The Imperials

Revival

Revival - restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.; an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion; an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.

As Christians, we often talk about revival and/or the need for it. We seem to be looking for it or we schedule it at our churches for a few days or a week. During this time we will go to church night after night and then for a week or two after, we are on fire and God is all we can think or talk about. After the time passes, however, we tend to go back to our normal mode of thinking and talking about God; mainly, just when we are at church.

Might I say I have been guilty of that - if guilty is the right word? I am sure most of you could and have experienced the same thing. It is not necessarily bad but I don’t believe that is what true revival is all about.

Before I get in trouble, let me explain. Back at the beginning of the year we, The Imperials, decided to begin a time of agreement in prayer every day. Don’t get me wrong. We all prayed before and when we are on the road we do pray together, but when we go home we hardly ever see each other. So we decided to make a time of day, every day, that all of us would stop and focus in prayer on the group and what God wants. During this time we ask God to “show up” in our lives and in the group so we can touch others! Although we do ask for the things we need, we focus mostly on His presence in our lives and on what He wants. All of a sudden things began to happen! Attitudes, desires and motives began to be more God focused and less “us” focused! We began to see God move in ways that we have only touched on before. What we used to think of as an unusual or abnormal move or work of God has become the usual and the normal! We’re starting to expect Him to do great things in us, through us and for us!

This is not the first time this has happened in this group! We found an old newsletter of The Imperials from the early 70’s and it clearly tells of a time that the group was experiencing an incredible move of God! During that time group members were seeing things happening that could only be from God. They were in unity through the Spirit of God and we know when there is unity, then nothing can stop it! (Gen. 11:6; Psalm 133)

Over the past couple of months we have seen significant growth in every area of this ministry. Literal miracles have been and are happening! Don’t think that the devil has let this go unnoticed. We have seen him try to disrupt and harass us. On a recent Sunday night a demon possessed man showed up to try and disrupt the service. Before it was over, the demon was the one that got disrupted!

You know what? All of this was to be expected! Both the victories and the challenges. The Word and history tells us over and over what happens when people come into agreement, in prayer, wanting the presence of GOD! This word is simply called, Revival!

Using some words from “Holy and Acceptable”, a song on our new CD; we want to encourage you to “pray and seek His face” and invite His “glory to fill your life”. Not just so you’ll know what it’s like to experience His glory but so that you’ll be able to share His glory with everyone around you!