GOD WORKS SEPTEMBER 2019 - EDITION 5 GREAT 4 Welcome 5 The Season of Revival is here 6 Article - Revival is unusual 8 Testimony 12 Blast from the Past 16 A Worship Song 17 Q & A 19 Upcoming Events 20 Bible Study - The 3 R’s that lead to the BIG R -Revival 21 Teens' Church 22 Kids' Church 24 Happenings at Church CONTENTS CONTENTS 2 CONTENTS GOD WORKS “Revive me O Lord, according to Thy Word.” Psalm 119:156 3 GOD WORKS WELCOMEWELCOME WELCOME WELCOME Revival begins with YOU! Churches have preached and pro- pagated revival around the world. But, it isn’t the church or a prea- cher that brings about revival. It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit that motivates people to change their ‘normal’! Yes, revival is the act of estab- lishing a new normal that takes us from a life of sanctioned sin to a life of Great Triumph! Conversely, it makes condoned sin abnormal! In this edition of Bethel AG’s di- gital magazine we deal with the power of a changed mind. Nobody can do it for you! And once done, nobody can take it away from you! REV. JOHNSON V. & PASTOR CYNTHIA It is all about you and your will to transform your life. Are you willing to establish a new normal? 4 GOD WORKS THE SEASON OF IS WELCOME REVIVAL HERE! The Lord has promised to resurrect dry bones and revive what we considered dead and buried. Finances, relationships, heal- th, education and various other aspects of life will see miraculous revival in the name of our Lord Jesus! Pastor Johnson gives us a glimpse into the power of revival in the life of Prophet Ezekiel. God has promised to do the same for us! He is the same yesterday, today and forever... 5 GOD WORKS REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVALREVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVAL ISIS UNUSUAL REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVALUNUSUAL IS UNUSUAL REVIVAL IS UNUSUAL ouldn’t it be Revival is not usual. It cannot be described as great to travel a mundane, pedestrian, everyday occurrence “And it shall back in time that touches the congregation of the Lord Jesus and witness the Christ. come to pass in Great Revival When revival is unleashed, the unusual mani- of the 19th cen- festation of God’s power through the Holy Spi- the last days, tury?W Or better still to experience the rit will deeply impact churches, communities, first revival after the resurrection of towns, states, countries, continents and even says God, That the Lord Jesus? the whole world. Such is the unusual power of revival! I will pour out The recounting of these miraculous During the days of the disciples, the Romans events, creates in us a yearning to ex- and Jews were unable to contain the waves of of My Spirit on perience what was the most potent the Holy Spirit that drenched the world in revi- phenomenon known to mankind! val. In fact, it was so potent that it took Philip to Amazingly, in a time when tyranny Africa, and brought Thomas to India to declare all flesh; Your prevailed, revival was the only re- the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. When volutionary movement that was not Thomas was martyred, the people thought that sons and your forced on anyone. It was spurred it was the end of revival in India. But actions of by the power of the Holy Spirit that man cannot dissuade the plans of God! Millions daughters shall brought about change and reforma- of Indians were saved by the revival carried by tion on an unprecedented scale! one man. And what seems to the world outsi- prophesy, Your de to be a scheme of conversion, is far from the Sigh... Isn’t it a pity that we couldn’t truth! No one forced us to accept the Lord Je- young men shall be present at such events? sus as our Saviour. We just couldn’t ignore the Or should the believers of yesteryear power of God in our lives. How could we live in see visions, be envious of our generation? denial of such greatness? The Bible declares, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That Yes, revival is unusual! Your old men I will pour out of My Spirit on all The unusuality of revival is made more promi- flesh; Your sons and your daughters nent by a difference in perspective. A person shall dream shall prophesy, Your young men shall who has swum only in the dead sea will not see visions, Your old men shall dream understand the forces that pull him below the dreams.” dreams.” - Acts 2:17 surface of water, elsewhere. Similarly, a person Yes, we are a blessed generation, cal- who has never swum in the Dead Sea will won- led to experience an outpouring of der how a sea, which is so dead that it is label- the Holy Spirit, as was experienced led the Dead Sea, empowers people to float with - Acts 2:17 by the disciples of the Lord Jesus. such ease. 6 GOD WORKS In life, we may see people wallowing in sin - We should reach a stage and yet floating with ease, while we try to na- where we subconsciously vigate the sea of righteousness only to be hin- forget about ourselves a li- dered by its undercurrents. Remember, those ttle, and be concerned for who float on a sea that is spiritually lifeless God’s body - the congrega- will end up with a dead spirit. On the other tion of the church. God has hand, we have a Saviour who will walk on wa- - In our concern for the con- ter to meet us at the point of our need and re- gregation, we should not ig- vive our spirit - an all powerful ‘Life Guard for nore the world outside. The- a special the Ages’. When we experience the reality of re is nothing more insincere revival we will no longer be thrashing about than a church that does not in uncertain waters, but soaring on wings like care about the people outsi- eagles. de its premises. anointing “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like ea- Amazingly, our church, Be- gles” - Isaiah 40:31 thel AG, preaches about the That’s why revival is so important! The Lord Glory of God and the pres- for Jesus does not want us to be floundering in sing need to Honour His water. He wants us to be soaring like eagles! Name. Our volunteers are living proof of people who everyone! While the disciples were drowning in a sea of have forgotten about them- sorrow after their Master, the Lord Jesus, as- selves to be mindful of the cended into heaven, God worked a great mi- church, God’s body and His racle! On the day of Pentecost, the disciples people here on Earth. We Revival were blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit! are also taught to be concer- Each one received a special anointing that ned about the world outside, was meant particularly for them. and not be ignorant of peo- “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire ple’s problems. will pre- that separated and came to rest on each of The foundation for God’s them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spi- Great Revival has been es- rit and began to speak in other tongues as the tablished in Bethel AG! Re- Spirit enabled them.” - Acts 2:3-4 vival will happen! Our city sent that The disciples were miraculously revived! will be saved! All we need to They no longer struggled to stay afloat, but do is ask for the baptism of soared on wings like eagles as they preached the Holy Spirit, which will to us. the Word of God to the world! empower revival. It is important to note that the tongues of “As for me, I baptize you with fire did not pass over them or randomly rain water for repentance, but down on them. They separated and came to He who is coming after me rest on each of them. is mightier than I, and I am God has a special anointing for everyone! Re- not fit to remove His sandals; vival will present that to us. When we cons- He will baptize you with the ciously transform our minds to define a “New Holy Spirit and fire. - Mat- Normal” - a normal that rejoices in triumph thew 3:11 over sin and induces a feeling of wrongdoing Every Sunday we experience when in disobedience to God’s Word - it lays the move of the Holy Spirit. the groundwork for God to release His Spirit It is truly amazing for anyo- of Revival. ne who has felt His touch. Revival will endow us with many gifts! From But, this is nothing in com- speaking in tongues and prophesying, to parison to the baptism of the healing the sick and discerning spirits... the Holy Spirit! Congregations list is endless. Each gift contains the superna- that experience revival are tural power to change our destiny! supernaturally transformed! Bethel AG has been placed But, are these gifts given to us by God as a in the city of Bangalore to keepsake? spur revival! Our God has Certainly not! We are called to engage in the been turning heads and synergy of revival! changing hearts through our church. Tens of thou- When the entire body of Christ - the congre- sands have been saved! But, gation - is awakened to revival, the synergy it this is only an appetizer be- produces is unbelievable! fore the big banquet.