When you sit under someone’s teaching for more than two decades you have heard more than you can recall but some things are branded into your heart.  Some things become yours on a “cellular” level once you hear them repeated for so long.  The many things Pastor has taught me have become mine at the deepest level.  After the revival of ’93 I had the privileged to take a team to a church in Roswell, New Mexico to help them experience the refreshing as we had.  Pastor Nichols gave me these three guidelines to help me.

1. It’s a flow not a force
2. Don’t be afraid to do the silly to reap the supernatural.  (Obey the Holy Spirit no matter what it looks like.)
3. Go nothing doubting

I have applied these keys to many situations. A principle can be applied in many different situations. These guidelines will work in the home, in business, in school and many other areas of life. We have to flow with the Spirit and not force things to make them happen. Not that we don’t have to work, but there is a difference when you move with the flow of the Spirit. When we move with the Spirit we move with His power and His peace. We are pressing in but not stressing in! We have to be ready to do whatever the Spirit bids us to do. It doesn’t matter how silly it looks or what anyone else thinks about it, we simply need to obey the Spirit. When we do we will reap the supernatural. When we know what He wants us to do we need to go all out. We need to go nothing doubting. When He says go we go all out. We are not holding back just in case we might be missing it – we go nothing doubting. As I’ve applied these three things I have seen God do great things. I trust that you will apply these keys to every area of your life. As you do I believe that you will “reap the supernatural!”

Have peace and go with the flow

Don’t be in a hurry – have patience. The Spirit of God leads us, He doesn’t herd us like cattle.  People get antsy about silence in a church service.  They are wondering, “Why doesn’t someone do something?”  We do not need to have fireworks going off every five minutes.  The supernatural is not always spectacular. I have seen God move into a service and a holy hush come over the congregation and it will not be long before someone shatters the moment because they read the quiet as nothing happening.  Or, someone takes the moment as being time for a prophtetic word. There is, of course, a time for the gifts of the Spirit to flow, but beware of the assumption that every silence needs to be filled with someone talking.  What about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  We should believe that He can touch people and do things completely independently of the preacher or anyone else being involved.
If you are leading revival meetings be watchful during the services, don’t let someone else drain off the anointing or use your anointing to “preach” their message or do their own thing.  Shut them down.  Take the mic back and pray for them or interrupt them, but don’t let someone high jack the anointing.

I was in Pastor’s office after a service during the Rodney Howard-Browne meetings at Calvary in 1993.  Pastor Rick Shelton was there and he mentioned that Kathryn Kuhlman said, “The number one ingredient to flowing in the Holy Spirit is patience.”  We need to leave space for the Holy Spirit to operate.  He is doing something in every life. He is moving touching people as we speak. Sometimes we need to be quiet and let Him do what He wants to do.

Keep the fire burning in your own heart

You are responsible for keeping the fire of God burning in your own heart.  No one else can be hungry for you.  No one else can obey God for you. You must do what it takes to stay hungry for more of God.  On of the best ways to do that is by talking to people who are excited about revival. Talk about the great things that God is doing. It stirs me up when my revival buddies tell me about what God is doing.  When you share your testimony with others who are hungry it renews in you what God has done. Talking about it keeps it fresh.

Paul told Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (Stir up, KJV). The Greek word translated “kindle,” according to Thayer, is based on the word ζάω, zaō, meaning “to be among the living.”  Our testimony helps us to keep our experience of God “among the living.” Talking to others about what God has done keeps it alive or kindles afresh those experiences.

Your life influences the lives of those around you.  Your friends and family are affected by your hunger. By staying on fire for the Lord Jesus you are helping to keep their fire lit.  It is difficult to estimate the impact that a single individual can have on their local congregation but it is great.  If God did it before and you want more of it – testify to it.  In doing so you will not only keep yourself on fire for God but those around you as well.

Preach the Word

When you analyze what many preachers are saying there is very little Word content.  Is using a verse or two to preface your remarks actually preaching the Word.  If we are using the Word to prove our point (proof texting) rather than discovering what God is saying and preaching that seems like a misuse of the Bible.  It is the Word of God that is transformational not our opinions.  Interject the Word into your conversations and God’s power becomes available.  The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation.

Our families need to hear God’s Word.  Our spouses need to hear what scripture says.  The Word of God coming out of our mouths will bring change in every situation.  Paul’s admonition to Timothy was “preach the word!”  The Word is always in season.  The Word will bring change into your life.  Preach it!  Confess it!  In the words of singer/song writer David Hinton, “Keep your opinions to yourself . . . give me some word.”

Refuse offense of any kind

There will always be opportunities to be offended with people.  Even in the middle of a great move of God people are people.  Offense will short circuit the blessings of God.  The Proverbs say that contention comes through pride.  Offense by any other name is still offense.  So, when faced with being offended you need to check your own heart for pride.  On the positive side having a proper dose of self-respect is healthy, but too much and the result is a sense of superiority.  This kind of pride will always produce friction with others.  You can call it being frustrated or being upset but it is still offense.  Just love people, don’t judge them.  Jesus did not come into the world to condemn people and neither should we.
God is bigger than whatever happens

Remember that when difficulties arise or challenges come with schedule conflicts or location changes that God knew about all of it before you did.  He is not troubled by it so don’t you be. You can waste a lot of time and energy being upset or you can take it in stride knowing that if He knew about it all along that He has a plan to fix it.  With this attitude you can wade through the attacks without letting them affect with the ministry.  Most of the things we are offended by won’t even be a thought six days from now anyway.  Forget it and move on. This is a good thing to keep in mind whether you are married or have children.  Is this really something that really matters?  Stay focused on what is important.  By refusing to stay offended we will stay on track.