The "Great Awakening"...The after math

The "Great Awakening"
with Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
The "After-math" in the
Greater Metro Phoenix Area.

I thought I would write about the after math of this "Great Awakening" revival in Phoenix, Arizona.

Since my first blog was about the "Lakeland Revival" in Orlando, Florida; it is only fair for me, to write about what transpired in my life by having the privilege in going out into the streets witnessing and knocking on houses in South Phoenix and at a Car Show on Saturday.

First, I want to thank Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne for coming to America as a missionary from Africa. It took a white African to be led of God to begin to shake up The United States.

I went through the seventies and eighties being involved in church ministry, street ministry and every other ministry. Twenty years have gone by and never again was I compelled again to go out into the streets and knock on houses. I have preached much on witnessing and sharing the Gospel with others which I know many of us have done so occassionally. But it's not the same! It's never the same! It changes your life completely. This week my life was changed!

"God Mess Me Up"!

This week of the revival, "God mess me up"! You see, I know what God has instore for me. I know the plans and directions that foresights our ministry. When you think you got it all sealed up, God lays another stepping stone for me to walk on and lays a burden in my heart. I went to be part of the witnessing team on Thursday. I had an agenda. My agenda was to only go to the Resthome and participate there! I had no intentions in going to the streets or go knocking on houses. Because of my limited work hours, I did not qualify to go to the Resthome and participate and so I understood. So, God changed everything for me that day. I was nervous, I was going to go knock on peoples houses for the first time in twenty years. There was a rush. I didn't regret it! It was awesome! Saturday came around, part of me said no; but the majority of me said yes. I had to be present that morning. Again my agenda was, I will raise my hand and set out to the Resthome as my haven. God again changed the plan. I found myself at this Car Show talking to people, leading some to the Lord while others rejected me. Another spiritual high rush! It got better! It was awesome again.
It wasn't about me. It was about my obedience rather than the sacrifice. It was about bringing Jesus to the forefront of my life.

Let's read Corithians 12:5-10:
5 Of this same [man's experiences] I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (my weaknesses).

6 Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it] so that no one may form a higher estimate of me than [is justified by] what he sees in me or hears from me.

7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. [Job. 2:6.]

8 Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;
9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [b]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [c]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[d]in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful [e]in divine strength).
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My friends, the ministry that is set before me will not, can not, set the stage for future fertile ground until I participate in the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Great Commission completes me as a person, it completes my "Vision", it completes of what is to come.

Matthew 27:16-20:Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them go.
When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said; "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16:14-17: Later Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their subborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
He said to them; "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.

"Thus saith the Lord of Host"

To pastors, leaders, ministers, workers who are dying spiritually in church, and have no sermons to preach, and are struggling in your churchs for membership and church growth, church finances, I say unto you; "Ignite the match and start the fire of the "Great Commission" accordingly to the scriptures.
"The harvest is plentiful,
but the laborers are few" Matthew 6:37.

Even though the World Economy is in turmoil,
and perhaps the signs of the times are
eminent, but who will go into the the
fields to labor the harvest. Is it you!
Is it me! From the East is to the West,
the harvest is plenty.

People are hurting, people are dying, people are seaching. The people are looking for honesty, intergrity, they are looking for sincerity in me and in you. Who will go, who will knock on those doors, who will lay the corner stone.
Such prevalent times make people do unspeakable acts of destruction. Save the people before they are destroyed by their own disobedience and idiosyncrasies'. Speak life into the people, speak peace, speak healing, speak salvation into them. This is the time to plant and reap. Today is the day of Salvation, for the ground is good ground. Heed the call my brothers, heed the call my children, heed the call my pastors.
Amen...

I challenge you, my friend. We can prophesy, we can preach hell,fire, and brimstone; but if we are not winning souls we are short of the "Great Commission".

I encourage you today: "Obedience is better than sacrifice".

May God richly bless you,

Rev. Gil Ybarra (C)2008-Phoenix Arizona

email address: firerainrhema@msn.com