By Eric Schroeder
Revival Catch phrase
Today we hear the word “revival” used like a brand-new catch phrase. We hear, “Come to our revival service!”, but it is nothing but a regular church service. There is no change, conviction, or repentance. Many use this term to get people to come. When true revival breaks out many people come to see the Lord work. It is a way to get people into their church and fill the seats.
True revival isn’t a catchy phrase, but rather a place of true repentance. It is seeking God and everything that He has for His church. Revival comes through lots and lots of contending and prayer for God to move. It takes crying out and carrying the burden for change to happen. It isn’t just a phrase, but rather a heart’s cry for God to move. We have to expect God to move amongst all of the turmoil and works of the enemy.
Upper Room Experience
Many want the upper room experience but aren’t willing to go into the upper room. What do I mean? Many want to see the signs, wonders, and miracles, but aren’t willing to go into the place of prayer, contending, waiting, and unity. When we really study Acts and the upper room experience, we see in Acts 1:8 NASB Jesus said to the disciples, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” After Jesus said this, He ascended into heaven.
They all listened and went to Jerusalem, and we see in Acts 1:14 TPT “Arriving there, they went into a large second floor room to pray. Those present were Peter, John, Jacob, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Jacob (Son of Alpheus), Simon (the Zealot), Judas (son of Jacob), and a number of women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. His brothers were there as well. All of them were united in prayer, gripped with one passion, interceding night and day.”
The Word says that there were about 120 people in that room praying. They were united in prayer. Jesus told them that they would be filled with power from on high. In the upper room, they were contending for it and were not going to stop until they got it.
They did take a time to vote for another disciple to fill the open position with the death of Judas of Iscariot. I believe they did this per the direction of the Lord. After they were finished, they went back into prayer. It was about 10 days that they were in the upper room till they saw the fulfillment of Jesus’ word. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell, and revival happened. The disciples were revived, and because of this Awakening began happening in the streets.
Not one disciple left early and said, “I am ready to begin working.” No, they all stayed until the fulfillment. We see that the Holy Spirit fell like a mighty rushing wind. Cloves of fire fell and were upon the heads of everyone. They left and that day we learn that 3,000 came into the fellowship and relationship of Christ.
I say people want the upper room experience but aren’t willing to go into the upper room. This statement is based off of my observation of the church today. Many desire to see the Holy Spirit fall in their church service. I ask is there intercession going on for this move to happen? Are people showing up contending and expecting to receive from God, or are they treating it as another church service? Many want to say a short prayer and expect God to move. Faith is walking and believing for something even though we may not see it. Getting into the upper room requires faith to keep pressing in until it becomes a reality.
Getting rid of the drive-thru mindset
We have to get rid of a “drive-thru” mindset. In the upper room, they prayed for days, not just minutes or even an hour. They prayed all day and night and they did not give up. Too many times we give up before we see God’s answers to our prayers. We have to get rid of this defeated mindset and put on the victory. The complacent and tolerant mindset has to be driven from the church, as these mindsets will prevent the church from digging in and expecting God to move. When these two spirits are in action, they will prevent a church from pressing in and expecting change, because they will keep us in a place of no action. Getting into the upper room takes action, and also takes faith.
We can see from the passages of scripture above and past revivals that there were similarities among them. We see that prayer and contending with God to move were things that they all did. As with the Azusa Street Revival, it started off with a small group gathered in a house that went to pray, worship, and contend for the Lord to move, and it happened. We also see that there was unity and an expectation for God to move.
We cannot expect to have an upper room experience when there is no unity. Unity is a key point because we are not strong when we are divided. When there is dissension among us, there is destruction rather than a building up. Dissension brings chaos rather than order, and we know that our God is a God of order. We see that in 1 Corinthians 14:33 NASB “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” I like the Passion Translation which says: “For God is the God of harmony, not confusion (or instability) as is the patter in all the churches of God’s holy believers.”
God is all about harmony, and if we are expecting a move of God then those that are contending for it need to be in harmony and not acting out of their own desires.
We need to get into the upper room again and contend for a move of God in our churches, cities, territories, states, and nation. We need to come and contend with God for the move to take place, and we can’t give up contending until we see what we are praying for come to pass.
It is time to establish nights of prayer and come unified to pray and expect God to move upon our land. When we come in one accord and expect God to fulfill His Word, then we will see Him move.
It is time we truly enter the upper room once again. We can’t expect to have an experience when we are not willing to enter in. When we come unified, then we will see a move of God take place that will be powerful.
I pray that God will draw His people back into the Upper Room to have an intimate experience with Him. It is time for a move and it is going to take us to contend and expect it to happen.