What we experienced at Barnsdall

I am looking forward to carefully listening to the messages. Particularly those on prayer. (I heard them in pieces due to computer problems here.)

I hope Greg that you got my note on the duplicate posting of messages.

This encouragement to seek Him needs to be heard widely as I commented, understood and acted on. [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=279&min=20&orderby=titleA&show=20]Praying for Revial by Richard Owen Roberts[/url]

Watchman Nee's devotional for June 6, 2009 was quite to your point Frank of the gathered body of Christ. (Sourse: owner-newsletter@c-f-p.com on behalf of Christian Fellowship Publishers)

[b]June 6th - The Lord My Portion by Watchman Nee[/b]

But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you. 2 Corinthians 10.13.

Each servant of the Lord has a measure of the sphere of work which God has apportioned to him; each believer has a divinely-appointed course to finish. If each one will stand in his post, do his share of work, and finish his appointed course, what a glory shall be seen!

A huge pillar is certainly essential to a house, but a small nail is not any the less needed. How can the church be established if each one in the church aspires to be a great revivalist or a great evangelist or a great teacher? Ought we not walk in the course of the Lord’s will? We should not aim at a great thing; we should stand instead in the place of God’s choice. If He wants us to do a small work quietly, we are happy to do it. For God does not seek “great talent”; He uses whoever is usable. May we be willing to take our place under the divine appointment.

The freedom that we felt at Barnsdall was tremendous. The freedom to speak as the Lord spoke to us. The Lord was given the time and space to speak through His people, and their was such consistancy in the words that came forward.

imagine if this freedom was the standard in the church, i am blessed to have been for the last year in such a setting, and it has so been raveled to me how having one man pastor will rob God and his children from so much good, to sit and listen to maybe 8-10 different people get up and speak along the same burden, same red line for two three hours and afterwards you have not looked once on your watch, not felt bored just a longing for God. I am glad you experienced Gods moving there.

Even as i was not there, something was different this year for the better i can sense. I was very blessed by Alan Martins singing and preaching...

Thank you for making it available brother Greg.

One thing that struck me particularly amazing about the entire thing was that such an "open church" happened with well over 100 or more people at a time. I've been told time and time again by many leaders that such an open format is not possible in such a large setting, otherwise disorder and chaos would enter the fray. I've always believed such was a lie from hell, and I firmly believe that such was actually demonstrated by the Lord Himself at this conference as a lie from hell. When God's glory is there and is consciously at risk of being wrongly touched, had there been 10,000 saints there, I believe this type of meeting would still have been possible.

Frank writes:
"The freedom that we felt at Barnsdall was tremendous. The freedom to speak as the Lord spoke to us. The Lord was given the time & space to speak through His people, & there was such consistency in the words that came forward...There is such a hunger for genuine freedom in our churches."

Amen Brother!

This aspect is so important because all God's people are Priests (not only the one's in paid positions) as well, of course, as being Body. The whole body needs to function, not just an extremely limited part of it.

Along with this important aspect, there were 2 other qualities about Barnsdall that need to be highlighted.

Having started my journey of faith from out of the charismatic renewal of the '70s, I knew the privilege of seeing the Spirit work in power, of seeing the gifts in free operation, & of encountering genuine worship (not just singing).

As I stood in the main hall with all the others this past Thursday night, completely engulfed in the presence, the power & the unfettered Joy of the Lord because HE HAD COME (in what, should be noted, is His normal fullness) I reflected back on what the differences were between this time, & the time in the '70s, in His Church.

In a sentence — renewal has grown up!

The 2 other aspects we had, that were so often not present in the '70s (leadership was still trying to figure out what to do with this Spirit that had been poured out & often lost their way) were:

1. Solid Teaching & Doctrine (from men who have first known utter surrender) &
2. Wise Leadership (from previously broken and thus humble as well as discerning men)

These 2 aspects, combined with the presence & power of the Holy Spirit, make for a dangerous mix in His house! You'll either break free, be broken in order to be freed, or — flee!

There were of course other unique & wonderful things that comprised this week at Barnsdall:

•\tthe praying intercessors who have met for many months together, crying out to God with desperate longing for Him to come

•\tthe tremendous unity amongst so many different cross sections of His Body, including the institutional church & the house church; the gifts practising & gifts unitiated; old order Christianity & newer order Christianity; well educated & less educated; long-churched & the newly churched; youth & older ones: all given the grace & the space to participate together, in true Christian humility & love.

And there was the Servant Church of the people of First Baptist Church, Barnsdall, who labored to provide everything at no charge to His people, including all meals, much lodging, etc.

Undergirding all these lies the stubborn conviction of one man. Three years ago or more, before the 1st Revival Conference was launched at others’ request, he knew he could not cave in to marketing, to selling, to profiting, or to not trusting the Lord to provide everything freely and offer everything freely. We thank God for that little blade of grass that He’s raised up behind Sermon Index.

No offerings were taken, no monies collected. All materials were given away freely, including the final, professional, CD copies of the messages. The videos, in similar fashion, are on their way.

By now you're getting the picture.

It wasn’t a bit of heaven, it was heaven.

This is eternal life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Jn 17:3

A lot of knowing happened this week in Barnsdall, in full-bodied, biblically empowered & true Spirit-birthed sense, and not only in the declared preaching, as excellent as that was.

Some leaders have long recognized that the Church has for too long focused on getting people into heaven, while ignoring getting heaven into people. We need both.

We’ll never be freed or equipped to live fully for the glory of God, until the presence of God dwells in His temple again—in us, His living stones.

If God will take something of the gifts, the convictions & the deposit that was released at Barnsdall, & continue to fuel & form it out into little pockets of believers here & there across this land (and in His grace continue to allow such giftings and deposits to be brought together from time to time) God will soon have Himself a Living Church again. Even here, in North America.

Though that church may remain small, unnoticed, & unadvertised (I pray that it will) that church may very well accomplish more good from out of her baby toe than all the known, large, productive and advertised churches, combined. As I say that, I realize that this church may very well be the little baby toe, of His overall Church. Happy thought.

If this sounds like an overstatement to some readers, you need to find the next Barnsdall, and then watch for the fruit that comes out from it after. And pray for discernment in your fruit-looking, because a lot of fruit – sadly – isn’t recognized til later years in history.

God, we thank You so much for what You did in Barnsdall. You know that our prayer is indeed for Your glory, and for Your Son’s honor, by Your Spirit’s power. Continue to give us all grace, humility, thirst, and wisdom, to seek for You honestly, to give ourselves up to Christ humbly, and to welcome the Holy Spirit as He comes wholly.

In Jesus incredible name we pray. Amen

TK / theCHRISTway.org
--a forming community mission that aims - through the gifts of the Body at large combined with focussed engagement together --to reach down deep into the forgotten spots of our faith's heritage and reclaim the Life that is life indeed

Our one sister brought up a great point that I think was noticed by everybody at the conference, and indeed, made for fertile ground for which the Holy Spirit to operate, and that is this: hospitality. The church and Barnsdale truly took on a servant heart as the homes of many were opened for us all. We were warmly received in the name of the Lord, and, I imagined that such a reception is what the apostle Paul wrote about from time to time.

Though the people of that church clearly bent over backwards and went out of their way to do what they did, never once did I ever get the impression from any of them that they felt inconvenienced by doing the things they did. I was personally picked up by one sister at the airport in Tulsa. The associate pastor and his wife personally fed me lunch that afternoon and allowed me to check my e-mail on their computer. The Marvin family, folks from another church down the street, graciously allowed me to stay in their guest house on their ranch, and allowed me and my roommate to use their pickup truck to come and go as we pleased. Another individual drove us around when we first arrived as well. And if all this were not enough, a scrumptious feast was prepared every single day for every single meal at the church. Finally, the associate pastor drove me back to the airport even though I had to leave a few hours early from the conference.

All of this, I believe was absolutely crucial to providing fertile soil for the Holy Spirit to do His work, as experienced in the proclaimed word and in our times of worship. I am a Pentecostal and believe in and speak in tongues. Yet this week I was so impressed that when I came back and talked to my pastor, I told him that at this conference I was all the more convinced than I was before that there are clearly "Spirit-filled" believers out there who have never even spoken in tongues. That may wreck our Pentecostal theology, but it is a truth I am convinced of just the same.

Also, a praise report from the Barnsdale Revival Conference: I really have had an unbroken sense of the Lord's presence since the conference, and felt it tonight when I was able to preach at a conference my church was putting on, "The Pillars Conference."

I felt so humbled to stand before the men of my church, and to preach a message on being "fathers of faith." All the men, except one, were easily 10-40 years older than me. The Lord really has moved at our conference as well, and the presence of the Lord has been very sweet. The speaker that spoke after me, having no idea on what I was going to preach on tonight, ended up preaching on one of the same primary texts I preached from. He already had that passage in his notes of all things! God really spoke a word of requirement to us as a church.

appolus wrote:
There is such a hunger for genuine freedom in our churches. Not chaos, genuine freedom and with genuine freedom, when the Holy Spirit is in charge there is order.

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The order of His Lordship, and the liberty of His Spirit.

Perhaps it is time to cancel all programs and seek Him. If we seek to hear from Him, there must be time in our services where He is allowed to speak through His people

It is time, and past time.

Our Lord calls us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," and I believe it's this-- the corporate expression of His word that you are referring to-- that is the bread God has in mind for this day we are entering into now.

Not just the "bread" the pastor or the preacher gives... and we are thankful for that in its day... but the bread which is His body. "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one Bread" (1 Cor. 10.17).

Of course, we do not just everyone give forth what we have as we see fit. The bread must be surrendered into His hands, and broken in and by His hands. Only then will He Himself be revealed.

...I'm glad to hear the good report.

AD

hospitality....
All of this, I believe was absolutely crucial to providing fertile soil for the Holy Spirit to do His work, as experienced in the proclaimed word and in our times of worship.

I wasn't there, but can agree that a heightened spirit of hospitality is a hallmark of spirit-led services or congregations. Perhaps it is the expression of counting others higher then ourselves, or that we recognize the love God has for his people.

It is wonderful to hear all your hearts here.

MC

I am a Pentecostal and believe in and speak in tongues. Yet this week I was so impressed that when I came back and talked to my pastor, I told him that at this conference I was all the more convinced than I was before that there are clearly "Spirit-filled" believers out there who have never even spoken in tongues. That may wreck our Pentecostal theology, but it is a truth I am convinced of just the same.

Truly, this is craftmanship of God in the soul of a believer, the opening of the eyes. I've found time and time again that when God does a substantial work in my life, it usually involves a major re-arrangement of theology or a concept that I, up until then, held as non-negotiable.

Paul

Paul's: ...the whole 'uniform initial evidence' theology went out the window for me when I began exposing myself to the ministry of brethren not of the Pentecostal camp but who clearly preached with the unction of heaven and with an authority in God I had yet to experience in all my years as a Pentecostal.

I think the key is the word 'unction'. The voice of God can be in the mouth of those that are filled with the Spirit and glory of God. I think this is the real key, an unction.

I felt the conference that I was able to experience was tremendous and that God dealt with issues that would prepare us for genuine revival on a large scale. There was a gentleness and compassion that brought us face to face with God as a loving Father. I feel God demonstrated His goodness and brought it to a reality in our hearts. It was a real breath of fresh air that we desperately needed.

I was raised Pentecostal as well, and was even a certified minister with AG for a few years, but the whole 'uniform initial evidence' theology went out the window for me when I began exposing myself to the ministry of brethren not of the Pentecostal camp but who clearly preached with the unction of heaven and with an authority in God I had yet to experience in all my years as a Pentecostal.

Indeed. Ravenhill is a notable example of this. Though very welcomed in Pentecostal circles, he said time and time again he had never spoken in tongues. He never knocked such a thing. Yet without a doubt, I've never heard one classical-Pentecostal preacher speak with an unction that even came close.

I'm reminded of a young teenage girl from this conference, I believe it was the pastor's daughter. She stood up numerous times throughout the three days we were gathered, and she would pray, read Scripture, and I think even lightly exhort/testify in front of the entire congregation. Indeed, to me at times she really seemed to "punch" the atmosphere and charge it with God's presence when He needed to move. Yet, knowing that she's Southern Baptist, it is unlikely she's ever spoken in tongues. Yet, I have no doubt as to her fullness in the Spirit. Indeed, to date I have only personally known and seen one young teenage girl in my circle that could compare.

Shoot, I would even say that God used her more mightily than me at the conference. And I probably openly participated a half dozen times or so. The first time I heard her pray, I opened my eyes and expected to see an older woman praying. I was blown away that she could not have been much more than 13 or 14. Amazing.

It is heaven on earth when God gathers His people together and rains down upon them. Flowing through our cracked and broken vessels, He binds us together and we begin to move as one. As shards of pottery that have been ground to dust, He pours water upon the whole and fashions a new vessel - a pure and holy vessel, meet for the Master's use. Oh the joy that fills the heart of a body totally surrendered unto Him. Oh the ecstasy of riding upon the wings of His love. Oh the rapture of being found in Him.

He is gently chiseling and polishing His precious children. Patiently forming us into so many jewels as He prepares us for our final entry into His kingdom. In my mind I can see Him casting us out upon the earth. Like small stones cast upon the surface of a pond - each stone sending forth a small ripple of concentric circles that slowly converge and eventually cover the entire surface of the pond.

Oh how I long for the day when all of God's people will truly be His.

...to Him who sits on the throne and unto the lamb!

How many are going to back to their respective 'church' or fellowship and not settle for anything less?

I believe one of the things talked about at some point in the conference was this very thing. I think it was in the Q&A session? Either way, the solution is always to make sure revival begins and continues with you. Whether or not other brothers really "get it" is not as important as you getting it and walking in it. Also, leadership in God's church isn't so much about position as it is about one's personal influence and functioning.

If you are truly revived in the Spirit, YOU WILL be a leader within your church, regardless if you are assigned to a position or sit on a board. When one is truly like Jesus, and walking in His life, His presence and will shall be made known through you. This is where we have great need of being patient, meek, and gentle. We must grow up and truly become spiritual fathers of the faith, and leading by example, encouraging others to follow us in the example we actually set.

Otherwise, if we are not this, then holding some "leadership position" within the church will lead one to be spiritual abusive and manipulative by "throwing one's weight around." The only "weight" we should have is the glory of God in our face. Interestingly enough the word for "glory" in the Hebrew denotes a heavy weight.

Don't get me wrong, there must be a repentance in the heart of those who are in "leadership" at a given church. We must all learn to submit to the headship of Jesus Christ, and be like John the Baptist, willing to decrease and get out of the way so that He might increase. Indeed, the fear of many leaders is that by getting out of the way, they might somehow be deprived of the "benefits" of being a leader. But Christ warned us of this very thing. The ultimate question is will we respond to the Lord in faith, or will we respond to the Lord in fear.

I actually got to "see" you and listen to your words via the webcam, well spoke brother.

I hope you were blessed. I wasn't aware that they were going to broadcast the congregation's participation. Either way, I still would have spoken just the same. :-)

I think a lot of it goes back also to the word the one brother spoke about capacity. Lake Michigan surely has enough water in it to water the entire state. But such can't happen by simply using a garden hose. May God widen all of our capacities :-)

I enjoyed reading each or your assessments of this particular conference. I have been to all three of those in the states, and each of them had their particular blessings. I was blessed in the first one simply because so many people would travel so many miles, both speakers and attendees, seeking God for revival. I was blessed by the preaching, by the fact that so many theological stripes met together in common cause, seeking God. It was and is a hallmark of so many of the revivals in history for people to put aside denominational pride and humbly pray together for God to come among us in the manifestation of His holiness.

The times of singing in the conference at Atlanta were blessed times of worship for me and for those who attended with me from our church. Again there was that mutual seeking for revival. The preaching was certainly excellent and challenging, and the breakout sessions as well.

But in neither of these, as already has been stated, was the freedom, the sense of fellowship in the Spirit, the sense of God’s manifest presence, the sense of the conviction of sin bringing confessions and at the same time the sense of God’s love drawing men and women to total surrender to His Lordship… willing slaves to His love.

To be quite honest since I did not know that much about any of the speakers, and since it was much earlier in the year, and since it was in a place I was totally unfamiliar with, I almost did not go. We had just finished a week of camp in which I had preached every night and I was tired, and had followed the camp with preaching both services on Sunday, so I could not see driving for over 8 hours to a place that I felt would be poorly attended in the first place. But somehow I felt urged to go all afternoon on Sunday. The children had no excitement about going either, but the more I talked about it, the more they began to get a little excited about going. So close to midnight on Sunday evening I made the Priceline. Com commitment and could not get out of it.

That night Jordan, my CP child, stayed awake all night long, literally, and I was concerned about how he was going to fare while we were gone, but my daughter assured me that he would be fine and urged us on. But I was thinking “I am not going to be able to stay awake to drive”. But it is amazing what some good strong Louisiana coffee and determination can do to keep you awake. I got the children up about 7 AM. They had their quite time; we started packing and headed for Oklahoma.

I am so very glad we came.

I can ditto almost everything that has already been stated but must add that one of the most prized things for me this time was the fellowship. Not only did I get to meet the Scot with whom I have butted heads at least one time, but the King, Robert, and even got to chat with Greg for a short while.

I thank God for time spent in conversation with Alan Martin, and meeting several other brothers with whom I could share this [i]hapax[/i] faith.

One of the treasures was the time spent with Brother and Sister Courville… and the greatest highlight of the trip for my children was the time they spent with their children and members of their fellowship. They have not stopped talking about how glad they are to have met them, and I so appreciate the spirit of Christ displayed in them.
I am basically a shy person (obviously that doesn't mean I don't like to talk... sort of like some of those afore mentioned ones I met... just look above) :-) and like a fish out of water in a crowd of people that I do not know, but the agape meals so graciously served by the FBC and the smallness of the foyer forced me into making acquaintances that I will treasure. There is no doubt at all, that the reason of such precious [i]koinōnia[/i], was the presence of the Holy Spirit in all the services. May God spread through all of those who were there, the sweet fragrance of the unique flavor of this conference!

Clint

Really Jimmy its just the nuts and bolts of it. [u]If people do not allow freedom then there will be no freedom.[/u] The Lord will not come where He is not welcome or where He has to fit into mens programs

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. I believe it grieves the heart of God when men look upon other men and measure their responding to God in worship or praise against some standard in their minds as to how things 'should' be done. I think of the passage:

[color=000066]Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (Romans 14)[/color]

The context of the passage is people 'serving God' by expressing their faith in what we might call [i]personal convictions.[/i] Not everyone expresses their faith towards God in the same ways. I learned this listening to the Messianic's tell us how we are doing everything wrong as Gentiles. I then took another dose of it in with Frank Viola's works. Yet we are reminded not to judge each other in these things. Men are looking on the outward- but God is looking at the heart.

God deliver us from a spirit that thinks we need to always be straightening everyone else out as if [u]we[/u] have arrived or something. What irritates us does not necessarily irritate God. In fact, what may be irritating us may be a source of God's pleasure and glory. We cannot get ourselves confused with God. I think about how the children had to have came to Jesus. It irritated the disciples, but Jesus was well pleased.

This one man show we have today in most churches has helped create deserts. A man speaks every Sunday, a worship leader sings and the vast majority of people sit there and spectate, almost like they are at the movies. Popcorn and drink holders may be coming :( Bottom line, all genuine Christians are gifted and those gifts need expression or the people will dry up..........Frank

I think this is absolutely true. Ron Bailey points out that Christ tends the candlestick in a local church and He works out in us the 'oil' that He, the Great High Priest, wants to burn on that candlestick in a meeting.

Jesus Christ, by His Spirit, calls for the oil He has produced in individuals severally as He wills in a meeting. Folk have to be cordial and prefer one another. Some may get their oil used and others may just hold on to it. We rejoice as much to hear as we are to speak. That is key, I think. But wether it be a scripture, prayer, song, hymn or a word from the Lord, etc. if we can allow Christ, our Head, to use the Body in a way that we as a local church can in the aggregate of what takes place hear what the Spirit is saying to that church. Otherwise all we are saying to individuals within the Body is- "I have no need of thee!"

appolus wrote:
...why there is a famine in the land.

We certainly are in that day of famine... and I believe it is going to intensify... and I believe it is of God, to get us seeking the bread that He has ordained for THIS day.

Which is... "For WE being many are one bread..."

This corporate bread is what God has been a long time in the process of making. Individual grains of wheat with the chaff all blown away by the winds of the threshing floor, then crushed together, and mingled with oil... and then put into the oven, to be brought forth fresh bread... to be broken in His hands and given to the hungry.

...And after all, isn't this what "the ministry" is supposed to be all about?

God does not mean "the ministry" to be an end in itself, and just carry on preaching forever and a day. But that so often is the thought. We just carry on church as is... the pulpit up there and the pews down here... "till Jesus comes."

No, God-ordained ministry is for the purpose of equipping the saints-- each and every one of us--to function vitally and effectively in the corporate body.

That's the glory of the Lord, and true-hearted ministry will rejoice when it takes place, and be willing to just lie flat on their faces, unable to stand and minister any longer... "for the glory of the LORD had filled the House of God" (2 Chr. 5.14).

...I believe we're yet going to see great shakings attending this desire of God's heart.

AD

RobertW wrote:
Otherwise all we are saying to individuals within the Body is- "I have no need of thee!"

There is something here so vitally important. it gets down to recognizing Christ Himself, actually... in the members of His Body.

Ezekiel said he heard God speaking to him "out of the house" (Ezek. 43.6). If we continue to insist on our long-established way of "doing church," limiting things to the one man behind the pulpit... we are not going to hear Him speaking to us in this hour... or see Him in His appearing.

That makes me tremble.

AD

That makes me tremble.

I think that the time of trembling is at the point of revelation- and since we know the mind of God in this matter we have a responsibility to act and fall in step as He leads in the restoration of His voice within the churches. God has said some things, I think, not so as to validate the speakers or their theologies, but so as to communicate certain important truths that we need to be aware of. I think those that have ears to hear recognize when it is the man and when it is the voice of God. i think this is important to bear in mind when there are many sharing in an assembly, God can use a donkey or a rock to speak- so being used of God can only validate what God is saying at the moment. This is why I try to be listening to what God is saying- even if He were to chose to speak, as God spoke to Josiah through Necho (II Chron 35) that was Josiah's enemy. So I think we need this in mind as we move forward. God can speak through anyone he wants to.

The truth was proclaimed so boldly that I feel like Acts 9:18
18 And immediately there fell from his (My) eyes as it had been scales: and he (I) received sight forthwith, (Hince, my nickname BrotherSaul)

The presence of God Thursday night was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I felt like a man waking from a beautiful dream. As the evening drew to a close and the realization that I would probably never see most of you dear saints again this side of Heaven made me truly yearn for Home.

Just a few wandering thoughts from a "local".

As the evening drew to a close and the realization that I would probably never see most of you dear saints again this side of Heaven . . .

Oh, He has a way of bringing us back together

Indeed! Brother Alan,Lord willing,you will just have to pack up some from your church and travel to the next Revival Conference, no less.

I must say again on this forum how grateful we are for the hospitality shown all of us. As has already been stated, I believe that strongly added to the blessedness and blessings of the whole conference... the fact that there was no need to leave behind the atmosphere of the church to "go away", but we could simply continue the worship of God by sharing those things that were on each heart even as we ate together. I know that some of the moderators and others have been able to do this to a certain extent in other locations, but never has there been the privilege for the whole congregation. There were, no doubt, bonds made during those agape meals that will last till eternity. I am convinced of that, and that is not by any means a minor or peripheral thing.

I know that other issues have been raised by Frank and Robert and others regarding the freedom for the whole body to express themselves, and I know that was important. Our moderators are to be commended for taking fully the role of servants in that area, in some cases almost to the point of being nearly invisible. But then our speakers did bring forth some very anointed and clear words from God that most definitely helped to set the tone of the whole conference. To God be the glory for their yieldedness to the Holy Spirit.

As for flesh... there is always some flesh on display, but when God's Spirit is in control, flesh gets so totally exposed as flesh, that it is summarily rejected in preference for the reality of the pure and holy. Thank God for the humility of seasoned and sound leadership.

Clint

Thank you brothers and sisters for sharing with us about your experiences at the revival conference.

When the Holy Spirit has control of a meeting then there will be always an awareness of the presence of God. Times of refreshing come from being in the Lord's presence, and right now with all of the various trials that the children of God are going through, we need to have our minds set on those things that are above, looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.

I have been blessed and refreshed in my spirit just by reading these testimonies of what God did at these meetings.

In His Love,
Mike

I am already anticipating the next conference but am praying that it will be unnecessary. Most may not know but we were blessed to have Frank share his testimony Sunday a.m. and bring us a word Sunday p.m. so by Tuesday "our hearts were burning within us".
My wife and I have been blessed to have a pastor who will not be profiled by denominational dogma but chooses to be led by the Spirit. We have have had a spark ignited in us by hearing the truth weekly but I confess that God has used the conference to fan it into a flame. We can no longer go back to "old, tired religion".

Ps 107:8
8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
KJV

BrotherSaul

...in some cases almost to the point of being nearly invisible.

Amen BroClint. It is so refreshing when God is just allowed to move and there is a forbearance and liberty to allow folk to express their love for God according to the dictates of their own conscience. Think of all the multiplied millions of believers their are in the world! Think of the different languages and cultures and personalities. The multiplied variety is staggering. But God receives the response of those that respond to Him. I have to admit that at times I have had to get used to the variation from what I believed was 'right' or even 'decent and in order.' In some circles if the people are [u]not[/u] being in an excitement they are out of order. ;-)

So we have to forbear and know that God desires His children to get along and love one another and not to 'set at naught' our brothers and sisters. I have learned here on SI over the years that not everyone is just like me (LOL!). Thank God they are not! But I can appreciate the fact that God accepts and loves His children and [i]He expects us to get along[/i]. Not like a couple of feuding teenaged sisters or brothers nit picking everything about the other one, or finding fault in things that the person is not even conscious of (and would be sorely wounded if they heard some of the judgmental and critical thoughts that were directed towards them if they were spoken aloud), but a love that is not always measuring and trying to adjust our brethren. :-)

Amen dear Brother Frank.

Alan: I am already anticipating the next conference but am praying that it will be unnecessary.

Amen!

Robert: The multiplied variety is staggering. But God receives the response of those that respond to Him.

…but a love that is not always measuring and trying to adjust our brethren.

Oh what guilt I have had in that area! Even though we are so clearly admonished by the apostle Paul otherwise, and repeatedly, this being somewhat of a summary:
Romans 14:4 ( KJV )
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

I thought in regard to the conference of that scripture regarding the Passover in Hezekiah’s time:
2 Chronicles 30:18-20 ( NKJV )
For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone
who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

What a God of mercy and what compassion He has shown us, in healing us, not because of having it all in order, but because of His great magnanimous response to hungry hearts.

BrotherSaul… the whole testimony of Psalms 107 indeed!

Clint

Robert,

I like what you had to say about learning to get along with brothers and sisters that may be a little more emotional than we are or perhaps they do not always line up with our theology.

It is the mark of a mature Christian to fellowship along the grounds of Christ, and not to seperate on minor issues of doctrine.

I remember back in the early 70'S when the Lord was doing a wonderful work in bringing brothers and sisters of different denominations into unity. Our focus was on Jesus and not on any set of denominational beliefs. Yes it was a true test at times, but love always passed the test.

In the intercessory prayer ministry that my wife and I are involved in, we fellowship with Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, and non denominationals, but this has never been a source of contention in our group, because no one has been interested in promoting their own pet doctrines, but the Lord has brought us together in the unity of the Spirit to seek His will and purpose.

Mike

I mentioned in my last reply that Brother Frank shared his tetimony and a word with us. If you would like to be blessed you can hear these on the church website www.fbcbarnsdall.com. Just go to audio and both messages are listed on May 31st.

Hope this is O.K. Frank.

Hi Frank,

I enjoyed listening to the sermon that you preached in Barnsdall. Something that I found interesting is that you mentioned giving $20 several times. I just wanted to let you know that on the way to Barnsdall to Lord had me give someone $20 - and He was very specific about the amount.

i was wondering why no one has given reviews for any of those sermons yet.

i was wondering why no one has given reviews for any of those sermons yet.

I can only speak for myself and say that when I went to Barnsdall I did not go to hear from men- but from God. And God has a way of speaking to us in the midst of a sermon that may not quite square with our own personal doctrinal positions. So it becomes a challenge to 'sign off' at times or suggest things when what I want to see is God speaking to the person like God spoke to me in the midst of the message. I cannot duplicate that by recommending sermons. It is way more complicated than that. I hold that position on any sermon I heard. Rarely do I recommend sermons in comparison to what I hear- even though something might be helpful in it. It is because I cannot be there to say, "I don't agree with this or that, etc." and if I recommend a sermon I have essentially signed on to the person and all they say. So I am more cautious about it. If that makes a lick of sense.

Amen Frank! That is the wonderful thing about a sovreign move of God. We are all awed by the Lord's presence and God gets all of the glory.

One of the things that ends revivals is for man to try to make it something of his own, organize it, and lift up some man or ministry.

Mike

If a sermon is good, a "yes" or "amen" should suffice :-)

What follows is part of what came by email from Ron Cantrell today. [u]Those who prayed for, and were present in, Barnsdall may well relate to this[/u]. He gave me permission to share this with others. Though Ron did not attend the conference, he describes being in the presence of God/Jesus in much the same way spoken of on this thread. This occurred during (at the same time as) the conference. The person he names as Joy is not our SI Roniya (Joy). Ron and his wife have ministered for many years to those in Israel.

[b]"In genuine revival, God does more to extend His Kingdom in seconds or minutes than in days, weeks, months, or years of God-inspired and energized Christian activity. The course of history toward righteousness can be changed in a nation quicker than any other way through genuine revival."

I must comment on Joy's observation—revival, launched by a vision of God's holiness will always involve repentance, and restitution. Those two God-blessed sisters of holiness will solidify the vision and the life-change that we so long for. I have to admit I am fearful of the vision's effect on me fading. I want to press in with a burning desire to go deeper and not return to the status quo.

It seems that there will be dark days ahead of us. Scripture points out that only repentance and restitution will change a self-inflicted scourge from heaven. Of any moment in history that revival on a personal level is needed more, it is now.

The song, "Beautiful" bears a line that arrests my heart: [color=FF0000]"Here in your Presence, I am not afraid of brokenness." Brokenness and judgment are fearful things to those who have not experienced the fire of His Presence, but to those who have, they are items to be begged for.”[/color][/b]

To which I add my Amen to “brokenness to be begged for” Brother Ron AND as Brother Frank says “Where we would deservingly find judgment we find mercy and grace” and personal revival.

I see Greg has posted some of the Concert's of Prayer sessions online. Are they all on there, or just a few? Either way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYoywPQziAE

If a sermon is good, a "yes" or "amen" should suffice

Hi Jimmy,

I walked right past you at the conference and didn't realize it till later. I wish we could have met formally. I did get to meet BroClint. That was nice.

Hey Robert,

Yes, I was vexed in spirit to read later on the board that you were at the conference and didn't get a chance to meet you in person. Oh well, maybe next time Lord willing :-)

I reflected again this morning on the blessedness of meeting many of you that frequent this site and the awe and wonder of God meeting with us in Barnsdall.I was made appreciative all over again for the vision God has given Greg for this site, and for revival. I know that God is using it for His glory.

Just the knowledge that there are people in places all across this country and the world for that matter that are seeking the truth and are preaching the truth while days of famine and deception increase and where persecutions are bound to increase for those who would dare declare Jesus Christ as He really is, is a most comforting thing.

Who knows how rapidly the names and places where there may be found someone of like precious faith will be far more important to us than we can now possibly realize? To know that there are brothers and sisters that I could find not too far from me in Missouri, or Mississippi, or Oklahoma, or Texas or even North Carolina, or in a number of cities or towns from which these precious souls that have shared their hearts on SI and we have come to know some of them, read their articles, heard their messages, heard their testimonies (and BTW that testimony shared by Frank at Barnsdall was a most blessed insight) and now, seen face to face, is of inestimable value.

I tell you that Missouri is looking more and more like a place of refuge if the storms happen to howl too viciously here:-) . Until then those of you passing through the east-west corridor of the US on I-20 or north-south division of LA on 165, make a little detour through West Monroe, you will find a warm welcome.

Clint

broclint,

I find your words to be most encouraging right at the moment. While it is somewhat of a disappointment that our paths did not cross at Barnsdall (the same is true for RobertW) just knowing that you were there brings a sense of like heartedness.

Since returning "home" I have been showered with the lukewarmness and unbelief that surround me. Sometimes I feel as if I am being drowned in it - there is this pull - it is as if those around me can somehow convince me that they are right, then what they are thinking can be truth.

I have been trying to figure out whether the light is shining brighter, or the darkness is deepening - both I think. It must be the separation that is taking place.

May we all continue to pray for each other as the coming days unfold themselves in the corridors of time.

I have been trying to figure out whether the light is shining brighter, or the darkness is deepening - both I think. It must be the separation that is taking place.

Both no doubt… I was reminded though of a song from several years ago that was taken from the words of Zechariah 14:7… “but at evening time there shall be light”.

May we all continue to pray for each other as the coming days unfold themselves in the corridors of time.

We must, we just surely must!

Clint

broclint wrote:
Both no doubt… I was reminded though of a song from several years ago that was taken from the words of Zechariah 14:7… “but at evening time there shall be light”.

Hi Clint,

Anywhere we can listen to that song? Or maybe you could share the words with us? I think this scripture truly prophesies of our day.

AD

Anywhere we can listen to that song? Or maybe you could share the words with us? I think this scripture truly prophesies of our day. AD

Sorry that I don't know of any place that you could hear the song. It was written several years ago and I am sorry that I do not even know the author. It has three verses and a chorus, but I was only able to reconstruct a couple of the verses with the help of my daughter... I am terrible about memorizing lyrics... I get the message but lose the exact words, but here goes:

"The Holy Spirit’s power is at work throughout the land, Bringing showers of refreshing latter rain. Though the evil forces heighten in their final bid for power, God is pouring out his spirit once again,
Chorus:
And the truth of God marches on and on, undaunted by the fast approaching night. Though the clouds of sin and darkness hover low, in the evening time there shall light.

False prophets are arising in these final closing days, Giving out their lies to be God’s Holy Word,
Leading men to doom and darkness With the error of their ways,But at last they’ll all receive their just reward;"
Chorus

I cannot remember the third verse but it closes with the words: "preach the message while there's still an open door"... that line is definitely our call as the darkness falls.

Thanks for asking,

Clint

broclint wrote:
Chorus:
And the truth of God marches on and on, undaunted by the fast approaching night. Though the clouds of sin and darkness hover low, in the evening time there shall light.

Thanks for posting what you remembered of this song, Clint. (Sorry I didn't see it earlier.)

It's a tremendous hope for us (that verse in Zech. 14.7) ...that as the darkness gathers and gets thicker, and as it gets darker, at the same time, there will be LIGHT for those who have made it their one pursuit of life to walk in the Light.

...There are many other beautiful passages of scripture that same the same thing.

AD