Worship

“Miracle in the Works” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt

Scripture

“The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host” -Psalm 68:11 (ESV)

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” -Acts 2:44-47 (ESV)

“Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” -Hebrews 11:40 (ESV)

The Vision of Unity in the Early Church

This devotional is going to look a little different from my normal ones in the sense that I want to speak vision into us women. My friends held a worship night at their home a couple of weeks ago, and as I was sitting there enjoying God’s presence and ministering to His heart, He dropped these words into my spirit:

I am giving you the blueprints for revival, and it won’t look like anyone or anything you have seen before. It’s your Psalm 68:11 moment!

Then He took me to this Scripture in Acts 2, and I believe with all of my heart that the unity of this army of proclaiming women are the crux of this revival movement called Arise!

It was harvest time for the baby Church of Christ-followers back in Acts. Three thousand people had just been added to their numbers, and now they had all these spiritual sons and daughters they needed to raise. It would take all of them to do it and would require stretched out faith and stretched out sacrifice to anchor these new believers. Everyone participated. The unity of their togetherness was imperative. And the fruit of their togetherness brought more and more to the throne of grace!

A Movement of Faith

As I look with eyes of vision and can see 70 cities pursuing revival (this is the vision God has given me out of Numbers 11:16-17), I see women who are being called up and pulled out of the shadows, and are coming to life. A courageous, fearless, passionate army is forming. They are locking arms with other women who are in love with Jesus and are catching that same burning passion. They are boldly proclaiming their faith and moving in wonder upon wonder as God pours His Spirit out. These women, who are consumed with the invitation of Jesus to “come,” are feasting at His table. They are then setting tables for others to feast at. They don’t consider their lives more important than losing it all for the sake of Christ. They are marked and sealed. Their conviction is unwavering, and they have set their faces like flint unto Jesus. Their anthem is, “For to me, to live is Christ … (Philippians 1:21),” and the words that echo behind this are, “No matter what it costs me.” They have laid their lives down for the sake of the One who withheld nothing from them. They will not be quiet, and they will not retreat in the face of opposition. They know whom they have entrusted with both their lives and their eternity and their resolve is immovable.

This army of women will not be categorized by religion or denomination. They are unoffendable lovers of Jesus and His Church. They build up and help plant deep roots in spiritual sons and daughters. They are the spiritual mothers of this generation, who will shape history by their faith and the declarations of their praise! Suffering has accompanied these ones in past seasons because God was faithful to His promise to make them mature and complete, not lacking anything. You will find these ones often in the secret place with Jesus, praying for other women to arise in this hour. You will see them stretch out in great faith and radical surrender to lead others to be a powerful force for the Kingdom of God. The prayers of these women will shape history, generations, cities, and nations.

These ones have been invited, like John in Revelation, to come up higher. They are seeing history unfold from the throne room of Heaven and are partnering with God to release Heaven on Earth. They have been made wise and discerning of the times and seasons and live with intentionality and purpose. They will not waste their lives on petty activities and endless busyness. These women have “pinpoint focus” and fire in their eyes for the One they love with their whole lives. Many of these women have declared to the Lord that they will give their very lives for Jesus, with tear-stained faces and great unspeakable joy.

Lives of Devotion

These women have been marked by love and have raised their hands to a higher calling than just comfort and the American dream. They will give it all away and count it the greatest joy. They will open their homes and seat others at their tables to feed them life and truth. Their homes will be places where angels ascend and descend to minister to all who come there for healing. These homes will be full of the presence of the Lord, and angels will mark every entrance. This is holy ground the enemy will not be able to penetrate. Their children (both physical and spiritual) will watch and observe and emulate the lifestyle of making disciples. Tables will be full of the feast of the Lord.

The Lord will be intimately teaching these ones how to pray and how to move mountains to fall into the heart of the sea. Impossibility to them is only wrapped in great faith. In fact, they don’t see impossibility; they only see and pray in what God has the power to do because nothing is impossible for Him. They will teach others how to pray and declare the goodness of God before they ever see it with their eyes. They will partner with Jesus as He intercedes for all that is happening in the Earth. They will be the catalysts of a great move of God across the Earth. In the face of spiritual opposition, their prayers will only get stronger, louder, and hold the weight of great conviction. Worship will be their lifestyle and the atmosphere that surrounds them.

The lives of these women will be altar-fires for God to come and rest on with the fire of His presence. Their continual burning will catch others on fire for their beloved Jesus! What was once a singular pillar of fire amongst God’s people in the Old Testament will be an army of fiery ones who have climbed up on the altar and said to the Lord, “Make my life an offering!”

These worshipping ones of wonder will set nations ablaze with the glory of God!

An Invitation to Serve

If anything in this is stirring in your heart and spirit, will you just get on your face and raise your hand to the Lord and say, “Make this true in my life. I give you everything. Do whatever it is that brings you worship through this surrendered life.” And be prepared for Him to answer the cry of your heart! Get ready because these days ahead are going to be your very best days! It’s harvest time!

Beginning September 1, we are going to head into an intentional secret place with Jesus for 40 days. If you want to fast something for 40 days or take communion for 40 days, please add that with it! And I want to encourage you to invite a friend to do it with you! Let’s carry the fires of revival through our surrender and worship!

A Few Key Notes

• Join Arise for a 40-day devotional and fast beginning September 1! Purchase my new book “Revivalist Arise” on Amazon, and then sign up to join the devotional series. Please invite other women to join you!
• The next Arise worship night is August 9. Worship will be led by Jordan Gaudet, Lizzy King, and Julie King. Please RSVP by emailing me at [email protected]. The first 30 people to register are welcome!

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Lewisville, Texas

• Mark your calendars for these things coming soon from Arise:

October 1: Fall Arise luncheon

October 22-23: Midland Harvest Day

• Check out this video about the Arise movement, and share it with other women to invite them to jump in!
• Arise is looking for women to lead initiatives in 70 cities. If you would like to start an Arise chapter in your city, email me at [email protected].
• Do you want to be equipped in sharing the gospel? Email me at [email protected] for details on trainings.