117 - The Storm Cloud of Revival
THE STORM CLOUD OF REVIVAL
The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:3
James Ryle, the prophetic pastor that helped launch Promise Keepers, had a dream in which he saw the storm cloud of revival rolling into the Northwest. Then, a map of America suddenly appeared before him with “ABORTION” written on it. Blood was dripping from the word. The cloud of revival shuttered to a stop. However, in the dream, a man from the Midwest reached up with his hand and pulled the storm cloud down from the sky into America.
Years ago, when Lou Engle first heard this dream, he thought the hand was Promise Keepers. Later, when our team moved to the Midwest, Lou started praying, “God, would You make me a man from the Midwest who can pull down that revival?” For the first time in 50 years, Roe v. Wade is no more. We believe the storm cloud is still there for the taking.
On the first day of Passover, April 5th, 2023, Tetelestai Ministries in Portland, Oregon hosted Lou Engle for a National Communion Service. (Watch here.) What better time than Passover to partake of the bread and wine of Jesus’ body and blood and agree with His mercies. The covenant meal of Communion was, of course, instituted by the Lord in the very context of the Passover supper as Jesus was about to be revealed as the ultimate Passover Lamb.
Just before He was betrayed, “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:19-20
Only Christ’s blood can speak for us a “better word” than the blood of 64 million aborted babies (Heb 12:24). The blood of innocents rightly cries out for justice. But the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb of God, which was willingly poured out for us, cries “MERCY!” And mercy triumphs over judgment.
If you were unable to participate in the live Communion Service, we still urge you to participate as you are able. This gathering was an extraordinary time of prophetic exhortation and radical testimonies that culminated in an upswell of faith-filled worship and decrees. In such an atmosphere of faith, all things are possible. Come sit with us at the table of the Lord, or hold your own Communion service. It’s time to judge the demonic enemies of the cross and pull down that storm of revival.
After Elijah’s confrontation on Mount Carmel, he put his head between his knees seven times until the storm cloud of his intercession appeared in the heavens. Soon, his prophecy was a deafening reality. "There is the sound of abundance of rain” (1 Kings 18:41).
Earlier this year, Asbury University, along with scores of other colleges and places of worship, experienced what we believe to be the gentle rains of the beginning of revival. According to the prophet Zechariah, this is the time to pray for more!
“Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and He will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” Zech 10:1
There is purpose in the gentle rains of God’s presence to heal and refresh. But for the full intent of His heart to be accomplished, we will need a mighty deluge of His Spirit. In scripture, whenever heaven meets earth there’s a storm. Psalm 50:3 describes a “tempest all around Him”.
Recently, when our team was in California, Chris Berglund had a dream that we were riding in a vehicle called a Zephyr, which means a “gentle breeze”. However, he knew that the Zephyr was going to become a Cyclone. The day after we left the state, the Central Coast experienced what meteorologists call a “Bomb Cyclone”. Often the natural things speak of what’s going on in the invisible realm.
This February, Chris Reed released a prophetic word on Facebook that he received for California back in 2019. He was shown great shakings coming through earthquakes, mudslides, riots, and extreme weather occurrences. Chris said, “It’s a battleground for spiritual warfare, but God LOVES California and He is not judging them harshly. He’s delivering California for great days of spiritual awakening ahead. The amount of rain they are soon gonna see is a picture of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit soon to come.” Amazingly, by the end of March, the rainfall amounts in cities throughout California had doubled and tripled their historic averages. Come Holy Spirit!
The extreme weather this year has not just been limited to California. The Storm Prediction Center recently verified a total of 410 tornadoes that have struck the greater U.S. in January, February and March. More twisters occurred in the first quarter of 2023 than any other year in recorded history.
This is not to say that all storm activity is a direct act of God. Whenever our cities or neighborhoods are at risk of destruction, we encourage believers to stand guard and plead the blood of Jesus in protection of people’s lives and property. But just like natural storms can bring a devastating effect on the earth, the spiritual storm of the Lord will do the same to the works of darkness.
Nate Johnson, a prophetic voice from Australia, recently reminded us of a dream he had in which Lou Engle was standing at the ocean, praying and prophesying into a coming Tsunami. Nate knew that it was a wave of the Holy Spirit, but he went on to explain…
“The wave wasn't just a wave of revival and outpouring, it was a wave of justice, redemption, recovery and secured victory. It was coming as the answer for the blood of the unborn that has been crying out; the reconciliation of racial injustices; trafficking; the secret evils that have been hiding in plain sight, and for the blood of Jesus to wash our land. It was the wave which has been contended for for generations, that will see America return to its roots and the nations to the feet of Jesus.”
Recently, in connection with the prayer events happening in Sacramento and California, we received a similar dream of justice concerning the “modern-day prophets of Baal''. We understand this term to be referencing dark messengers in the public sector (in media, arts and entertainment, etc.) who have chosen to use their influence to promulgate Baal worship in the land.
In the dream, they were depicted as trees (1 Ki 18; Dan 4; Ps 29). There was a ferocious storm that was seen toppling some of these trees from their roots. Others were being stripped bare by the wind and debris. Still, other trees were twisted so severely by the strength of the wind that they snapped at the base of their trunks and went hurling to the ground.
Psalm 29 describes such a storm, saying, “The God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters… The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, 'Glory!'”
The Lord desires mercy for all mankind and has paid for it with His very blood. But for those who refuse to align with Him in the day of His coming, God’s justice will be to them a severe mercy.
From now through Pentecost, would you focus with us in prayer for the storm of God’s might to descend upon our land? Let's plead the better blood of Jesus, prophecy to that tsunami wave to crash upon our shores, and take hold of the storm cloud of revival until we have pulled it down into our cities and families.
Since 2004, millions have uttered this 22-word prayer that God longs to answer in full. Let’s pray it through to the end…
Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America.
