Unprecedented Days: 90 Days of Fire

Introduction

Life is full of times and seasons. The plumb line and anchor for every season is the Word of God. It is easy to allow this supernatural hope and life we have been given to lose its passion and joy. God desires to awaken and transform us from one place of glory to the next. Hebrews reminds us to not neglect this great salvation we have been given. This devotional is written from a place of humility to provide an opportunity for God to speak from its pages and bring radical transformation and awakening.

Devotions are combined with Biblical context, understanding of the original texts, and quotes from others who have paved the way for awakening and transformation. Whether challenging or uplifting, the words and insights of these devotions will encourage and edify you in your walk with the Lord. Every day, you can fuel the fire of your passion for God, His Word, and His presence.

Heather and I have spent our lives in passionate pursuit of Christ. Not always have we been perfect, but we find ourselves humbled under the mighty hand of God as He awakens and changes us continually. He is so wonderful and loving and has graciously given us a unique mantle of ministry for revival and awakening.

This devotional has been written in one of those unique seasons of our lives. We love revival and revival history. We believe that the Church has seasons of supernatural awakening and must learn to live in a place of saturation in His presence and His Word. Right now, we have entered one of those fresh seasons in which the Spirit of God is sovereignly awakening and reviving His people. There are those who are not satisfied with religion, who are desperate for God and His transforming power in our generation. They are repenting and returning to God with their whole heart, and God is healing and reviving the hungry. He truly is faithful to fill those who hunger and thirst for Him.

On July 4, 2018, God’s glory came into Celebration Church, the church where we pastor, in an unprecedented way. Lives were resuscitated to their first love of Christ. All the striving after good works began to cease as we entered into the glory of God’s rest. Miracles, joy, deliverance, salvation, Baptisms in the Holy Spirit, and signs and wonders have characterized this season. Mostly, we have been amazed by the glory of the God that has come into the room. He always surprises us, and there is never a meeting where we are left wanting. Many times, as His glory comes, a cloud or mist can be seen in the room. We have heard angels singing and angelic music. We have watched as everyone in the room slips to the floor out of awe and humility when His majesty comes in the room. At times the atmosphere seems as though it could explode with great power, as He thunders with glory in the room.

We have witnessed waves of God’s joy move through the sanctuary as people are overcome with supernatural joy from another world. Those who are weighed down by life’s burdens and tormenting spirits have been liberated. Sickness and disease have been removed. Reports of God’s glory touching people and bringing miracles have come from those watching services via the internet.

Now is the time! Let us embrace the work of God in our generation, that this generation may seek Him and experience Him like no other. May this devotion stir the flames of your passion and reignite your first love in Christ. If you have never known this wonderful Savior, Christ Jesus, let today begin the journey of a lifetime.

This gift of salvation is given to you freely today! Simply humble yourself before God, and admit to Him your disobedience. He knows your sin. Are you willing to confess it to Him today? Believe on Christ, the only way to Heaven, and believe that God raised Him from the dead. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. Tell someone about your decision to follow Christ. Pray right now where you are, and ask Jesus to forgive you and be your Savior. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and to fill you with His Spirit. If you have done this, the purpose of this devotion book is fulfilled. You are being awakened and transformed one step at a time, and this is the greatest step of your life!

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6, NKJV)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9, NKJV)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23, NKJV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16a, NKJV)

Endorsement:

Just had the pleasure of reviewing Zach Prosser’s book Unprecedented Days and I highly recommend it. I have always loved devotionals but find myself gravitating to the old classics like Morning to Morning by Charles Spurgeon. Many of the current devotionals seem short on substance. Unprecedented Days is quite refreshing and loaded with God’s Word and exudes a true sense of revival. This devotional will not only get your day started right, you may just find it ushering you into a new season of revival in your life.

Pastor Frank Bailey

Victory Fellowship, New Orleans

Day One

Just Relax

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers–most of which are never even seen–don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Matthew 6:30-33, The Message

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a stressful situation and wondered how you got there? Even worse, were you worried about how you were going to get out? Maybe there was a time when your young child was stressed out, but as the parent you realized the situation would quickly change and there was no need for the drama.

I love how The Message Bible phrases Jesus’ words: What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax. We have a saying we use frequently: Just Drink. In other words–just chill. Just relax and have a big drink of God’s river of living water. Living water will change your stress into joy! Like the parent above, we comfort the child and say, just relax; it’s going to be okay.

After all, stress and anxiety stem from our need to get something. We are stressed about someone not meeting our expectations. We are stressed because we spent more than our income. We are anxious over what the doctor might say. These are all things we are receiving or not receiving that cause stress. We worry about what we are getting.

Why not turn loose of the worry about getting and have joy in giving? Jesus wants us to stop worrying about our getting and be occupied with God’s giving. What is God trying to get into my life? What do I need to turn loose of in order to receive what God is giving? God’s giving is sowing and you reap; give and it will be given. If you find yourself stressed about the doctor’s report, sow joy into someone else. If you find yourself battling loneliness, be a friend to another. Anxious about your finances–give an offering.

A while back I did an illustration with an apple. We know when eating an apple that we do not eat the seeds of the apple. When we cut the apple, we immediately find the seeds and remove them so they are not eaten. Our income is the same. When God gives, we look for the seed. When our receiving becomes a giving, we move from worrying about what we are getting to joy in God’s giving.

God has your everyday human concerns handled. This reminds me of someone going into work to do a job they have not been assigned to. It is like someone who is a bookkeeper trying to do the janitor’s job. The bookkeeper can be stressed out and anxious about the cobwebs in the building, but they are worried about something outside of their responsibilities. The boss in this organization would remind the bookkeeper that they are concerned about something that they have no control over. We often try to do God’s job when we have no control over Him or His responsibilities. He says our job is to seek first His Kingdom. The rest is up to Him.

Are you worried and anxious because you want something that God is not giving? Are you driven by a need to get and God is trying to give something greater? Maybe you are anxious about what God is giving, and you would rather hang on to what you already have.

The more you saturate—or as The Message says, steep—your life in God, the more you walk in His reality, His provision, His vision. It is easier to trust Him when your life is full of Him. It is less stressful when God is the central focus and not the fear over what you are getting or not getting in this life. God has clothed the wildflowers of the field in splendor. He will certainly take care of you! Just relax! He’s got you covered!

Day Two

Regeneration

Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3, NKJV

Regeneration is a word we do not commonly hear these days. It is defined as being reborn or formed again. Easton’s Bible Dictionary explains regeneration as follows:

This word literally means a new birth. The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matthew 19:28 the word is equivalent to the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). It denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life; becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus; being born again; a renewal of the mind; a resurrection from the dead; a being quickened. This change is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. It originates not with man but with God. As to the nature of the change, it consists in the implanting of a new principle or disposition in the soul; the impartation of spiritual life to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. The necessity of such a change is emphatically affirmed in Scripture.

Here in John 3, Jesus describes regeneration as being born again. The instruction to Nicodemus was not something that could be accomplished through his efforts in studying the law or through good works. Nicodemus could not be regenerated by being in a dignified, prestigious religious office. Regeneration occurs only as a work of the Spirit of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6, NKJV)

This is the life of God at work in the soul of man. As we repent, we are made new. Redemption’s effect is this work of regeneration. This is more than turning over a new leaf or endeavoring to be a better you. Regeneration is a complete overhaul of what was. What was once dead is now alive. The sin that was once acceptable is now detestable. The enjoyment of divine things surpasses the hobbies and interests of this life. Those things which are godly and honorable are now delightful and pleasing attributes. The sin that held your conscience captive for so long is erased, and the skeletons in the closet of your mind are removed. The Spirit of God transforms you finally and forever. His work is complete and permanent. Regeneration makes Christ and His work captivating.

Nicodemus was a ruler in the church and should not be associated with Jesus’ ministry. Regeneration changed His life and changed His desires. The same man who should not associate with Christ was found burying Him after the crucifixion. He brought 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes to anoint the dead body of Jesus and prepare Him for burial. What changed in Nicodemus? What made him go from a man that sought Christ in the secrecy of the night hour to one who would publicly remove the body of Jesus from the cross and care for the mutilated remains? Regeneration! The words of Jesus echoed clearly that day as Nicodemus anointed that precious body for burial. Nicodemus, unless a man is born again. Nicodemus, I am the resurrection and the life. As you anoint my body for burial, this body will not remain in the grave. Just as those who come to me, they will be born again. Though they may appear to be dead, I will make them live!

It is time to allow the anointing of Christ to come upon you that you may live. The regenerating power of God can flow through your life and make you come alive—really alive. Christ is the King who makes all things new. If He can regenerate the lost person, He can certainly quicken you. If you are saddened or discouraged, His anointing power can awaken you. The one who came out of the tomb can bring breakthrough in your life. Like Nicodemus, go to Him at the cross and let the power of Gethsemane’s hill flow into you. Run quickly with Nicodemus to the garden tomb where Christ’s body was laid, and see the resurrection life that can flow into you. Behold Christ today, and He will bring life into your weary world!

Day Three

Revive Me

Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Psalm 143:11, NKJV

Life is filled with trouble. The word used by David for trouble means distress or trouble; sorrow, pain, anguish. David faced the troubles of life. His leader turned on him and tried to kill him. People he trusted left him. His own family tried to defame him. Sin always invites distress. The consequences of sin are sure to find us out–whether by our own sin, the sin of others, or the sin of this world. Sin will always come around and bite us. The words of the snake may be enticing, but they are filled with venom. David was not immune and neither are we.

If you have suffered the effects of sin, this verse offers hope: Revive Me! David was asking God to sustain his life; to quicken his life in order that he may live. At times the effects of sin may weary you to the point of depression and a desire to no longer live. The effects of sin may take away your strength, your ambition or zeal. But in the midst of his agony, David cried to the Lord for life! This is supernatural life. It is the God-kind of life given by the work of His presence. It’s the life of God in the soul man. Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will quicken