#CodeOrangeRevival Night #1 - The RHYTHM of REVIVAL

Well, what can I say?  What an amazing kickoff to #CodeOrangeRevival 2016 at Elevation Church.  Pastor Steven Furtick preached an awesome sermon tonight about Rhythm, the Rhythm of Revival.  He spoke about how we as people or different cultures, all have specific rhythms. And that one isn't better or correct over another, just different.  But God is trying to get His people to move in syncopation with His rhythm.  To move when God moves, to speak how God speaks. To love how God loves. To think how God thinks.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.  Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  10 As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 

- Isaiah 55:6-12 (NIV)

What rhythm do you see yourself in?  Maybe we've become complacent, maybe we're feeling stuck or frustrated where we are at.  God wants to interrupt the rhythm of our life and realign His children so that we are moving in rhythm with Him.  So, Pastor Steven gave us an action plan:

1. RECEIVE
We need to receive what God is speaking to us.  Too often we are 'selective-receivers'.  But repeatedly, time after time, the word that we initially resist, is the word that we needed to hear most.  He then challenged us to pray:

"Whatever you speak to me over the next 10 days God, I receive it!"

And trust the heart of God, that whatever word he speaks is for our benefit - wouldn't say it if it wasn't!  Receive what God speaks with an open heart.

2. RESPOND
Respond to the word that we are given.

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  

There is an assignment for every word God releases into our lives.  And the ground of our heart determines whether or not that word is fruitful.  Take the practical step of Obedience.

3. REPEAT

A rhythm is not a beat until you repeat it!!  All too often we receive a word from God and respond once.  And if it doesn't work, we blame God.  But how will we see breakthrough if we don't continue to 'work the word'?

4. RELEASE

(Which actually ends up being step #1)

We must release before we can receive.  We struggle so much when we are out of rhythm with God.  We need to release our burden of shame, sin, disappointment, failure; release whatever  is holding us back so we can release praise.

Are you willing to release praise to God and thank him, before you ever see his promises come to pass?  Because when we release from within us, God will revive what's around us!

So the Rhythm of Revival is:

RELEASE

                   RECEIVE 

                                     RESPOND

                                                          REPEAT

See you tomorrow for Night #2,