We're Back!....but where were YOU? 6 A.D.

After 134 days of build-up, praying, fasting and dreaming about what God would reveal in Canton on October 23-25, 2007....the conference has come and gone. I remember my excitement as we drove up to the church 1 hr. before the start of the conference. I remember checking to be sure I was at the right place. The large parking lot was deserted except for a few cars scattered up near the main entrance. For a split second I thought "Oh no! I've got the dates mixed up!", but then I noticed the large sign announcing that yes, this was the first day of the conference.

I was puzzled as I walked in the front door of the church and saw several small groups of people scattered about the foyer. Where was everyone? I remember reading that over 1100 had registered. I thought perhaps they are all gathered in the sanctuary getting prepared for the concert of prayer scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. I was momentarily distracted as I caught sight of my brother Bill, waiting just inside the front doors of the church. We quickly found Alec and our group was together for the first time. What a thrill to be with like-minded brothers!

We walked in the huge sanctuary for the Concert of Prayer and once again, I was stunned...the place was almost empty! Where was everybody? We took seats in the front row, dropped our jackets and bags, and headed to a distant corner that was to become our "special" prayer closet. That distant corner at the front of the sanctuary was hallowed ground as we continually gathered here over the 3 days to pray. As we got down to the business at hand, our prayers became focused and the empty sanctuary faded into the background as each man prepared his heart to hear from God. I noticed our prayers were directed inward as we all realized our unworthiness and distance from our Holy God. As brothers cried out in repentance and worship, I knew that God was preparing us for an adventure unlike anything we had ever known.

As I review my notes, there are so many things that God revealed through His humble servants. This gathering, and the men that coordinated it, was so unlike anything I have ever known. The atmosphere was steeped in humility and each man esteemed others as greater than himself. It was a true picture of the authentic church as our elders worshipped with us and exhorted us to go deeper with God. In the hallways and restrooms we would talk with mighty men of God who willingly took the time to listen to our burdens and pray with us. The following list contains some of the deep messages of truth that God revealed to me over those precious 3 days.

From Richard Shipley, God revealed:

1. What is wrong with God's people? They live in the wicked way of worldliness, powerlessness, and are passionless.
2. Am I willing to be hated by the world?
3.Which would disturb me most, my neighbor dying and going to hell, or, a scratch on my new car?
4.Worldliness: To give priority to the things of the world rather than the things of God.
5.The only prescription for worldliness: Galatians 2:20 = DEATH
6.Look forward to heaven and NEVER look for heaven on earth.
7.I am an alien...I do not belong to this world.
8.God's love will never be real to me until I honestly ask God to search my heart and reveal any wickedness (worldliness) in me. Until then, God's love is just a concept, not a reality.
9.I will never be worthy of the Father's love...it is only by His grace.(both boys in the parable of the Prodigal son were equally unworthy of the father's love...the difference is in their heart attitude. The Prodigal recognized he was unworthy while the older son was righteously indignant...he considered himself worthy.

Don Currin:
Amos 6:1-8 (addressed to the spiritually complacent)
What does it mean to be "at ease in Zion"?

• to be careless, secure, resting on prosperity and complacent
• one at ease with a comfortable life
• neglect of God, living indifferently, neglect of prayer
• "Where there is no holy living, there is no Holy Ghost." J.C. Ryle
• II Cor. 5:15 "and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

Effects of "living at ease":

• Complacency about approaching judgement
• love for pleasure
• Sensual entertainment..."If you are on the narrow road you will be narrow-minded."

The Test for Music:

• Can I hear the Word of God clearly over the music? (Sinners must be able to hear and understand God's Word)
• Does the music enlarge my vision of God?
• Does it produce the fruit of holiness in my life?
• Does the music sedate the mind and appeal to the body?

How to stir from Complacency?

• Remove ANY DOUBTFUL PRACTICE that may cause my spiritual passion to wane.
• Resolve to live only for eternity.
• Count not your life dear unto yourself.
• Never be content with where I am spiritually. Phil. 3:14

I realize this has been a long post and I will close for today. I look forward to sharing more truth in future posts that God revealed through other servants. If you missed Canton you missed a spiritual feast...a banquet unlike anything I have ever experienced. I am heartbroken that in the supposed "one nation under God", His church was too distracted to attend the feast. Reminds me of a parable....

I grieve for the sorry state of our faith in America and I fear that my children will "reap the whirlwind." If God would not spare the apple of His eye, how can He not pour judgement out on us, for surely our wickedness rises to the heavens as a wretched stench.

Canton was a wake-up call and the North American church DID NOT simply roll over and go back to sleep....THEY COMPLETELY SLEPT THROUGH THE ALARM! They never stirred.

Thank God that revival is coming and I pray I will live long enough to see it. I know that revival is coming...for persecution is surely coming. David Wilkerson has said that revival cannot come to North America until God destroys our materialistic idols of money and toys, and eliminates our distractions so we will hear HIM.

As the Lord gives us the grace to continue, I trust that the CPU blog will be a historical record that future men can access to see how God brought revival in...2007, or 2008, or 2009....He will bring revival. Could it begin today?

Watching for His appearing.....Steve

Message from a DEAD MAN !

After 134 days BC (Before Canton), We are now into day 5 AD (after death). I truly thank God for our time in Canton. A revival has begun. It has begun in me. The conference was not what I had expected ( I really don't know if I had any clear idea of what to expect), it was not even what I really wanted to hear, BUT it was exactly what God needed to say to me. I called my wife the night before returning home to tell her that her "2nd husband" was coming home, and that her first husband (me) had "died" in Canton. God had much to tell me, and much to remove in my life. I am certain that God is not finished with me but will continue the work He has begun. Praise God. Some may claim that we had a mountain top experience but I declare no, no, it was a "hill top" experience. I had to go back to the hill where the cross is and get back on it. I have been crucified with Christ!
I arrived home with great excitement ready to begin this journey with my Lord and to watch and be involved in His revival of His people. I am deeply saddened by the apathy I am greeted with. We had started a prayer meeting (specifically for revival) before the morning service at our church, 4 weeks prior to leaving for Canton. I was excited to return to the prayer room at our church and be joined with the people who had said that they wanted to pray for revival. There were 4 of us. Myself, Tim (a brother who joined me in Canton), and 2 14 year old girls. Praise God for the youth who prayed with broken hearts, and praise God for my faithful brother Tim,....but my heart aches for the lack of "men of God" who are desperate for revival. Where are the church leaders? God is teaching me about trusting Him, but I long for the church to wake up. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then...." 2 Chron.7:14. It appears that there is a sense of satisfaction with how things are (God have mercy on us). I am certain that God is not pleased. I WILL continue to pray for revival, even if I am alone in that. I will be one of those "hidden springs" that we heard about at the conference. I will soon stand back in awe of what God has done. There will be nothing that man can take credit for (guard my heart,O God against spiritual pride), we will see God at work in his people. On Oct 7, God said "I have heard your prayers". I am incredibly encouraged with this word from my Lord, and am satisfied that revival will come. We will continue to pray and wait upon Gods timing. It is my prayer today that God will show me anything in my life today that is grieving his heart and hindering His work.
I will share a few of my "Canton" verses that the Lord gave to me. "...we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon YOU." 2 Chron. 20:12. When discouragement set in with the small attendance at the first post Canton prayer meeting, God showed me what my role must be. I read a little further in this same chapter to find verse 17 "You will not have to fight this battle. TAKE UP YOUR POSITIONS(on my knees); STAND FIRM AND SEE...."
Praise God, it is not for me to worry about, it is the Lords battle, I must get on my knees (my "position") and stand firm ( do not waiver or grow weary).
My other "Canton" verse is Philippians 4:8 " Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think on such things." This scripture has been such a blessing and a safe guard of reminding me that I have made a "calculated covenant with my eyes, my mind and my lips." Thank you Kieth for this message.
Finally the verse of my life from 1 AD and onward, "I have been crucified with Christ..." Gal. 2:20. Why has it taken me so long to recognize that it does not say come "to" the cross, but it says "get on the cross". I am most thankful for this truth. I am a new man because Christ lives in me!
I have so much more that I would like to share here, but I must move on. I will close with a quote from T A Hegre's book, "The Cross and Sanctification"

"Furthermore,if one does want to step out in faith,he must almost "go it alone"; he must be a pioneer, with the dead weight of an unbelieving church holding him back. Now is the very time, therefore, for those who are willing to believe God and willing to take His Word as it is, to refuse to let the devil steal from them any fragment of it"

Praise God for what He IS doing!!!

Your brother in the battle,
Bill

See You in the PRAYER ROOM !!!

Brothers, I am ready. Lord Jesus,continue to make me "more ready" in any area of my life that I may be stubbornly hanging on to. Let there be nothing that will come in the way of this REVIVAL that God is about to bring.
THE CROSS BEFORE ME, THE WORLD BEHIND ME. NO, NO, NO TURNING BACK !!!!!

You brother in the Battle,
Bill

Looking Back....And Looking Forward

134 days ago we started a journey that seemed far, far in the distance. I have had a habit in my life of starting "journeys" like a ball of fire and then slowly fizzling out like a 4th of July sparkler. Much heat and excitement inevitably gave way to cold, dead ashes.

Today, on the eve of leaving for Canton, I have tried to identify what was different about this journey? There are several things that have sustained me for these past 4+ months. I record them here so I will never forget that good intentions and a quick blaze cannot sustain for the long haul. These have been the difference in sustaining me on this journey:

1. The prayers and regular contact with brothers also in the battle. There were several times during this journey that the enemy had me on my back. I was tired, and struggling with those depressing whispers that, "Nothing has changed, you are just as weak and hopeless as you ever were...you will fail again, just like every other time you decided to step out in faith." As the whispers got louder and more consistent, invariably, something would happen. One of my brothers in this Union would phone me, or, a new message would be posted to this blog and suddenly the fire sprang back to life and the flames pushed the Whisperer back into the shadows. Thank you men for being "the difference" between success and failure. I know it was the Holy Spirit who saw my plight and had compassion on my weakness. "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:7

2. This quest was born out of a deep frustration and dissatisfaction with my own Christian walk and the Christianity that I see around me every day. In May I was as frustrated as I ever have been and I felt ready to do something drastic....something life-changing. I told my wife that if this North American Christianity is all there is, I don't want to be called a Christian. How can we calmly go through our days living out such a lie? Does it not occur to anyone else that our lives are radically different than the abundant life promised by our Savior? If we aren't dead, we must at least admit we are on life-support. What is the answer to this spiritual sickness in our souls?

At a critical crossroads, I did what I usually do when I'm ready to be honest. I called a trusted long-time brother and surprisingly, he was feeling exactly the same way. This brother and I have a long history of "dreaming". We dream of getting off the bench and into the real game of life and death, where men's soul's hang in the balance. We dream of following in the footsteps of our Savior who lived such a radical love. We dream of following the faithful witness of troublemakers like C.T. Studd, Rees Howell, etc.

Out of that one phone call, the CPU was formed. It was born out of frustration, but men, we are in good company. Examine the following quote:

"I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion...I want all that God has or I don't want any." A.W.Tozer

I believe this has sustained us as we have prayed and fasted and dreamed of what would happen if God were to really invade our lives. At some point we must decide, "Is the North American Christian experience enough for me? Am I content to go to my grave with this pitiful, powerless faith that keeps me going through the motions?" Am I willing to admit that I am regrettably warming a pew in the lukewarm church of Revelation 3?" For 134 days we have shouted "NO!" and now we embark on the first leg of our journey.

I am anxious to finally sit down with each of you and seek the face of God. Let us cry out for revival in our own hearts and be ready to share what God reveals to each one of us.

SEE YOU IN CANTON!!!

Your brother, Steve

For This Last Week....Will You LISTEN?

Brothers,

Our exciting journey is nearing the first checkpoint. Yes, I believe this is but the first of many significant markers that God has in store for any man who will continue the wholehearted pursuit of HIM.

In the past two days I have talked with several of you dear brothers and my excitement grows with every conversation and every exchanged email. God is doing the work that He promised He would do, as we have tried in our struggling and stumbling way to walk 135 days in focused prayer and intercession for each other, and His bride. We desperately need revival and today He has focused my mind on a section of scripture that I have never noticed before. Prayerfully consider the following:

"Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth; Therefore, let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Even during these past days, I have many times offered the "sacrifice of fools" in my private prayer time. I have rushed into the presence of God and blurted out my hurried and hectic prayers and then, glancing at my watch, I have rushed back to my crazy, noisy world.

There have been many words over these past months, words of prayer, words on this blog, words in email, words spoken in messages we have all been encouraged by. I really feel that now, for these last few days of this segment of our journey, I need to get quiet and still before God and listen to HIM. It hurts every ounce of my flesh to be still and quiet because I have been conditioned to noise, to movement, to blurting out things I haven't adequately thought out. I need rest and I need peace before my Lord. I need to heed His word, "Be still, and know that I am God."

If you, like me, want to be open, available and honest before God, would you consider for these last few days before we meet in Canton, to be quiet and still before our awesome God?

When I spoke with Bill and Billy earlier this week, I was humbled to hear how God is moving and working in our very midst! What would God speak to your heart this week if now, as you approach a huge milestone on your journey, you were to simply seek His face in quietness and stillness before His throne.

I look forward to gathering together for the first time as the Canton Prayer Union and hearing how God has worked over the past 135 days. It has been my privilege to have traveled this path with you.

Looking expectantly towards Canton...

Your brother, Steve

Our Numbers are Growing

Praise God for the 2 men who have decided to join us in Canton. Justin and Tim. Brothers, please pray for these men. They will now become a bigger threat to the ruler of this world. They will need our daily prayers as our Lord prepares their hearts for our journey to Canton. The enemy comes to destroy, but our Lord comes that we may have abundant life. This life is through his Holy Spirit. Continue to pray for the other 3 seats in my van (4 seats if we sit real close). I am getting very excited about joining all of you in the prayer room in Canton. Pray and seek after God like you never have before. Flee if you must, stand firm if you can , but be on guard always. The enemy is a liar.Run after Godliness. Pray, pray and then pray again !
Your brother in the battle,
Bill

Plans to Connect in Canton....11 Days to go!

Greetings Brothers,

Alec, I appreciate your recent posts and I am following the "Divine Experiment". Forgive me for my lapse in posting It has been an absolute crazy past three weeks with many, many distractions. I have been fighting the most dreaded 4-letter word in the English language....B-U-S-Y. It seems that the enemy's most successful tactic with me lately is to get me so overwhelmed with many "necessary" things that my time with my Savior is squeezed and cramped. As I have burned the candle at both ends, I naturally got sick and have been struggling for the past week with a virus that has left me drained and exhausted. Why do we let our lives get so chaotic and hectic?

It seems that we have become so used to running on adrenaline in this culture, that unless you are frantically running every minute for 18hrs per day, we feel that something is wrong. I have set aside Mon. Oct. 22nd as a day of fasting and prayer in preparation for Canton. I know I need a day of quiet reflection (I actually need a week!) to prepare my heart and get "still" in His presence. I will not allow my schedule to deliver me to Canton exhausted and weak. I appreciate your prayers and am thrilled that we will all be together soon.

I recently had a brother ask me if there would be opportunity for some relaxation at this conference so we can relax and get to know each other better. The way this question was asked, led me to believe that this brother was hoping perhaps we could carve out some conference time to socialize. Please don't take this the wrong way, but my prayer for Canton is not that we would find necessary time to socialize. Of course I look forward to meeting and sharing with my brothers, new and old but...Canton for me is the only time this year that I have devoted any meaningful period of time to join with a like-minded body of hungry believers to cry out to God for revival. I am burdened for the church and our country, but selfishly I must confess that I am first and foremost desperate for revival in my own personal relationship with God. So while I am certain we will have much time to share and get to know one another better as we travel back and forth to the hotel etc., I also know that as the Lord gives me strength, I need to be at every session from start to finish. This includes the times of corporate prayer.

Brothers, I feel like a starving man, and I'm subsisting now on crumbs and scraps. I desperately need to be fed by my Heavenly Father and we have now been praying for over 120 days for this very thing. Let's not get distracted by socializing. Let's make sure we show up in Canton prepared. As Paul describes the necessary conditioning of an athlete, let's start preparing far in advance to make sure we arrive rested, and not weary; healthy, not sick; humbled and prepared to hear from God, not distracted by any worldly concerns. This journey has been a true blessing in so many ways and I'm so thankful for each one of the members in this union. As we meet in Canton I know that the Lord will be faithful as His greatest desire is to be intimately involved in every area of our lives.

I am suggesting that the members of the Canton Prayer Union all meet on Tues. at 12:30 p.m. directly inside the main door of the church. (let's say as we walk in the doors, gather to the left side of the entrance.) I am sending Alec an email picture of me so he will recognize me. If we can gather at 12:30 we will be able to exchange greetings and sit together for the first corporate prayer session. I can't wait until we all gather together and we can corporately pray for the first time in person as the Canton Prayer Union. Let's continue to lift one another up and pray for safety as we travel. I will have a sign that says "C.P.U." on it so Alec can get hooked up with us. I have a rental vehicle and Bill also has a vehicle so we will have no problems with transportation. As of right now we are 5 in number. We have 6 double beds available in three reserved rooms. We can always add cots if necessary. We are not a large group, but this group has meant so much to me. Let's pray for any other brother that the Lord would impress to join us. Bill currently has room in his vehicle coming from Ontario and I have invited several other men. I have ceased trying to persuade and now simply make the offer to any the Spirit would lead to join our group. Five is a great number....and three more than John Hyde had as he started the Punjab Prayer Union.

Press on brothers and thank-you for your continuing prayers.

Your brother, Steve

Floods on the dry ground

Dear Brothers,
I still feel very unworthy to be part of the Canton Prayer Union, but praise the Lord for it. It has become something very precious to me. "O God, make us all absolutely real with You and with each other."
Thank you, brothers for your blogs, for your prayers and for your fellowship in the gospel.
I would like to follow up what Steve said about praying for those who will be attending the conference, and especially the speakers. Pray against the attacks of Satan. The devil will be working overtime to destroy everything to do with this conference. So claim the protection of the blood of Jesus on yourselves, on all the speakers, on all the attenders, on all the travelling to and from the conference, and on all the arrangements. Bind "the strong man." Pray that the devil will have no influence, that he will not get even a toehold in, and that only the Lord Jesus will be exalted.Pray against pride in any form. Pray for Greg Gordon and all the speakers, that they will be kept humble before the Lord. Pray that they will think and live and prepare in the light of eternity.
"Lord, cause them to live pure, holy and simple lives before the world, that the evil one may find no occasion to trip them up. Instruct them so that they say only what You want them to say, and say it with passion and with tears. Lord, use them to start a fire that will never be put out, that will sweep across America and the Western world. Lord, we are tired of anaemic Christianity. We want to see reality. We want to see You in all your grace and glory and holiness. Lord we are thirsty, and the land is dry, and You have promised to pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground, so we stand on Your word, and claim Your promise. O Lord hear, O Lord forgive , O Lord, have mercy, and do a work in these days that will make people`s ears tingle.
"Once, in Romania, I saw the Lord do a work that I would not have believed was possible. He poured out His Spirit and did a work of conviction that I could never have done in a thousand years. Let us pray and believe that God will do a work at Canton that we would never believe if it was told us, a work so wonderful and amazing that only He can do; greater than anything seen before. "Lord, increase our faith."
Bound together with you in the name of Jesus
Alec

ONE HOUR EACH SUNDAY

A Canadian Thanksgiving

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving from your Canadian brother who is so very, very thankful. I am thankful for my brothers who have to committed to pray with and for me. Billy ,thank you for your e-mail. God only knows what your prayers have proteted me and my family from. I am thankful for my brother who I will meet for the first time in Canton. I look forward to the day when God may show us the true effect of our prayers. Thank you Alec for your gift to us of "The Divine Experiment. Today is Day 9-Desparate Hunger. I am more hungry today than ever before. I will also meet you for the first time in Canton. I am thankful for the brothers who I will be bringing to Canton with me in my Van. Right now my van is empty but I am trusting God to fill it with other men who are hungry and desire to have God REVIVE us. God is faithful. I am thankful for my brothers who will join me in praying for my van to be full. My son Davey called me yesteday to tell me that his friend from Mexico has e-mailed his church (in Mexico) about the conference, and said expect a "Mexican invaision". I am eternally thankful for my brother Steve. You may never know until we are in our Lords presence , how much your friendship and example have meant to me. Your crown awaits. Continue to run the race, brother.
I am thankful for answered prayer as I "reluctantly" met with my pastor this week. God humbled me and proved his faithfulness once again. I shared my desire to pray for revival in our Church. The meeting went far better than I had anticipated. Just be faithful and leave the consequences to ME, God told me. Praise God !! I told him that I felt led to begin a prayer meeting at the chuech on Sunday morning at 8:30 am. We will pray for REVIVAL. What a glorious time we had ... all 3 of us... my wife Debbie, Tim (another hungry brother) and myself. "Where 2 or 3 are gathered.... Thank you Holy Spirit for being there. During the church servive I had an overwhelming and miraculous sense of peace come over me. This is a miracle in and of itself. I have not been very happy or peacful in any of the church services for a long long time. I have been praying for God to change the people, and God has changed me. Praise God for prayers answered how our Lord chooses and not as I think they should. God spoke to me so very clearly during the worship time and I leaned over to Debbie to tell her that God had just told me "I have heard your prayers". He really told me. I instantly wrote this down with the date of Oct. 7,2007 as a reminder for when the enemy tries to convince me that this journey is just not worth it and that I am on my own. NO,NO, My God has heard my prayers.
I am a very thankful man. Thank you brothers for your prayers. We must get more intense. I look forward to our gathering together in about 2 weeks

Your brother in the battle, Bill

The Divine Experiment

Dear Brothers,
It is a privilege to pray with you, brothers, and I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to do at Canton. Pray, not just for the conference, but for the city. I long to see the heavens rent, and God coming down on the whole area, so that the atmosphere is changed, and there is an awareness of the presence of a holy God, as happened here in Wales on November 12th 1904.
I have just come across "The Divine Experiment," a 21 Day Prayer Guide, designed to help undistracted seeking of God`s face for 21 days. As it is exactly 21 days to go before the conference, I recommend its use.
You can find it on www.thedivineexperiment.com

Click on to the 21 Day Devotional Prayer Guide, and then download an Adobe PDF Sampling of the guide.
I don`t know about you, brothers, but I am finding myself more and more wordless before the Lord. "O God, have your way with me, and use me, even me."
Yours, for Him alone
Alec
posted by Alec @ 13:34 0 Comments