There’s revival in northern Indiana,  and a dark cloud is looming as the Holy Spirit is rising.

It’s a cloud the enemy is stirring, one that man and religion are embracing.

In my community, churches are coming together in unity. Walls are falling down. People and pastors are crossing denominational lines to pray, worship, and have communion together.

But not everyone’s coming to the table. People are questioning Revive Indiana, pulling back from one another and putting their walls up higher. Evidence of the dark side, that our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against heavenly forces in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

Here are eleven truths about the dark side of revival.

1. Speaking truth will bring persecution. The enemy really enjoys this.

2. People are afraid of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is working in our community. It has nothing to do with being a certain kind of church. People aren’t falling on the floor, but are praying, worshiping and sharing together. The Spirit is changing hearts, bringing peace and unity to those open to His moving. People are coming to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It’s authentic and real. And people are scared.

3. Fear of man is paralyzing the work of the Spirit. Each of us have to answer to God. We are to fear Him more than man.

4. As revival reveals brings unity, exclusiveness is magnified. We stay in “silos,” rather than being the unified body of Jesus Christ.

5. Responses about revival are similar to the Pharisees and Sadducees who rejected Jesus and persecuted early Christians. As the work of the Spirit is spreading, others are pushing against it, trying to squelch it.

6. The lukewarm church is unmasked, and it doesn’t feel good. In response, we cover lukewarmness by “woofing,” making Revive Indiana the problem, not wanting lukewarmess to be revealed.

7. People are threatened when walls come down. Suddenly unforgiveness, prejudice, and separatism can’t be substantiated anymore.

8. Humility brings healing, so pride is rising. 

9. Sin is exposed and Christians don’t like it. Revival is exposing personal and corporate sin, the kind that can’t hide when the Holy Spirit convicts.

10. The enemy wants it to look like he is winning and that the Spirit is a fake. Jesus is bigger. He’s already won.

11.  I have a broken heart over all of the above, crying myself to sleep. I can only imagine Jesus is, too.

I’m not giving up on the Holy Spirit, unity, peace, and the passion to share the gospel. Revival has brought clarity about His will and work. I want to be in the center of His will, and no where else.

At the end of the day and our lives, we answer to Him, not anyone else.

“Who was I to think that I could oppose God?”  Acts 11:17

What is He speaking to you?

Those who received the broken link to last post’s “5 Lessons from Revival and Teens” can read the full article here.