignment.com

November 3 @ 7pm
Prophetic Encounters
Joni Ames and EN Team
Encounters Ministry Center
2389 Henpeck Lane
Franklin , TN 37064
615-599-5552
www.encountersnetwork.com

November 3-5
Dutch Sheets Ministries Conference
James W. Goll , Dutch Sheets
Oasis Church
6927 Lefferson Road
Middletown , OH 45044
(719) 548-8226
www.dutchsheets.org

 

Click here to view the Itinerary.