Bangkok, Thailand  l  05.29.08

A WHIRLWIND OF FAITH

The past two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I am suddenly beginning to feel the effects of it now as I’m sitting in the Bangkok Airport drinking coffee and trying hard to stay awake. I leave in a few hours on a direct flight back to Israel. It seems like just yesterday I was there with Kate for The Call on the global day of prayer. Since that moment, I’ve visited four distinct countries spanning across Asia which tell four remarkable stories of how God is moving all over the world. I feel like out of everyone out there in humanity, I have no reason to possess any lack of faith in my life. God has graciously given me a view  into His moves across the world that people seldom get to see…especially with the little time I’ve been alive. I am just a kid still…and I have to pinch myself sometimes when I doubt Him for simple things. I just don’t have an excuse now nor will I for the rest of my life after the adventure I’ve been on with God for the last two years.

After the incredible BURN launch in Nepal last week…we spent some very brief time New Delhi, India with some of the most humble people I have ever met. A group of 15 pastors traveled overnight on a 14 hour train ride (you dont wanna know what these trains are like) from the Punjab region of India (near Pakistani border) to be trained up and released in planting “presence based” churches and houses of prayers among the unreached parts of NW India. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life to say the least. I am no where near qualified to teach these guys on anything…their dedication, work ethic, and passion far exceeds mine in every facet. Just being in the room with them and watching them pray and worship was so inspiring to me. Nevertheless…I poured out all that I had within me in the 5 sessions we had together before I had to fly out to Indonesia that night. Gods presence fell as I started to teach on it and that made much easier as we just fell into it together. There were some massive and deep workings imparted to these Indian firebrands that I can’t even imagine…i just felt a release of GOD on them. It was very powerful to witness and an honor to be apart of. As I flew out to Bali…I just thanked God that He showed up so their time and energy wasn’t wasted. It could have easily been a different story if God wasn’t there. India is ready for a massive inferno…and I believe their passion and fervor God is stirring up will astound the world.

I’m not gonna lie…my time in Bali, Indonesia was a very intense experience. Although it was my third time on what has been dubbed “the island of the gods”…the Spiritual atmosphere has never been more active and alive. As I visited our first long term BURN team, we all believe and feel there is a transition taking place in their mission. God has brought them through some intense “schooling” the past three months, but they have never been more unified with one heart and one vision for their purpose in the largest muslim nation in the world. We experienced some incredible healing and restoration of the Holy Spirit and I believe they are ready to fly higher and farther than ever before. From the moment my feet hit the ground to the moment we drove to the airport…God granted open doors with the top apostolic leaders of the entire nation. I have been calling out to them for wisdom, guidance, discernment and support. I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE. He has flung the doors wide open for the BURN 24-7 to be in relationship with great heros of the faith - men and women who have risked it all for Gods Presence and His glory in that nation and are thriving in His favor and revival in this hour!! There is no explanation for that kind of favor for people who do not deserve it other than this simple truth: God wants his name glorified and lifted high in Indonesia. The team will be an integral part of The Call launching on August 18th in Jakarta that will be the largest gathering of youth in the nations history!! That is only the beginning of what is ahead for that team!! I am so proud of them and believe they will truly be apart of seeing that nation set on fire for the glory of God!

In Nepal He’s pouring out His glory…In India He’s pouring out His glory….In Turkey He’s pouring out His glory…In Indonesia He’s pouring out His glory…and all roads lead back to Jerusalem - where He will continue to pour out His glory until His gorgeous feet touch down on the Mount of Olives and He walks through the eastern gate revealing His glory to all of humanity!!

Thats where I’m headed!! Pray for us as we launch PUBLIC worship and prayer on the Mount of Olives May 20-June 10!! This has never been done in this manner before…especially with the governments approval!! I’ll be leading worship on May 31st and June 1st….please and pray and contend for a release of a fresh wave over the Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem!!

More to come…

_sean

A SUSTAINED FIRE AND TRUE JUSTICE

05.22.08  l  On the top of Himalayan Mtns

As the wheels of the plane lift off the Kathmandu Valley airstrip and we soar upwards over the highest peaks in the world, I am totally consumed with God’s heart and passion for this gorgeous nation and its 161 people groups. Even though this is my fourth visit here…it feels much like the very first. With a government currently in shambles at the hands of the ruling Maoist rebel group, this buffer state in between two world powers (China and India) is in an utter crisis. Just yesterday there was a nationwide strike called by the people to oppose the government. During these frequent revolts, no one is allowed to drive, all shops, stores, and schools are closed and many people stay in their home to avoid riots and danger. This act just further plunges one of the worlds poorest nations into deeper financial ruin. Our taxi cab driver was telling us on the way to the airport today that his car was empty and he needed more money so he could wait in the 7 hour line for petrol and mentioned it would take him all day.

God is famous for using these situations to work all things together for good! Due to the complete slaughter of the Royal family 9 years ago in the Kings Palace and the disillusionment of the nation who viewed the King as a Hindu god, many people are turning to Jesus and the gospel is spreading like wildfire throughout the land!  Many missions organizations say that Nepal is now the fasting growing church in the world per capita (surpassing China). We experienced extreme hunger of the people for the truth of existence and answers for the current situation. THIS NATION IS RIPE FOR REVIVAL IN EVERY WAY!!

DEEP ROOTS

The Burn Nepal has taken root in a way I cant even describe. The INDIGENOUS NEPALIS HAVE CAUGHT THE FLAME!! We were asked by several churches, ministries, and pastors for followup meetings and extensive training on “more burning for the one God” as they would say. They were eager to hear more on flowing in the spirit, singing new songs to God, and melding worship and intercession together to compliment each other. Every word that we would speak out they would take in….you could see the hunger and passion in their eyes and it was humbling!  Trilok is the Burn Nepal director and is one of the most BLAZE people I know. He stayed up for the entire 24 hours and jumped on and played a different instrument on just about every set. He is anointed, talented, called, full of fire for his nation, and has recently adopted five orphans with his wife from tribes all over Nepal. He is already longing to take this fire to the unreached tribes in the mountains and using it to plant churches!! We fasted, prayed, worshipped and were wasted after the 24 hours of intense warfare and fire. On our way home in the afterglow of the glory, God confirmed and revealed the purpose for the BURN after our taxi driver gave his life to Jesus and salvation was an IMMEDIATE response to our burning!

LET JUSTICE ROLL

The past four days we spent the bulk of our time at orphanages, child prostitution rehabilitation homes, and churches around the Kathmandu Valley. It has been a completely overwhelming experience to say the least. Every single day we left teary eyed (many of us weeping) as the children would come and lay their hands on us with intense prayer and prophecy. I’ve never felt more of Jesus’ Presence this year than with those kids in those homes.  It brought everything into perspective and I felt God’s heart drop like a bomb into my chest. Every single one of them was sleeping on the street, rejected and disowned by their parents and tribes, or left for dead in the brothels by their ruthless masters. Not one of the children was feeling sorry for themselves, living in any sort bitterness, or holding their love back from complete strangers. They shine the love of Jesus more than anyone I know and are a clear picture of true transformation through Jesus Christ. Our hearts were ripped in two as we learned so much from these children and those that have taken them as their own. Our burning HAS TO work hand in hand with seeing “justice roll down” in the land. We dreamed together on how we can see this combination take root in all our cities around the world. This was the trip of a lifetime where so much was accomplished, experienced, and revelation was downloaded that will take weeks and months to process and digest!!

KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON

Please continue lifting us up in your prayers as we fly to New Delhi, India today for a pastors conference and burn preview. Many people are ready for a BURN launch in India and we have one day to articulate the vision to many pastors and leaders. After that meeting tomorrow, I will leave directly to Bali, Indonesia to meet with our first long term BURN team at their base for six days.  We have some very crucial decisions to be made and need the will of God for clarity and supernatural guidance. From Indo I will fly back to Israel for 3 days of vertical worship on the Mount of Olives (Fulfillmentest.org) and a short stop in Santa Cruz, CA before I meet Kate and family at my sisters wedding in Virginia.

WHEWWW…Much prayer is needed.

Fire, Peace, and Love on all!!!

fire on you..

_sean

Welcome to the BURN 24-7 May Newsletter!!

We are in a season of an open heaven where God is truly “pouring out His spirit on all flesh” all over the world!! Many of you have heard the reports of the incredible healings, salvations, signs and wonders and a heavy Presence of God being experienced. I had the opportunity to go last week and experience firsthand the outpouring in Lakeland, Florida and I can vouch what God is doing is simply amazing. The Lord called me during the meeting to go the very back row of the stadium and watch the hunger and intense desperation of the people. He spoke to me and said “I am here because my people are hungry.” I began to weep as I witnessed this hunger well up that place as people were laying prostrate and crying out to God until 2am!! We are truly in a new day and God is doing a fresh thing across the earth! Its happening in Lakeland, Fort Mill, SC at Morningstar and even in Israel, Turkey, India and to our next destination of Nepal.

My wife and I just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the “War for Independence ” and birthing of Israel as a nation again. There was electricity in the air as God lavished His Presence on us and we felt the weight of His glory during the The Call 12 hour solemn assembly of fasting and prayer in Jerusalem. It was absolutely overwhelming to join with hundreds of millions around the world during the global day of prayer in a desperate and unified cry for revival and restoration to fall on the nations of the earth!

Stay current on how God is moving through BURN 24-7 all over the globe! Be encouraged and revived as you hear testimonies, watch video updates, and witness the hand of God moving in furnaces and with our BURNERS across the world! There is a fresh grace to contend and see the outpouring of God! Join us in this quest together with your
prayers, financial support, and burning in night and day worship and prayer. COME LORD JESUS, COME!! Read more

Let me be perfectly honest with you. Denver is a mess. Denver is divided. Denver doesn’t know Jesus. Righteousness is not flourishing and Justice certainly isn’t rolling down the great Rocky Mountains. Not to be a cynic, but the proof is in the pudding. In the early 90s Billy Graham refused to come because there was such division among the churches. Colorado was the first state to legalize abortion; it has the highest rate of teen suicide, depression and cocaine and marijuana use in the country. Colorado has more adult entertainment venues per capita, more condom purchases then any other city-even Vegas. More occult activity then other state. I could go on, but I will spare you more of the gritty dirty details of this Mile High State only because there really isn’t room.

My God is a God of redemption. And over and over and over He uses the darkest places on earth to shine his glory in ways that are completely unimaginable. I think that it’s the part of his character that loves using the foolishly crazy, abundantly absurd things to shame the works of the wise, the slick plans of those who think that they can formulate the mystery of Him who always has been. My God is the one who in an ancient time and on a hill far away, on a deeply scandalous night, brought us out of darkness into light. And he is still working. He is still calling, He is still overcoming, He is still bringing light.

My heart is beating quite fast and it had been for a while now. I can’t get enough of Jesus. I can’t see gaze on Him enough. I am exploding because He has allowed me to see the end game, at least in part. I feel like I am stuck in a parallel universe, because Jesus is coming and Jesus is here, I can see his coming to Denver in a quiet earthquake, in a mountainous roar of the yearly blizzards; creation is groaning, I am groaning. Yet, He waits. And so I Burn.

And I call people to join me, and in the dark hours of the midnight hour, in the weird moments of half-light just before the dawn breaks; we call out to the one who brings redemption, to the one who saves. We cry out “JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!! YOUR NAME IS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME. COME TO THIS DESERT, REMEMBER YOUR PROMISES, REMEMBER THE ANCIENT SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED, COME AND DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO.” Let me be clear, we are not pleading for revival, we are not pleading for a visitation. Honestly, Jesus has shown himself in revivals, he has visited cities the world over many times over the last two thousand years, yet our world is still a mess. No, we are pleading for him to come and inhabit. We are calling for him to dwell in the temple of our hearts, to mess up our neat little lives so thoroughly that our lives, our city, our world will never be the same.

Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t easy. Its not easy being a forerunner, its not easy being the one awake at three in the morning, the lone person on the stage of heaven, taking my rightful place in front of the King pleading over and over and over that He would come in a NEW way. My heart aches, my soul is lonely, my eyes want other lovers. But then I gaze, my heart beats faster as he shows me his heart and I step into that parallel universe of eternity. Though I am blind I am able to see.

Denver is a mess, but my God already paid the price, death has lost its sting and this Mile High City will be and already is a City on a Hill. Denver is uniting; passionate lovers of Jesus are coming and crying out like never before. Righteousness is being formed and Justice is being built. This state will be a beacon of the Glory, a beacon on the Presence, a beacon of Jesus. Light has come, Darkness has fled, and the end game has been declared.

The New Sound

There have been several prophetic words and a whole lot of Charismatic jargon lately about God releasing a “new sound” in the earth that will help to usher in (or be a part of) the next great move of God. To be honest, every time I heard this stuff I just didn’t get it! I passed it off as more hype than anything. Most of what I have heard led me to believe that people think that God is going to release a new style of music that is somehow going to draw in the masses to Him. I’ve heard different bands that have been dubbed as those carrying the “new sound.” It’s funny that the “new sound” people refer to almost always seems to be a style with a lot of delay on the guitar and ethereal keyboard pads! I really think most people have thought of the “new sound” as an actual style, a style that unfortunately only appeals to 18 year-old white kids who like screaming guitars. I do believe that all the talk about a “new sound” has some merit to it, but I’m almost sure it has nothing to do with style!

I believe that in every generation there has been a new sound released. It is the sound of hearts being awakened to the Father once again! It is the sound of lives beginning to resonate and harmonize with the heart and will of God! It is the sound of revival! Yes, with this new sound comes fresh artistic expressions but it is not limited to or defined by style. It is defined by a cry of the heart!

Recently at a Burn we heard this “new sound” being released among us. It was released through a group of Baptist ladies singing hymns and Paul Wilbur songs and crying out to God in desperation for a breaking in of His Presence. It was released through a group of singers that could not define what prophetic worship was, but a cry was released in their music that was not ordinary. It was released again through a group of 19 year-old college kids who let the guitars scream and never sang an actual written song! The sound shook us to the core as people cried out in repentance and desperation for a move of God. I believe this sound touched the throne of heaven and shook things on earth!

The New Sound: A Pre-Cursor To Revival
On the day of Pentecost the “new sound” was released that was a pre-cursor to a massive outpouring! They were in the upper room when they heard, “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind…and they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4). This wind was not just an ordinary physical wind. This was a sound from heaven that was never heard in the earth until that point! This was the very fulfillment of Joel 2:28, the promise of the Spirit of God resting upon all believers and empowering them to be a prophetic voice to their generation. It was the very entrance of God himself in the form of the Holy Spirit being released into the earth to turn the hearts of rebellious man to Him! It was a violent wind, letting us know that it will take a violent power to rip humanity from the clutches of the evil one!

A Heavenly Pattern
It is interesting that when they first heard a new sound, initially manifested as wind, and then they released a new sound, which manifested in speaking tongues and preaching with power-producing, staggering results - 3,000 saved in a day! I believe this is a pattern that God wants us to get a hold of. We first hear the sound He is releasing from heaven and then we release that sound on earth. The released sound in turn impacts the destinies of cities and nations! The sound is being revealed to prophetic minstrels, intercessors and any believers that have chosen the radical path of shutting out the sounds of the world to hear what God is saying.

A New Sound Coming out of the Desert!
There was a voice that was released just before the revealing of Jesus to the earth that broke 400 years of prophetic silence. This was the “voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord” (Matt. 3:3). Between the old and new testaments we have no written record of the prophetic word of the Lord being released to Israel. During the 400 years of revelatory silence Israel backslid into a community of dry, barren, legalistic, religious people that had no living relationship with their Creator. I believe God was strategically silent so that when He did speak again through a prophet, the sound would pierce hearts to the core and awaken a generation back to Him! In other words, the silence made the sound more prominent when it came!

One lone voice, John the Baptist, released at the “fullness of time”, shook a generation out of their slumber and stirred expectancy for the coming One! We are again standing at a transitional time in history, only this time we are not the generation of the first coming but the generation just before the second coming. Once again it seems that there is a barrenness of the true Word of the Lord, a “prophetic silence” if you will. If this were not so then the church would be impacting and transforming our culture much more than it currently is. Instead, we have conformed to the ways of the world and have lost our voice and a sound that can change a nation in a day!

From pulpits all across the western world we are hearing the sound of mind-numbing, self-help, media-driven hype, which is spectacular and entertaining but lacks the power to transform the soul or to change cities. Some of the largest churches in the nation reflect this trend and the sad part is that we have bought into the “bigger is better” philosophy. In doing so we have gulped down the empty and vain philosophies of these churches only to find ourselves empty of any power to change lives!

A Call to the Wilderness
But in the “underground”, in the “wildernesses”, even now there are voices that are being raised up! All across the world (and the Burn is but one example of many), a generation is starting to “hear the sound” as they are drawn to the secret places of fasting and prayer, and as they are being compelled to pour out their soul to the Lord even through the watches of the night! There is a generation that has heard the “alarm being sounded in Zion” (Joel 2:1) and are gathering together across denominational walls for hours at a time to worship, weep, fast, prophesy and pray—to release the “new sound”!

There are a people, young and old, that have heard the call to the desert, away from the lifestyle of over-indulgence and ease to hear “the sound” and to get a voice that can shake nations. They are a people that have taken off the garments of comfort and pleasure and have put on the chaffing camel skin garment of John the Baptist! They’ve chosen to go against the grain of our culture so that they might actually have something to say to them!

Yes, there is a new sound being birthed in our generation. It is the sound of awakening! It is the sound of a people rising out of the ashes of complacency, and dead religion. It is the sound of dry bones rattling, an army arising, realizing that our generation doesn’t have to live under the tyranny of the spirit of death anymore!

The New Sound Isn’t Always Pleasant!

During a Burn recently I had the revelation that the sound of “Awakening” is not pleasant! When is the last time you remember being woken up by an alarm clock, or by a person when you weren’t ready to get up? I remember as a kid being so angry and irritated by the sound of my Mom’s voice when she tried to rouse me from my sleep.

Be prepared! The new sound will not be popular or pleasant to the religious status quo. It will irritate and anger them! However, it is a sound that must be released if we are to see the earth prepared for His return! John the Baptist encountered this opposition from the Pharisees. Jesus spoke of His generation when He said, “we played the flute for you and you did not dance, we sang a dirge and you did not mourn” (John 11:17). In other words the response of the people was not appropriate to the “sound” or song they were hearing! They didn’t get it! They resisted the voice of the Lord that was being released to them to come into agreement with the King of Kings. However, I believe there is a remnant that is hearing the song the Lord is playing!

The “new sound” is being released and those that have been hungering for it will hear it and respond appropriately to its invitation. When the funeral dirge is being played they will mourn for their sins and when the flute or the wedding song is played they will draw near to the Lord in intimacy!

This voice crying from the desert will manifest in many different ways. It will come through the arts, music, painting, poetry, writing, and preaching. The styles will vary but there will be one common theme. It will sound like awakening! It will sound like desperation! It will sound violent! It will be a sound that disturbs the status quo and chaffs at those that are comfortable in dead religion. It will be a sound that moves the Father’s heart and calls home the sinner!

It’s time to break the prophetic silence! It’s time for us to radically abandon the world to hear this sound! This is not another church growth method, this isn’t just a good idea…this is our only option! A generation stands in the balance. We must release the “new sound” into the heavenlies through both our worship and intercession and into the earth through our bold prophetic proclamation! Let’s position ourselves to hear and release this sound! Let’s go the way of the desert, of sacrificial living. Let’s leave the noise of the world so that we may hear His heart and release His sound in the earth! What could happen if we did?

Kathmandu, Nepal  l  05.16.08

We are less than two hours away from the completion of the first ever BURN NEPAL launch!! Its been one wild and crazy adventure to get to this point!!  This quite possibly has been the most interesting and intense global burn launches to date.  Right now the vertical sounds of adoration and love are being released by a group of fiery but war torn Nepali musicians who are giving it their all in these final hours! Many of them have been up all night with “no sleep to their eyes and no slumber to their eyelids” while they find a place for Him to dwell in their nation! (Psalm 132). I can feel the weight of his pleasure and favor in this place even as I am typing this.  It is a completely overwhelming and beautiful cloud that we are in and even though our wonderful BURN NEPAL team is exhausted, wasted, and spent! There is a part of us that doesn’t wanna leave this place!

“I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells!”

Psalm 26:8

In talking with many of the area pastors and apostolic leaders before we launched this…they shared on how their nation is in a crisis and night and day prayer and worship is the only answer. With a growing Maoist rebel group consuming an entire generation in fear and panic, a newly formed government in a crucial rush to draft an entirely new constitution, extreme levels of poverty, disease, and the booming child trafficking sex trade from India, Nepal has its share of problems. We know the only answer to all these urgent issues is simple – HIS PRESENCE. We need more of it to flood over these beautiful Himalayan Mountains and into the unreached Tibetan Buddhist tribes.  We long to see His Church in this land strengthened and encouraged with a new faith and boldness to grab hold of the promises of God in this hour! We long to see the indigenous sound of these gorgeous voices and instruments released as incense to the Father!!

ITS ALL HAPPENING NOW!! GOD IS DOING IT!!

Now that’s not to say it hasn’t been messy. During the first session last night…we had some very loud and obnoxious demonic deliverances taking place  as our team rebuked the foul spirits controlling these precious people. I love it how when the waters of His Presence begin to stir…that kind of stuff cannot stand!!  It must flee!! That’s our new brilliant deliverance strategy for the nations – WORSHIP! We also are reminding ourselves that this “singing a new song” and “worshipping and praying night day” and “giving God room to sing and speak prophetically” are all brand new concepts over here!! This is fresh stuff for them! Its still even fresh stuff for religious American in many ways! So the BURN has been a lab for us to teach, test, and release this Davidic worship.  Even though it can be very chaotic and frustrating…God is beginning to turn it into something beautiful!!  Even witnessing the transformation over this 24 stint has been amazing!!

So onward we go…we BURN in these last hours for the release of God’s glory all over the nation of Nepal!!!  Keep us in your prayers and contend for this release with us! More info to come as we visit orphanages, mountain house churches, child prostitution rehabilitation homes and more!! Its good to start out with the Blaze first though!

Pray and believe this with us today:

“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nation. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Life up your eyes to the heavens and to the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies.

BUT MY SALVATION WILL LAST FOREVER, MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NEVER FAIL!”

Isaiah 51:5-6

More Lord..

_sean

Bangkok, Thailand  l  05.29.08

A WHIRLWIND OF FAITH

The past two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I am suddenly beginning to feel the effects of it now as I’m sitting in the Bangkok Airport drinking coffee and trying hard to stay awake. I leave in a few hours on a direct flight back to Israel. It seems like just yesterday I was there with Kate for The Call on the global day of prayer. Since that moment, I’ve visited four distinct countries spanning across Asia which tell four remarkable stories of how God is moving all over the world. I feel like out of everyone out there in humanity, I have no reason to possess any lack of faith in my life. God has graciously given me a view  into His moves across the world that people seldom get to see…especially with the little time I’ve been alive. I am just a kid still…and I have to pinch myself sometimes when I doubt Him for simple things. I just don’t have an excuse now nor will I for the rest of my life after the adventure I’ve been on with God for the last two years.

After the incredible BURN launch in Nepal last week…we spent some very brief time New Delhi, India with some of the most humble people I have ever met. A group of 15 pastors traveled overnight on a 14 hour train ride (you dont wanna know what these trains are like) from the Punjab region of India (near Pakistani border) to be trained up and released in planting “presence based” churches and houses of prayers among the unreached parts of NW India. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life to say the least. I am no where near qualified to teach these guys on anything…their dedication, work ethic, and passion far exceeds mine in every facet. Just being in the room with them and watching them pray and worship was so inspiring to me. Nevertheless…I poured out all that I had within me in the 5 sessions we had together before I had to fly out to Indonesia that night. Gods presence fell as I started to teach on it and that made much easier as we just fell into it together. There were some massive and deep workings imparted to these Indian firebrands that I can’t even imagine…i just felt a release of GOD on them. It was very powerful to witness and an honor to be apart of. As I flew out to Bali…I just thanked God that He showed up so their time and energy wasn’t wasted. It could have easily been a different story if God wasn’t there. India is ready for a massive inferno…and I believe their passion and fervor God is stirring up will astound the world.

I’m not gonna lie…my time in Bali, Indonesia was a very intense experience. Although it was my third time on what has been dubbed “the island of the gods”…the Spiritual atmosphere has never been more active and alive. As I visited our first long term BURN team, we all believe and feel there is a transition taking place in their mission. God has brought them through some intense “schooling” the past three months, but they have never been more unified with one heart and one vision for their purpose in the largest muslim nation in the world. We experienced some incredible healing and restoration of the Holy Spirit and I believe they are ready to fly higher and farther than ever before. From the moment my feet hit the ground to the moment we drove to the airport…God granted open doors with the top apostolic leaders of the entire nation. I have been calling out to them for wisdom, guidance, discernment and support. I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE. He has flung the doors wide open for the BURN 24-7 to be in relationship with great heros of the faith - men and women who have risked it all for Gods Presence and His glory in that nation and are thriving in His favor and revival in this hour!! There is no explanation for that kind of favor for people who do not deserve it other than this simple truth: God wants his name glorified and lifted high in Indonesia. The team will be an integral part of The Call launching on August 18th in Jakarta that will be the largest gathering of youth in the nations history!! That is only the beginning of what is ahead for that team!! I am so proud of them and believe they will truly be apart of seeing that nation set on fire for the glory of God!

In Nepal He’s pouring out His glory…In India He’s pouring out His glory….In Turkey He’s pouring out His glory…In Indonesia He’s pouring out His glory…and all roads lead back to Jerusalem - where He will continue to pour out His glory until His gorgeous feet touch down on the Mount of Olives and He walks through the eastern gate revealing His glory to all of humanity!!

Thats where I’m headed!! Pray for us as we launch PUBLIC worship and prayer on the Mount of Olives May 20-June 10!! This has never been done in this manner before…especially with the governments approval!! I’ll be leading worship on May 31st and June 1st….please and pray and contend for a release of a fresh wave over the Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem!!

More to come…

sean

God drew us, 110 of us, at just the invitation of an e-mail, with a one day notice. We presented ourselves before the Lord for 12 hours Friday night at 10 p.m. in Shawnee, Ok.

Ryan and I had felt a deep burden of intercession all week for our city, and our pastors.  We spent several hours in gut wrenching repentance and groaning!  We new that the urgency we felt meant that we needed to call the troops in to pray.

When we walked into Living Word last night we didn’t know who, if any, would respond to the urgent call to pray. We were surprised to see so many that had heard the call of the spirit and dropped everything to contend for our city.  We felt that this weekend was so important for the history of Shawnee and that a lot was at stake.  I’m not being dramatic when I say that what we did last night and will continue to do could potentially alter the course of history in this city and usher in an unprecedented move of God!

All night there was a heavy spirit of intercession and warfare. One moment we were dancing, another we were repenting and another we screaming with groans that can’t be uttered.  When we got tired, Angie Phillips or John Hudson would rally the troops to rouse themselves to press in and to PUSH!

After 13 hours of groaning, dancing, weeping and repenting I was expecting a breakthrough but the burden of intercession never lifted. I felt wounded by the Lord in the sense that he let me see His heart and how He is mourning over our city and nation! Great dread came upon me with weeping and trembling that I could not control as I realized that a storm is coming, called the wrath of God, and so few are prepared for the day of reckoning!  He wounded us with a burden of intercession and we cannot relent until the wound is healed!

He is so gracious! He is calling for watchmen to stand in the gap that His full purposes for our city and nation might come to pass! If we, as the church, were held accountable for our trespass against the Lord in this hour, the judgment would indeed be merited and great!  Do we really understand how our judgment against others in the body, our gossip, our fear, our territorialism, our pride, has offended the Lord!  God’s deepest desire is to send Revival to Shawnee, to restore, deliver, set free, and save thousands yet His church stands before Him with this sin of offense against our own brothers in Christ!

We have divided to the point that we are afraid of someone stealing “our sheep.” They were never “our sheep” to begin with, they are His!  If we are “one body” then where someone goes to church should never matter! Bottom line: we have prostituted ourselves to keep our budgets flowing and the programs in place that have obviously not got us to where He wants us!

The Lord convicted our hearts that we have used His anointing and His gifts to build our own kingdoms!  Brothers and sisters, I say this with the fear of the Lord and trembling! We must repent because everything built upon the pride of men will be swept away with one breath of His mouth! He will not share His glory with another! Never!

The Burn became something different this weekend! It became more than being on “the cutting edge” of what God is doing.  It became more than cool music around the clock! It became about standing for a generation in crisis! It became about breaking the silence and crying out for the only solution to our situation: The Glory of God!!!!!

What will happen if we don’t hear the trumpet blast to our city calling us to repentance?  What if we choose to stay in our dead religion, to play church games, to spend our time, energy and money on bigger buildings and better light shows?  What is at stake if we don’t fall on our knees and cry out to the great deliverer for an awakening?  Our kids, the generation coming up is at stake!  We must have revival for their sake! Evil is escalating out control in our generation….we have no other solutions!  Another church growth conference won’t do it! A better media projector, lights, or quality of music won’t do it!  These can never produce life transforming converts! We need the Power of God sent from heaven as on the day of Pentecost to sweep our foul sin away and bring power that can save 3,000 in a day!

I don’t know about you but I am tired of laboring for so little results! How many people got saved in your church last year?  Divide that number into your annual church budget for a shocking figure at how much expense that we put out for one soul! Are those people even still in our churches being discipled?

We must have the power of God!  It is not about the Burn! If you can’t handle the Burn then call your own prayer meetings! Let’s just do it!  No more excuses, no more fear, no more insecurity about sheep stealing! Let’s prepare the way of the King and build His kingdom!

Stay tuned for more “nights of prayer” in May.  We are feeling that our assignment after this weekend is not over! It is not easy, or pretty! This type of praying offends the mind! But it is the prayers of desperate people!  It’s time fast! It’s time to cut off the TV! We could be at the door of another Great Awakening and I don’t want to sacrifice that on the altar of my self-indulgence!!!!!!!!

Tel Aviv, Israel

05.10.08

We are going on our third day here in the holy land and so far its been nothing short of divine. Ever since the wheels of our plane screeched against the tarmac, we have had the sense that we are home. Its the craziest feeling and very hard to articulate at times..but even in the midst of the nonstop conflict and strife that clouds this tiny strip of land in the middle east, there is something completely soothing about being here to my spirit.

God’s favor is here and He is completely accessible when you call to Him. That is one of the most incredible things I noticed during my first trip here back in October 2007. Whenever we would enter into worship together and simply call out to Him…its like His Presence invaded immediately and without delay! I think I could get used to that! I’m not even sure if it was just because we were worshipping in such epic places as the Mount of Olives (where His feet will touch down and the Mountain will split in two before He busts through the Eastern gate on that day) or on top of Mount Carmel (where Elijah called down the fire with the prophets of baal)…but I think its just cause God so longs to visit this land again with power!!

This is my first of three trips here in the next month and has really set the tone with a fresh outlook on what life is really like here in Israel. God has divinely hooked Kate and I up with the most amazing place to stay during these past few days which I could have never possibly orchestrated myself (similar to the last 18 months of my life!). We are living with a Yemen Jewish family who recently lost their son to a suicide bombing outside of Tel Aviv. Its a wild story how we came to be here and I wont go into it all because of time…but we are hearing the stories and living together with these wonderful people. Last night we experienced out first Shabbat meal together with Israeli Jews and it was a beautiful time of eating the best world in the world while talking, sharing, and laughing together until the early hours of the morning! They told us stories about their life, their beloved son who died and their hope for the future while we listened and heaped the love and kindness of Yeshua upon them!

It is a very sobering experience to hear and see all we have the past few days…but I feel so much more in tune with the daily struggles that blind the eyes of God’s people and complicate the simplicity of what Jesus came to give. I will never forget this experience and am soaking it in this last day before we head up to Carmel and Galilee.

Yesterday we “ascended the hill” into Jerusalem and spent some good time walking the streets of the old city with The Call crew. It was Kate’s first time so she was as wide eyed and blown away as can be…it was all so overwhelming to her. I spent some good time connecting with Lou and Jesse Engle as we shared our hearts about what God is doing with BURN 24-7 and The Call and how we cant wait to come together in DC this August for a catalytic explosion! Its going to be epic and monumental!

The One Thing Jerusalem has been going solid as young people from all over the nation have come to worship and cry out to God together. Its an amazing site to see Jews and Arabs worshipping the one true God side by side. Its surprising how many people I know in this country even through I’ve only been here one time. People talk about how small the world is out this way and I’m beginning to believe them! Tomorrow is what everyone has been building up to as we gather together in Jerusalem for a solemn assembly of contending in fasting and prayer on behalf of the nation during The Call. Its going to be an incredible gathering and we are expecting big things to happen and for a shift in the Spirit to take place across the land. Please join with us in prayer all over the world! This land needs a great awakening and fresh touch of Yeshua. I feel the longing in the heart of God more than I ever have for this place as a direct result of where we’ve been living. God longs and won’t stop until He wins the hearts of these people. Only He can come and heal the deep wounds and bring lasting peace again.

I’ll leave you with the verse I was singing all day yesterday as we walked around the gorgeous city of Jerusalem.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.

Psalm 125:1-2

come Lord…

_sean

I am still laying in bed. Yes, it is early, but I have been in and out of the ‘awake’ state since 6:00am. It is part of a new resolution that I have decided to participate in, to allow myself time in the mornings where my mind isn’t running a million miles an hour, and listen to His voice.

This morning I continue to lay here, with the lights off. I have some old school David Crowder from one of the original University Baptist Church recordings playing. The window is open about half way as there are low clouds, fog and constant rain pouring down just a few feet from my bed. The lightning cannot be seen, but the thunder makes itself known by rolling across Green Country in a non-inhibited - “YES. I AM HERE, AND I WILL BE HEARD.”

I am breaking. Everything in my life is being broken, my need to fulfill certain economic obligations, my need to plan and administrate a movement has been chipped and chopped, reducing my vision to something that can be held and placed in that little pocket, likened to the coin pouch in the front of your jeans.

My life is being boiled down to a mere willing heart and passionate soul. I know what I believe, and believe what I know. There is one Rock. I am dedicated to that truth. Other than that, there are plenty of things up for debate, and scrutiny, and discussion. For sure.

Back to lightning. I have an important meeting today, perhaps the most important meeting of my physical life. Perhaps this will catapult me to my dreams, to bigger things, to great reaches and deeper depths. No. Its simpler than that.

The Lord has placed me in this time and this position to do one thing. I am to be a voice, just as thunder is. I am to repeat the words that God spoke this morning through the sound of thunder - “I AM HERE. I WILL BE HEARD.” I am so humbled. I am nothing. I have been broken, and taken from, and my vast visionary dreams for the end of poverty and development of underprivileged people groups have been laid down, as they are too big for me. Those are His things. He put them there. However, he put a bigger task in my hands, to speak truth and life, and a call to lay down our agendas to seek Him in the quiet place. To seek Him in the morning and night, at all times.

For those of you that have had dreams and visions and are working hard in ministry, remember that He is the One that gives and takes away. There is one voice that created Heaven and Earth. HE IS ALWAYS HEARD. Do not abandon the original purpose of your life - to speak of good news and great joy, which is for all flesh. We must proclaim Glory to God in the highest, and this will be a sign to all who believe, that there will be peace among those who sing to God, and the Lord will show His favor and pleasure in the praise of His people.

Strength and Honor to our God. Jesus be exalted as the savior of the world, teaching us how to please the Father in faith, in worship, and communion.

If I can learn the simple truth, whittled and boiled down to a concentrated shape and flavor, even if it means abandoning the idea that endowments and not for profit organizations and community endeavors, and business plans to increase ‘productivity’ of the gospel, then so be it. Not my will, but His be done. There is only so much we can do.

Jesus is the King sent from Heaven to show us love, show us servant hood, show us worship, and how to speak in authority The Truth - to show us the Father and His love for us. He is here, and we will until He returns still say as the Spirit leads, “COME! SHOW UP IN POWER! SHOW UP LORD! WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR PRESENCE! WE MUST SEE YOU! WE MUST KNOW YOU! JUST DON’T HIDE YOUR FACE! YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT MAKES US STILL ALIVE!”