IT'S TIME TO BREATHE AND P-U-S-H

[Christ's Free Servant]

I thought this was very good. Any comments?

IT'S TIME TO BREATHE AND PUSH

By Ben R. Peters

Open Heart Ministries

www.ohmint.org

While meditating on the devastation in New Orleans, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear, "THE WATER BROKE." As every mother knows, when the water breaks it's time to bear down and push out the baby that has been growing in the womb.

When the holding membrane in New Orleans (the dykes around the city) was breached, the waters poured out of the lake that had contained them.

When the membrane in the womb breaks, the amniotic fluid pours out, preparing the way for the baby to pass through the birth canal. The baby won't be born with an intact membrane full of fluid. The water must break through the membrane.

Besides the fact that many reputable prophets had predicted a cleansing of the city, God was also speaking about the coming great revival in the land when He allowed the water to flow out of the lake and into the city of New Orleans. I truly do believe that we are on the verge of an incredible national and international revival.

We have been carrying revival in the spiritual womb of this nation for some time. It has been growing larger and larger in the womb, but we haven't yet seen what it will look like. We may have a prophetic ultrasound, that gives us some clues, but the details are not yet revealed.

I can't point to any one moment when this revival was conceived.

Perhaps there were multiple conceptions in different places about the same time. At any rate, we don't notice the baby's presence until some time after conception has taken place. Then we notice some changes happening and soon there is solid evidence that a baby is being formed in the womb.

Evidences of the pregnancy include the Promise Keeper movement, the restoration of the Apostles and Prophets in the church, the wonderful exploding 24/7 prayer movement, revival of healing rooms, the powerful anointing on the youth and children everywhere and a flurry of revelatory teachings and books released from Heaven. We have observed the baby bulging the belly of the Bride of Christ, but we have not seen real revival break forth yet.

But the time is coming very soon when we will see this baby birthed into its place of destiny in America and the world. There is just one

problem: After the water breaks the time for "hard labor" begins. And that is what we are involved in right now. We have seen evidence of this truth played out in our own lives and ministry and in many others as well.

So many people and ministries that we know, have found themselves in a time of pressure. It's like they themselves are being pushed through the birth canal into the full manifestation of their destiny.

I do believe that God is trying to get our attention, collectively and

individually. I believe He is saying to His church, "IT'S TIME TO

BREATHE AND PUSH". He doesn't want the labor to last forever. The

labor should be relatively short compared to the pregnancy, but we don't

know if it will last ten minutes or 48 hours. One thing we do know is

that until it is over, we won't be very comfortable. But when it is

over, we will see something that we have been passionately praying for.

We will see something that bears a clear resemblance to its Father.

True revival will reveal the Father's heart. It will heal, restore,

transform and resurrect. It will be full of the joy of the Lord and the

joy of harvest. Our biggest problem will not be getting people to

church. It will be finding room for them all.

So let's bear down, breathe and push. Breathing is taught in classes to

prepare mothers for delivery. A coach is needed at the bedside to

remind the mother to take proper breaths to keep enough oxygen flowing

during the difficult labor.

We need to focus on our spiritual breathing when we find ourselves in

pressure situations. We must draw our spiritual oxygen from the Holy

Spirit to keep from passing out or going delirious in the process. To

help us do this, we should all have coaches. These are people who stand

with us and remind us that it's going to be OK.

The baby is coming! It won't be long now. Just hang in there. Take a

good breath. Connect with the Spirit of God. Let Him energize you for

the final push.

I have been told that PUSH means Pray Until Something Happens. That

would apply here as well. We need to spend much time in prayer in these

critical days. Leaders such as Cindy Jacobs called for 40 Days of

Prayer and Fasting, shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Our labor may last

significantly longer than 40 days, but those 40 days may be followed by

many more special calls to prayer.

The important thing to remember is that we won't be comfortable until

the baby has been born. But when it appears, there will be great relief

and joy and a whole new set of circumstances. They won't all be

pleasant circumstances, but there will be some great experiences with

the new baby. We will watch it grow and mature and we will be excited

about the future.

Personally, our own ministry experienced some hard labor this past

summer. I think the baby is just about born. We can see the head

appear and a sense of relief has already replaced the painful heaviness.

Hopefully many of you are seeing breakthroughs for yourselves.

If you haven't yet seen any breakthrough, breathe and push some more

until the baby begins to appear. Then just another push or two and you

will be rewarded with a healthy baby. You are birthing something new.

Don't quit! Don't abort! You are almost there! Just push some more

and breathe deeply the breath of life from the Holy Spirit.

[Keith]

Wow, Sue, what an encouraging article! It certainly shines a new light on the hurricane season, doesn't it?

I think this guy may be on to something here! His analogy certainly seems appropriate. What hope!

The joy at experiencing a revival of this nation would bring me to my knees in tears of worship. God will receive glory out of all of this and bring us that much closer to our reunion with Him!

I will push and pray for this. I want to be a worker in this harvest. May the revival start with me.

Thanks so much for sharing this. I hope people won't let the length of the article scare them off from the encouragement and hope it offers!

[CarolineS]

Interesting article.

I don't know if I would compare what happened in New Orleans to the birthing process with a revival as the result.

I think I would say it is more of a microcosm of the world and what will happen when Christ returns to judge us all. All the sin, corruption, crime, paganism in New Orleans could be said of the entire world. God will not let it continue forever.Eventually it will be closing time for us all. The keys are rattling now. Destruction and judgement are coming.

Perhaps a revival will occur. Perhaps it will start in New Orleans, I will pray for the people there; that they will give glory to God and turn their city around. I wish I could be as hopeful as Keith.

Thanks for sharing.

In Christ,

CarolineS

[Christ's Free Servant]

Interesting article.

I don't know if I would compare what happened in New Orleans to the birthing process with a revival as the result.

I think I would say it is more of a microcosm of the world and what will happen when Christ returns to judge us all.  All the sin, corruption, crime, paganism in New Orleans could be said of the entire world.  God will not let it continue forever.Eventually it will be closing time for us all.  The keys are rattling now.  Destruction and judgement are coming.

Perhaps a revival will occur.  Perhaps it will start in New Orleans, I will pray for the people there; that they will give glory to God and turn their city around.  I wish I could be as hopeful as Keith.

Thanks for sharing.

In Christ,

CarolineS

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you Caroline and Keith for both of your responses and perspectives. I think you both had good points. I agree with the article and with Keith that the outcome will be a revival but I also agree with Caroline that this is a picture of God's coming destruction and judgment on the earth. I also believe this was a judgment of God and that God is trying to get a message out to us to take him seriously and to repent of our sins. And, I believe there is much more of this to come and that the result will be revival. I believe this because the Holy Spirit revealed that to me through the Word during my quiet times with God and He has continued to assure me that not only are judgments coming, but people are going to begin to call on God in repentance. This is all in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ.