Forty years ago, the Charismatic Movement came to an end. Oh it wasn’t recognized as an ending when its demise was pronounced (because it faded away slowly) but everyone knew that the effortless glory that we had experienced – and frankly become accustomed to – had lost its edge. Things were different. Life was different – harder, it seemed.
The great flood of people scrambling to be saved, the instant answers to prayers, the giddy, childlike expectations in all areas of our lives had mysteriously lifted. He, the Spirit, seemed to be withdrawing. Finally, it was more than “seemed”. He had withdrawn. We knew it. The glory had departed.
This was not accomplished in a vacuum. The Lord announced His intentions.
The word says that He does nothing without informing His prophets. He was true to His word. Forty years ago, He not only informed His prophets, He announced it to a representative gathering of the entire body of Christ.
In July of 1977, the Lord gathered together what is still considered the largest number of representatives of all denominations: Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, Independent and so forth in a massive conference in the heart of the country – Kansas City. The gathering was so huge that the meetings had to be separated out into the various denominational churches, because the municipal auditorium could not contain them all.
In the final gathering (50,000) people came together in Arrowhead Stadium. [At least ten thousand needed to leave early to travel the country to churches for Sunday services, so there were probably more than 50,000 in all.]
There was a great amount of laughter and dancing, as was usual with any Charismatic gathering. There was real joy before the Lord. However, the joy turned to sorrow at the end of this great gathering when, spontaneously, a prophet stepped forward amid the rejoicing to deliver a somber word.
So important was this word – that it was preserved in at least two books.
I am including this 1977 prophecy for you now:
For the body of My Son is broken.Come before Me with tears and mourning,
For the body of My Son is broken.The light is dim, My people are scattered,
The body of My Son is broken.I gave all I had in the body and blood of My Son,
It spilled on the earth.
The body of My Son is broken.Turn from the sins of your fathers,
And walk in the ways of My Son.
Return to the plan of your Father.
Return to the purpose of your God.
The body of My Son is broken.The Lord says to you: stand in unity with one another,
And let nothing tear you apart.
And, by no means separate from one another,
Through your jealousies and bitternesses,
And your personal preferences,
But hold fast to one another.
Because I am about to let you undergo
A time of severe trial and testing,
And you’ll need to be in unity with one another.
But I tell you this also,
I am Jesus, the Victor King.
And I have promised you victory.”
Few may even be alive that attended that conference. I just happen to be one of those few. Without our knowing it, the Lord brought to a close the Charismatic Movement.
Bob Jones, (the prophet) who was not a part of this mighty gathering but who prophesied with equal clarity about the body of Christ that year, said that “Ichabod” had been written over us in 1977, (i.e. “the glory has departed.”) He said that a generation would pass [forty years] before He – the Spirit – would return in such power. “The glory”, now gone, would return in forty years.
We are in that fortieth year: 2017. This is the generation that will taste of that glory again.
But those of us who have lived through the spiritually lean years – have we learned anything? Perhaps a few lessons. But mankind is woefully capable of living through significant lessons and then repeating the same mistakes.
At least, while we waited for His return in power, we have studied and grown in His gifts. Years ago, only a few could pray for the sick, prophesy, lead the oppressed into deliverance – but now, the use of the gifts is widespread. We have not been idle. Truly, we sought to be productive for the Kingdom. But also, we have grown in our understanding that emphasis on the gifts alone has allowed a damaging imbalance in the body of Christ. We have been too satisfied to replace the character of Christ with an exercise of the gifts. Also, among our leadership there has developed widespread spiritual power but often this has been coupled with widespread moral corruption. The gifts were not and are not everything.
However, if the prophets are correct – and I believe they are – He is coming again in power. Things are going to get giddy again but this time we need to desire His character over His gifts. This time we need to keep our feet on the ground even as we soar into the clouds.
THE SPIRIT’S RETURN
How will we meet His return? More dancing in the streets? Goodness, I hope so. But this time will we clean the inside of the cup so that His glory will have a worthy container? Will we apply ourselves to the work at hand and not just the joy?
Will we treasure instead of squander His presence? Will we bless Him by displaying His Son in our lives (with no cheating around the edges)?
What say you, dear children of the Living God? Are we ready for the return of His glory?
