Children in the Revival

I find that in Asia most parents I’ve met are much more focused on their children’s education than most of us in the west are. In my estimation, most American Christians are in danger of an idolatry of academic credentials, but this seed has been sown in Asia, and they are now reaping a more intense harvest of this new idolatry.

Although many adults in Northeast India are excited by the current outpouring of the Holy Spirit there, the Lord seems to particularly move on the children and young people. But as this “revival” continues and spreads, the Lord seems to be confronting the academic idolatry of many families. As the focus of this outpouring turns children’s attention to the Lord, their parents and others seem to worry that their schooling will be compromised. This conflict is producing resistance among some, toward the move of God.

My friend and co-worker in India, Reuben Pradhan (http://torestoration.googlepages.com/), has written to me of his thankfulness that the Lord has led his family to homeschool. He is being used of the Lord as an example to other families, that they can seek first the kingdom of God, and all the other things (including academic achievement) will be added as by-products (Matt. 6:33). May the Lord use his influence there to shine the light of freedom from idolatrous distractions for others.

In the following updates on the move of the Holy Spirit there, I pray the Holy Spirit uses Reuben’s accounts to stir all of us to abandon our own agendas, and listen for the voice of our Shepherd. He wants to move in communities throughout the world, including in our own. May we align ourselves with Him and cast aside every weight that so easily entangles us (Heb. 12:1-2) and look to Jesus, who initiated our faith and intends to finish what He began.

To understand the context of the report below, I suggest you read Reuben’s previous reports first, and particularly the article, "How it all Started."

17th Oct. 2006
11:24 a.m.
Shillong, India

Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me

Some months ago, at the close of Shillong’s meeting for the Global Day of Prayer (4th July 2006), a visiting missionary with the gift of prophecy was scheduled to lead in the closing prayer, dismissing the crowd from the gathering on the Malki Ground. But as prophets are known to sometimes do unexpected and even potentially offensive things, he didn't pray at all, but simply said (and I quote, although not verbatim), "When revival comes will you be ready to give your children for the Lord?" All of us (including the chairman leading the meeting) were left bewildered as to what that actually meant.

Now we see that this question, posed to us before the revival hit us, did actually come from God. Today many parents, church leaders, teachers, and schools authorities are more concerned about their children's studies than about their encounter with the Living God. Thus schools have often discouraged children from coming into any contact with the “revival” experience and church leaders close down the “revival” meetings early (without being sensitive to the Lord's work and leading), so much so that a fellow-worker who is also a pastor and has a ministry in one village reported the children and young people experiencing revival not being allowed to enter the chapel (both mainline churches) to hold meetings. Leaders knew that the church pastored by my friend was the only one in the village that believed in the work and the manifestations of the Spirit (charismata).

Still, on Sunday when some people from Shillong who are working with this pastor reached the village, these kids and young people rushed to them with excitement, joy, and tears, at the place where they have their meetings. They had been eagerly waiting and anticipating their arrival. There was no space to accommodate all of them.

Indeed, our priorities are revealed during such times when God not only sends revival but also tests the heart of parents if they are ready to give their children for the Lord at such a time as this.

Shower of Golden Dust and Sparkling Particles

There is strange (I wouldn't say bizarre) news coming from reliable sources, of supernatural manifestations taking place with some people experiencing this revival. I didn't rush to report this news on my website, wanting to verify the reports first (although I will never doubt or limit God's infinite power with my skepticism). For example, some children and young people have reported receiving precious stones in their hands during the “revival” movement. These stones are visible to them but invisible to others.

My friend who shared this news with me actually went to meet one boy who has received such a stone. The boy claims the stone was given to him by the Lord Himself, who told him that this was a sign that the gifts of healing and discerning of spirits have been imparted to him. The boy dropped this (invisible) stone on the palm of my friend's hands and immediately the latter could actually feel the stone. Moreover the depression on his palm was visible because of the weight of the stone. The stone became increasingly heavy the longer he held it. He actually has taken a picture of his palm with the depression on it. (My friend told me of this on the phone, and I have not yet personally seen this photo.)

Regarding the shower of golden and sparkling dust falling upon the congregations in various places like Mawkhar, Laban and Mawlai, the local weekly TV news channel (PCN) showed people stretching out their hands to receive it, as we do to feel the rain. On the television screen we could see those shining particles of various colors on their palms. These dust particles didn't sway along with the wind as they dropped from above. I was told that in Mawkhar they just shot up everywhere outside the chapel, inside the hall, on the benches, from the slots behind the benches where they keep the hymn books, and on the tower where the bell hangs.

What is the Lord's message behind this shower of golden dust and sparkling particles? I personally feel the Holy Spirit is birthing an urgency of preparation on the part of His Bride to be prepared for the wedding with the Bridegroom. Probably the angels were throwing up “heavenly confetti” at the Bride as a sign of the wedding of the Lamb in advance :). A common word of prophecy received during this revival is about the Lord's soon return and for us, the Church, to be ready for His coming.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.
 
Reuben Pradhan
http://torestoration.googlepages.com/

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