I am continually amazed at the balance and direction that the revival culture here at Bethel maintains. God is doing an incredible work in me, week by week, day by day, and this is true for everyone involved! This area is definitely a place of transformation, and the Kingdom Jesus planned for this earth is visibly being established. It's unfolding with each moment, as you see slaves become sons and take their place in the way God has called them to live.
Things are very practical around here. People are down-to-earth, genuine, and invested in each other. Again and again I realize that it's actually quite "supernaturally natural" to continually live in the state of revival, with perpetual increase and true fellowship. I have never been this close to a legitimate revival before, so sometimes I have to pinch myself when a supernatural moment occurs. Most other times, however, it feels very comfortable just to live life and be yourself at all times in Bethel. Often I have to remind myself that my experience has not been normal for much of the church up until this time in history.
Bill Johnson says that how you define revival will determine the fruit you receive from one. Many want to see revival in their church, and in their own lives, but they have not considered that their intentions for revival still carry an agenda that cannot be sustained without human effort. I love how Bethel has been established in such a way that it practically lives and breathes as a church with only the Spirit's presence as the fuel to continue.
I thought, in coming here, that one major area I would grow in was the working of signs, wonders, and miracles. Although I've received instruction in this, and although I have seen many supernatural occurrences, this has not been the most significant thing that has happened in my life, nor is it the emphasis of this school. They encourage students to find their true identity in Christ, and live out of that identity in the fullest confidence. Out of your identity in Christ comes a supernatural lifestyle, as "these signs shall follow those that believe". Furthermore, it becomes easy to stay in a place of fruitfulness and faith when you remain in Christ and what he provided for us.
One thing that is very strongly being emphasized in our teaching right now is the concept of the Sabbath, and learning how to rest. Every one of the ten commandments was reiterated in some form by Jesus in the New Testament, except for the command to keep the Sabbath. Some have taken this to mean that the Sabbath is not important, while others have taken the other extreme to believe that the Sabbath standard is still in place. However, God's intent is that every day becomes a Sabbath day! Hebrews talks about how we have entered into the rest that God has promised us, and how we can now work from rest instead of for it. Through this teaching, I began to see how this revival is so easily maintained. What has happened in Redding could happen anywhere else. It is simply a collection of people who understand who they are, realizing that God responds to their faith and not to their works, being people who are willing to share their energy and life with one another in the true spirit of fellowship and unity, willing to sacrifice anything for more of the Spirit's presence. Out of this atmosphere, the biggest and best things can happen, and they're happening every day! (Read the testimony below for a great example)
Recently we had the Leader's Advance here at Bethel, which is an invitation-only leadership training seminar put on by Bethel's leadership for churches moving in this same revival. We as students were not able to attend, but we were called upon to serve in the various functions of their gathering. We fed 800 pastors and leaders on three or four separate occasions, and it was an incredible time. Someone joked that this was really a job expo for many students, as you could tell that some leaders were keeping an eye on those that were serving as possible job candidates! The church treated these leaders really well. There was a prophetic appointment pre-arranged for every leader in attendance, and the main prophets assigned to speak over these leaders were young prophets that had come out of Deborah Reed's children's ministry! The youngest was 6-7, and the oldest was 12. They met with the leaders for 10-15 minutes, along with a supervisor/prophet that looked after the child. Apparently it was a very powerful time!
I pray that these blogs are encouraging. I will try to post more often, as I am quite busy most of the time around here. I hope you don't find me too repetitive about Bethel, and please, feel free to ask me questions via comments or emails! I would welcome that.
testimony
Two days ago, a first-year student and a third-year intern were dropping off some food to one of the senior's centers in Redding for their assigned outreach. The third-year intern was unloading the food and was in a rush, so when one of the center's staff came and tried to get his attention, he essentially ignored her. Finally paying attention to her demands, she informed him that an elderly gentleman had just died, and that he was not a Christian upon his death. Immediately the two men ran into the room where the elderly man had just died, and began speaking life into his body. Amazingly, and within minutes, the man came back to life! They were able to ask him if he wanted to accept Christ, which he did. Three minutes after accepting Jesus, he died. WOW!
Blessings
Connor
