Background

A few weeks ago I detailed what I believed the Lord was saying about the essential pre- conditions for revival. This centred on the visitation of grace to those who know that they are not like God. This latest meditation, generated by things coming to me in the night, left me with an unusual sense of joy and expectation.

Expect the Wounds of a Friend

Every revival begins with a wave of repentance[1], but generally the need for this is not appreciated. The Spirit is seeking to reveal that the rebuke of Jesus is that of a friend.[2] Since, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend;” (Prov 27:6), the wounds that Jesus brings are healing wounds. They come from someone who knows wounding himself.

This is different from the impact of the “experts” whose status leaves us feeling they know better than us[3]. The esteemed place our culture gives these titled people[4], reinforces the fear deep within us that the judgement of a God will “fall on us” from a position high over us[5]. Most in the church are therefore easily intimidated by its power brokers. This always stifles creativity, risk and expression.

A change is coming that will flatten all of this out. Several years ago the Lord spoke to me about “the level playing field of the heart”, this is essentially about friendship. True friends do fear one another’s judgements.

Friends of Jesus

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”(John 15:15)

The “friends” of Jesus know what he is doing in the same way that Jesus knew what the Father had in mind. Since however most of the church does not seem to be in touch with what Christ wants, something must be blocking our experience of friendship.

These further words explain where the problem lies, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14). The two outstanding things that Jesus has commanded us are these.

1. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John13:34-35)

2.““Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matt 28:18 -20).

The combination of obedience to the love command and the Great Commission is about to release an experience of the friendship of Christ. The church will become missional when it becomes an informal network of friends cooperating in the task of discipling nations[6].

The Church: A Company of Friends

The story goes of how the senior pastor of a highly successful mega – church approached a long term ministry associate. “Once”, he said, “we were good friends but now the ministry team has grown so big you need to understand that I am first of all your boss.” The relationship between these men had moved from equality to hierarchy, and hierarchy always images judgement. Jesus is shifting the church from an executive leadership paradigm to a community of trustful love[7].

When we look at the early church an extraordinary dynamic is in play. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need….Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. …and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 2:44 -45; 4:32- 33). “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Cor12:26)

These passages describe a community of friends[8]. Friends recognise differences in gifting, wealth, intellect, experience, spirituality etc. between them but none of these influence their relationship. Friends experience one another as equals in life[9].

A Fair Dinkum Aussie Revival – Mateship in Christ

The most sacred event of the year for Australians is Anzac Day. It goes from strength to strength and continues to attract young people. Anzac Day draws out that that uniquely Aussie quality buried deep within the Australian psyche, “mateship”[10].

The spiritual potential of this type of friendship has not yet been tapped by the church. For too long we have imitated “stronger cultures”[11], now Jesus is calling forth a new boldness in his people in this land. This will be released to the degree we sense the Lord is “The Good Mate”[12]. As he said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (mates).” (John 15:13).

At the heart of mateship is the deeply emotive reality of “sacrificing together”. Mateship was forged on the prison work gangs, in opening up the interior and at Gallipoli and the Kokoda Trail[13]. Mateship can be seen in surf life savers, football teams and in any place people struggle together to reach a common goal. Mates know there is no solo victory, that elitism brings defeat and that only when we battle together do we achieve victory against the odds.

What is coming is a community of friends in an environment of trustful love who recognise the gifts God in one another and work to release these together for the common good without competition or one – upmanship. In this culture, centred upon our share in the friendship of Jesus, the Father will be pleased to release power in the Spirit. We will be surprised us by the massive creativity and effectiveness of ordinary people. Since this spiritual renewal will be indigenous in form rather than imported, it will move along the grass roots of the culture with the potential to embed a revelation of Jesus in the national psyche. As long as this movement does not relapse into old patterns of inequality, it will endure in the pleasure of God[14]. This is a word of excitement and anticipation for ordinary people.