INSIGHT

On Religion, History & Society:

A Forum for Conservative Christian Thought

Volume 4, No. 2, June 1998

In This Issue:

Main Feature: Observations on the Brownsville-Led Conference in Houston, by Paul A. Hughes
Letters: Responses to the February Edition
Quotations: Waiting on God's Promises
Poem: "Judas or Pilate?"

The leaders of the Pensacola Revival from Brownsville Assembly of God have begun holding meetings in selected U.S. cities, and I was privileged to attend the evening rallies at the Houston convention center May 11-12. The goal is to help spread revival throughout the nation and then the world. Word is that one of the upcoming meeting sites will be Mexico City.

History

The Pensacola Revival began on Father's Day, 1995, and is just finishing up its third year. Services are held nightly. The whole team is tired, but revival shows no signs of letting up. People come from all over the world to observe, some to scoff and criticize, others hopefully to receive some spiritual impartation.

A brief history, as has been related to me, is this: The members of Brownsville Assembly had been praying for revival for two years. One Sunday, missionary Steve Hill went to Brownsville to preach a seemingly typical, limited revival. Pastor Kilpatrick reports that on that day, he felt the Spirit of God like a river swirling about his feet. He stood and told his people that the thing they had been praying for was here. God began to move, and very quickly the Spirit had prostrated ("slain") people all over the sanctuary. According to Kilpatrick, it was as if someone with a machine gun had mowed them down.

But the story goes back even further. On the Thursday before the Houston meetings, Dr. Yonggi Cho, pastor of the world's largest congregation in Seoul, Korea, spoke at Brownsville. He reiterated what he had said there several years before. In 1991, he began praying for the United States. He asked God whether He was going to bring judgment on America for her sins, or revival. God said He was going to bring revival, not judgment. He would put America's people on their knees, and turn their hearts back toward Him. Dr. Cho prophesied a revival that would sweep across the country in waves, changing the spiritual face of the land. He said it would start in Pensacola.

Not for Wimps

In Houston, daytime teaching sessions on revival were held at Braeswood Assembly of God. I was unfortunately unable to attend these because of work obligations, but am told that they were excellent and inspiring. I will try to obtain use of the session recordings when able.

Attending the evening meetings was not for the faint, requiring desire and perseverence. As at the Brownsville services, the average attendees had to spend hours waiting in line outside in order to be assured a seat. I arrived at 4 PM the first evening and 3 PM the second to stand in line for the 7 o'clock service, and fortunately was able to obtain a seat in the bleachers near the altar area. The first night, we were told, about 2000 were ushered into an overflow room to watch by video, while others were turned away. Anticipating long lines, many were discouraged from even attempting to attend. I would suggest that any future such rally be held in the Astrodome. I have little doubt that it could be substantially filled. Regardless of expense, it is clear that many more would attend if access were more reasonable.

Crowds are always a test of patience, and detracted considerably from my own concentration. There were many children and teenagers wandering the aisles and running up and down the bleacher seats (which shook the bleachers) throughout the services.

If I might inject a personal pet-peeve, I found the sound system, especially the music, to be ear-piercing. This seems to be the trend in Christian services, more the rule than the exception. I was thankful to have provided foam earplugs for myself, as has become my habit. There is no such thing as "getting tough" when it comes to hearing, only hearing loss. I question the practice of maintaining such high sound levels. In fact, I will go further to suggest that it is immoral to cause unnecessary hearing damage. The goal should be to allow everyone to hear, not to overwhelm and engulf. As it was, any conversation during the entire course of events required shouting in the other person's ear. The fault, I am sure, lies not with the leadership but with thoughtless (and hearing-impaired) sound men accustomed to loud music concerts.

But in spite of adverse conditions, or perhaps because of them, it is clear that the vast majority who attended were serious about getting a touch from God.

Fire and, Yes, Brimstone Too

Steve Hill spoke the first evening and Pastor Kilpatrick the second. Hill spoke on the "Refuge of Lies" (Isaiah 28:15, 17), the phenomenon by which people try to be happy apart from God. Common refuges include RUNNING, trying to hide from God and his will; RELIGION, using external acts of devotion in order to feel righteous and okay about oneself; and RELATIONSHIPS, leaning on other people for strength. (Hill noted how even drinkers in a bar will encourage one another and hold one another up.) But these are false refuges with no real efficacy.

It would be easy to preach a palatable, "aren't we great," prosperity-type message in order to draw and excite a crowd, but Hill and Kilpatrick are preachers of personal holiness and responsibility. Hill explained how men have a very effective tool at their disposal to fight lust, called the "neck." He illustrated how, when seeing a scantily-clad woman approach, a man could use his neck to avert his gaze in another direction. His answer to dealing with chronic sin is "Just stop!"

Tuesday night, Kilpatrick spoke from Ecclesiastes 4:1, declaring how those in Old Testament times who were oppressed had "no comforter." But we, as prophesied in Zechariah 12:9 and 13:1, have one who was pierced for our sakes, and from whom a fountain of comfort and deliverance flows. We have the Holy Spirit available to give us power over sin and oppression of the devil.

The Altars Overflowing

Both speakers made the altar call the centerpiece of their message. Hill rebuked demonic forces and declared the power of God to be greater than that of Satan. He pegged Satan as a serpent with no teeth, who only acts as a deceiver, a tempter, and an accuser. He might have power over sinners, but not over the saved. He called for not only the unsaved to come to the altar, but for Christians who were involved in sin to repent. He defined sin as "something Jesus wouldn't do." He specifically pinpointed drug use and lust.

Hill began a call for sinners to come to the altar to repent. Workers cleared half the main floor stacking chairs. People streamed to the altar, weeping, falling on their knees before God. Soon the whole area was packed, with others stacked up in the aisles. After a formal prayer of repentance and instructions to the newly saved, prayer workers began to work their way through the crowd, giving written materials to new converts.

The altar was opened to anyone who desired prayer. Hill continually encouraged everyone to be prayed over, especially for a greater anointing. Prayer workers moved through the crowd praying for individuals, laying hands on them. Many people were being slain in the Spirit. Presently, Brother Kilpatrick came zigzagging through the crowd with an entourage of "catchers" and helpers, slaying almost everyone he touched. It is said that he has a particularly powerful anointing. I noticed some people shoving through the crowd to get in the path of his approach, others following to see what was happening. Kilpatrick passed by close to me twice during the meetings, but did not lay hands on me.

The first night, I was very hungry for a touch from God. It seems as if the Lord is narrowing my focus down to Him these days, more than ever before. The first wave of prayer workers passed me by, but I sought out three to pray for me later. After a while, my friend Gennene, who was one of the prayer workers, took me to the front of the altar area and asked a particular man to lay hands on me. I was not slain, but soon felt a move of the Spirit grow within me. After he left, I found a place where I could kneel, and then lie on my face, weeping before the Lord. Gennene had several other workers come to pray over me. I wept for some time before the burden lifted.

The second night was, if anything, more intense. I did not have the same hunger for a touch, but rather a desire for getting alone with God for a time of quiet submission. Returning to my seat presently, I observed some of the fervency of the people seeking the Lord. Many lay slain on the bare floor like dead men, others jerking under the power of God. Brother Kilpatrick came by the section below me, where a number of Assemblies of God leaders were seated in the front row, to lay hands on them. In particular, he sought out Rev. Howard Burroughs, head of the South Texas Assemblies of God, to impart a spiritual touch upon him.

The Aftermath

Each night, hundreds of seekers lingered in the altar till midnight, at which time we were encouraged to clear the hall. At that time, many people still lay slain on the floor. Some were so overcome by the Spirit that they literally had to be carried out by their friends. Many people were "drunk" in the Spirit, convulsing with joyful laughter or wobbly-kneed. Some made it part-way out of the building, collapsing raptly in the halls or on the sidewalk.

Reflections

I have observed that, amazingly, this is not a revival of high-sounding messages pumping up the saints, but one based on repentance and submission before God. That is unusual in this age in which the Church as a whole is well-fed, self-centered, and complacent. Not often in recent years has a hard message drawn such crowds. I think this is a mark of true revival.

I am somewhat concerned about the desire for manifestations and experience which follows moves such as this. Such desire, in many cases, demonstrates a carnal self-seeking. But in many other cases it demonstrates a genuine hunger for a touch from God. One can hardly judge which is the case without examining closely the motives and character of the individuals involved.

Similarly, I note the preoccupation in these circles with the experience of being "slain." In other charismatic circles, the emphasis has shifted to the desire to be prophesied over. (I noticed a conspicous absence of personal prophecy at this event.) I hesitate to judge whether God is doing one thing at one meeting and another thing at another meeting, or whether the emphasis of personalized altar ministry is skewed in this group or that one.

Extremes and preoccupation with manifestations apparently follow any genuine move of God. We humans just can't seem to help mixing in the flesh with the Spirit. That appears to be inherent to being mere earthen vessels filled with God's Spirit, the holy contained in the carnal. We should labor to avoid this mix, but it is inevitable. We should expect it, prepare for it, and deal with it. It will come. But while avoiding hackneyed references to babies and bathwater, I will conclusively state that we need to withhold blanket criticism and dismissal of a move of God because of a relative few aberrations. Isn't the Unforgiveable Sin something about attributing the work of God to the devil?

Moreover, the real proof of genuineness is the nature of the message (which is soundly scriptural) and the fruit of the work in people's lives. I had someone contact me online to ask why the prophecy of deliverance from sin he received at a Pensacola meeting had not been lasting. In The Voice of God, Cindy Jacobs gives two reasons (not necessarily exhaustive) why a genuine prophecy might not come to pass. The first is, "The person prophesying did so out of the flesh or only has a partial understanding of what God was saying . . . ." The other is more likely in this case: "The person being prophesied to does not meet the conditions the Lord gives in the prophecy or falls into sin . . . ." I suspect that a prophecy often states God's purpose for a person's life as a matter of direction, not necessarily an absolute prediction of future events. Hill and Kilpatrick would probably state the solution more simply: if it is a sin problem, "Just stop!"

The testimonies of real deliverance, however, are manifold. If this revival is changing people's lives, turning them back to God, and bringing revival to America and the world, well . . . . I am reminded of the question David put to the Amalekite who claimed to have killed the mortally wounded King Saul: "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" Furthermore, as Watchman Nee wrote in Spiritual Authority,

"Until one knows the will of God he should keep his mouth shut. He should not exercise authority carelessly. . . . Persons with many opinions, ideas, and subjective thoughts are to be feared. They like to be counselors to all. They seize upon every opportunity to press their ideas on others. God can never use a person so full of opinions, ideas, and thoughts as the one to represent His authority. . . ."

Should we not be fearful lest we condemn the work of God?

Responses to the February Edition

(Note: February's edition was a report on the Building Foundations for Revival: Mobilizing Apostles, Prophets & Intercessors prophecy conference held February 12-14 at Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas.)

Dear Rev. Hughes:

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you so much for sending the copy of your article in "Insight". Dr. [Peter] Wagner asked that I relay to you that he thought it was an excellent, well thought out article. He wanted you to know that he takes the insights you shared very seriously and values your input very much.

We bless you and your ministry and want to thank you again for sharing your article.

Sincerely in Christ,
Marty Cassady
Executive Secretary
Global Harvest Ministries

Dear Rev.:

Thank you so much for forwarding this to me. It really blessed me. I appreciate and respect your insight and the wisdom our Savior has imparted to you. It is exciting to see in the latter days and hours, the leaders -- the chosen vessels coming into their positions for service as the Master intended before the foundation of the world. He surely has you poised for even more and greater service in Him. What greater destiny could there be? Praise God for the anointing in you!

Please continue to lift our local body before Him -- we earnestly covet the prayers of the Saints, as this grieving process is about to be turned into joy and labor in the field. God has told us that He will be unrelenting in preparation of our hearts for what He has planned.

Your sister in Christ,

a brueck

To: revhughes@aol.com (RevHughes)

This sounds like the Latter Rain restoration theology at it's best, or worse. All that extra biblical revelation nonsense. I've heard predictions like that for the church before. Maybe one day they will get it correct.

KEN

bro' hughes,

thanks for sending the report and feel free to send anything else you may want to send. it was an excellent report.

. . . i have recently gotten some wacky religious e-mails.

i agree and bear witness to a lot in your report which is a whole lot more than i can say for the things i have received lately.

thanks for sending it and look forward to future reports from you.

Waiting On God's Promises

Quotations from Pentecostal and Charismatic Writers

From The Voice of God by Cindy Jacobs (Regal Books):

"Waiting is a hard part of the testing process. I remember thinking that 'wait' must be God's favorite word, because each time I asked Him when He was going to use me, all He said was, 'Wait!' . . . . Great prophecies would come for everyone else and all I got was 'wait.' One day, God quietly spoke to me in my heart, 'Cindy, I don't waste the anointing. Be patient'" (p. 122).

"The Lord uses this waiting time to season us. One of His favorite ways to season us is through the fiery furnace" (p. 123).

From Watchman Nee, Spiritual Authority (Christian Fellowship Publishers):

"David was one who was able to be subject to authority. He never annulled Saul's authority; he simply waited for God to secure his authority. He would not try to help God to do it; he instead would willingly wait for God. Whoever is to be God's delegated authority must learn not to try to secure authority for himself" (p. 161).

"All those who know God can wait. If one's condition is right he will be recognized not only by the Lord as His representative but also by the church as God's representative. Let us never strive with the flesh, not even so much as to lift a finger. No one may rise up and claim, 'I am God's established authority, you must all submit to me.' We must first learn to have spiritual ministry before the Lord and then at God's time we may enter into the midst of His children to serve them" (pp. 162-3).

From Fulfilling Your Personal Prophecy by Bill Hamon (Destiny Image Publishers):

"Discouragement came because nothing was happening as quickly as I had expected. I showed the prophecy to a couple of ministers and a friend. They all said they did not witness to it and believed it was a bondage to me. They suggested that I burn it" (p. 9).

"Even if our prophecies are causing us confusion, frustration, or discouragement due to the lack of immediate fulfillment, we must nevertheless wait patiently upon the Lord. He will fulfill His prophetic word, changing both us and our circumstances" (p. 11).

Judas Or Pilate?

(From the novel Cass Timberlane by Sinclair Lewis)

Judas or Pilate?
Of these two men,
Which of them was
The worst, my friend?

Judas sold out
For silver, for sooth --
While Pilate just smiled
And said, "What is truth?"

Judas was stupid,
Pilate was smart:
No law could convict him
Except his own heart.

He had nothing to answer,
Save conscience' demand;
Pilate played safe --
He washed his hands.


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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Rev. Paul A. Hughes, M.Div., is an ordained Assemblies of God minister, Bible teacher, writer, musician, and songwriter.
Rev. Hughes is available nationally for pulpit ministry, Bible teaching, singles seminars, Holy Spirit conferences, and music ministry.