"Recognizing the approaching outpouring"

We may be closer than we think to one of the biggest revivals this world has ever seen, but many may miss it or not recognize it even if it was right under their nose.

Luke 24:13-35 is such a dynamic reference about the disciples walking down the road on their way to Emmaus and discussing what had happened to Jesus and all the circumstances that had taken place in the last three days. Then with out any warning Jesus walks up being unrecognized by them and enters into their conversation. I had a similar experience this last Sunday as my wife and I were taking the dogs on their favorite Sunday morning walk. As we were walking we stopped to talk with one of our neighbors, who also was walking his dogs. While we were conversing a man walked up said a few words about the dogs and walked on. Making our last stretch for home, again we saw this man on the other side of the street coming our way. As he got closer he began asking us about our dogs, and there seemed to be a familiar sound to his voice. We then crossed the street and realized he was no stranger. It became clear, as my eyes focused this was a brother who lives in the neighborhood and one with whom we spent much time in ministry. You might be thinking why didn't you recognize him the first time as he passed by. Good question, and I've tried to put myself in the place of the disciples as Jesus came up to them and they didn't recognize Him either. Let me offer some, hopefully Spirit lead insight as to this situation and how I believe it coincides with the approaching outpouring. I think not paying attention to our surroundings plays an important part, but being consumed by them will cause cataracts of unbelief to form.
The scripture says that the eyes of the two disciples were prevented from recognizing Jesus. After Jesus was resurrected His appearance was a little different, even Mary Magdalene, Joanna and the mother of James mistaken Him for the gardener at the tomb. These two were very much into discussing the events of the last three days. There are signs that point the way to different events or moves of God that we as His church can be looking for. I don't believe Jesus purposefully prevented the two from seeing Him. I believe partly because His appearance was a little different and because they didn't believe or were looking for their resurrected Lord. (Perhaps because I haven't seen or spent much time with my brother and because we were involved conversing with someones else is the logical reason for not recognizing him, but I see a spiritual application.)The two disciples were focusing on the way they thought He was going to bring deliverance to Israel which caused unbelief to accrue which can prevent one from seeing what God is doing right before their eyes. It wasn't until Jesus began walking with them that their heart's burned within them as He opened up and explained the scriptures concerning Him and it wasn't until the breaking of bread that they finally recognized Him. If we are to recognize the move of God and in particular the approaching outpouring, we must be connected to the Vine, constantly growing in Him, so we can continue knowing Him. Not everyone that was following Christ before His death believed and were connected. The thing about these two on the road to Emmaus, they were leaving Jerusalem because of discouragement, fear of the Roman soldiers and what might happen to them. They also didn't believe that Jesus rose from the grave. There are two important facts about a revival: the word of God and Christ Jesus as Savior. What I see right now preceding the outpouring is many other beliefs and religions are being mixed into the gospel consequently another Jesus is being preached. Jesus is not being recognized in the world and in many churches because their eyes are preventing them. Peter said in Acts 3:21 that there will be a period of restoration of all things. I believe the main catalyst in this outpouring is the pure unadulterated scriptures which will open the eyes of the unbelieving, that they will recognize the Christ the Anointed One. The hearts will burn again with conviction and heaven will release an aroma of salvation that will take the main stage. Prior to the outpouring will be much upheaval. The pale horse of death is galloping through nations, cities and every unlikely place. A spirit of recognition has plagued this nation and others, manifesting itself into killings, robberies and destruction. Many of these lone wolfs have been possessed, being wrapped in a blanket of violence, have thrown open Pandora's box and the spirit of hate and prejudice has been released. But this spirit of recognition has cloaked itself well as it has crept into the church, not in the form of hate and violence, although there has been those isolated events, but in the disguise of fame, alluring many upfront ministries, enticing them, and causing them to fall to the temptation of recognition/attention. Jesus didn't announce Himself as he walked with the two disciples. I don't believe ministries need to flaunt or announce themselves in order to gain attention which will produce a recognition that is man birthed. I believe there will be such a cleansing of the church and local ministries even to the extent that ministries will close in order for the Spirit to build a fresh work. Jesus said if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to Myself(John 12:32). I am a product of the Jesus movement/revival and I have seen and learned that there are certain seasons and events that begin to come full circle just before God sending a revival. Is God bringing another Jesus movement? I don't believe so. If we are building upon the foundations of past outpourings we may be in danger of not recognizing the move of God as it passes before our eyes. Every move of God is unique and serves to restore, bring glory to Him and release His plans for that generation and the future. In 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated. Just prior was the cold war/Cuban crisis. In 1965 we had the Watts riots in Los Angeles, which about the same time we began placing soldiers on Vietnam soil. Encircling all this was the hippie-drug-free love epidemic powered by the invasion of hard rock music with rebellious lyrics that began a new culture. Then the Spirit was poured out in the form of the Jesus revival, which was a counter culture. This world is ripe for an Awakening, for the Spirit to be poured out and flood nations with the cleansing blood of Jesus. Are we the church so consumed with the circumstance and affairs of this life and the way we think the move of God should be, that our eyes have become spiritually blind, preventing us from seeing the huge wave of outpouring coming our way.

I pray that the fires of intercession be re-ignited and the spirit of revival be birthed in the forerunner, thrusting them forth with the mindset to release prophetic intercession over the church, believing that the scales of unbelief would fall away and that all attention would be given to Jesus, causing His church to be able to recognize the signs of coming revival!