“God Sets His Revival Plan in Motion”

Unbeknownst to me, God began preparing me for the revival at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church a year and eight months prior to its beginning. The most significant preparation took place at Bay Street Baptist Church in Eustis, Florida. The pastor of Bay Street is Mark Douglas, who has been a good friend for more than 25 years. God set His plans in motion as I began preparing a series of messages from Joshua in February 2005. My intent was to deliver these messages to my church, Indiana Avenue Baptist Church. God’s intent was radically different as He revealed to me that I would preach these messages at Bay Street Baptist Church. The radical part was that I had not been invited to preach at Bay Street. I had no plans to be in Florida nor was there an opportunity even hinting at the possibility of me preaching there. However, I continued with my preparation trusting God to guide and lead in His own timing. It was only a few months later in May that Mark Douglas called to ask if I could lead a revival for his church in October. I readily accepted the invitation, knowing this must be a part of God’s plans. I was completely awed at God’s masterful orchestration of events, but I didn’t feel compelled to share God’s earlier revelation. I didn’t think I would ever share this revelation with Mark Douglas or his congregation. But again, God’s intentions were radically different than mine. Following are some of my journal notes chronicling the events of the Bay Street Baptist Church Revival in October of 2005: Saturday - October 8, 2005 – My wife and I arrived at Bay Street Baptist Church on Saturday night. We had a time of corporate prayer in preparation for the revival that was to begin the next morning. Sunday - October 9, 2005 - On Sunday morning prior to preaching a message, God directed me to tell the Church about my February encounter in which He had revealed the purpose of the messages I was preparing. It was at that moment that some realized this was not going to be just another series of revival meetings. This was a divine appointment with God. Following the delivery of the message the altar was flooded with people crying out to God for forgiveness of sin. Two adult visitors in the congregation accepted Christ as their Savior. I was overflowing with joy and excitement. Bay Street was experiencing a pinnacle moment. I gratefully and humbly basked in the glory of God at that moment for I know that from the pinnacle all we could do was go down. Or so I thought . . . God impressed upon my heart that this revival would last seven days; it was currently scheduled to go from Sunday to Wednesday. I told no one. Tuesday - October 11, 2005 - Have you ever wondered if there is a limit to “great and mighty” as referenced in Jeremiah? I don’t know if there is a limit; but I was amazed at what God showed us tonight. Mark Douglas had asked the Lord for a miracle on Monday night. Tonight God demonstrated the miraculous through Punkie, a member of Bay Street. Punkie is deaf, communicating only through lip reading and sign language. Punkie’s right arm was paralyzed in an accident seven years ago. This greatly limited her ability to communicate with others, as she was unable to sign or extend her arm. God placed His hand upon Punkie tonight and healed her paralysis. For the first time in seven years, Punkie was able to raise her right arm to the heavens to praise God. She was literally overflowing with joy and excitement as she went to the altar signing prayers to the Lord. It was awesome! God’s presence was undeniably strong tonight as evidenced by Punkie’s miracle of physical healing. God was clearly inviting Bay Street to follow His calling. A visitor spoke to the congregation saying, “Bay Street Baptist Church, you must keep going and not miss God.” Psalm 1:3 states that “He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever he does prospers.” Bay Street was being invited to bear much fruit for God. They were given the promise of prosperity. The only condition, as it is for all of us, was that they needed to continue to feed from the living waters of God. Tuesday night while sitting around a dining room table, Mark Douglas said, “It isn’t supposed to end now.” I responded, “You don’t want to know what God has impressed upon my heart.” I then shared with Mark that God had impressed upon me to fast for seven days prior to the revival. I also told him that on Sunday morning during the invitation, God had impressed upon me that the meeting was to also last seven days. As we were having this conversation, it felt as if we were treading with angels. It was a very holy time. Thursday - October 13, 2005 - This was the first night of the extended meeting. We addressed the issue of corporate sin. I preached from the message of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts, Chapter 5. Both were influenced by Satan to lie and as a result died. Satan targeted Ananias and Sapphira in order to try to stop the Church of Acts. The Church of Acts was the “mother church” of all churches. Bay Street Baptist Church could also be the “mother church” to many if they follow God. This is their time! Again, the floodgates burst saturating the altar with tears, repentance, personal confessions, and public confessions. At 1:30 a.m. on Friday God strongly impressed upon my heart to bring my children to Florida. They had been staying with my folks in Tennessee. I immediately began making the children’s travel plans. I did not know why God wanted the children in Florida; but I knew without doubt this was a divine appointment. Friday - October 14, 2005 - Our children, MaKayla and Colby, arrived early Friday morning. Five minutes before revival was to begin, Charlene and I were beckoned to Mark Douglas’ office. Our kids want to be saved. MaKayla (14 years old) had tears dripping off her chin. Colby (11 years old) sat stone-faced, afraid that any movement would cause the release of mounting tears. Big tears started to roll down his face anyway. MaKayla prayed first, followed by Colby. In that instant my children were gloriously saved! We were late to church service, but right on time for God.