David Bryant Mini-Post / Four-Minute Read
Christ Awakening Servant Teams:
Fifth Columns for the King
Do you want to see YOUR church waking up to the glory of Christ as part of a sweeping revival across the whole of America?
Do you sense we need to see the Holy Spirit transforming our churches in a way that causes the name of Jesus to be newly exalted throughout America—and, therefore, before the nations as a result?
Would you be willing to explore a very simple way YOU can help bring this movement about starting this spring?
The fact is that right now, spiritually speaking, many Christians in our nation sense we are spiraling toward an ever-deepening, darkening, demoralizing state of affairs.
Even more heartbreaking, this tragic condition has begun to take hold in many of America’s churches—in our dissensions, distrusts, and divisions—leading to impotence in advancing the saving cause of Christ in our own nation. For too many of us, these words of John Stott hold true: "We have become puny Christians because we have settled for a puny Christ."
Clearly, the time has come to overthrow the status quo! The time has come for God to raise up a FIFTH COLUMN inside the Body of Christ.
What is a fifth column? In the following paragraphs, I will not only define it but also show you why you should consider becoming part of a fifth column for Jesus where you live.
Defined: Generally, "fifth column" describes an unassuming team operating quietly within a larger community in favor of a cause, agenda, or nation working to invade from the outside.
During World War 2, fifth columns of patriots worked clandestinely for victory against evil inside their Nazi-occupied countries. In the 20th-century Cold War, many Americans feared communist cells acting as fifth columns for the Soviet Union inside the US. Fifth columns have been the theme of many books and movies over the past few decades and even appear in versions of Minecraft.
Bottom line: A fifth column is a small group inside a larger group working on behalf of an external group. Their goal is to help overthrow some facet of the status quo for the sake of causes far bigger.
Examples: Jesus predicted in Matthew 13 that the Kingdom of God would spread like leaven in dough—quietly penetrating from the inside, continually spreading, and finally transforming the whole lump of dough. The leaven represents a fifth column. Subsequently, the early Church served as a fifth column inside the Roman Empire, calling its citizens to switch their allegiance from the Emperor to Jesus Christ as Redeemer and King of kings.
Historically, we know that every movement of Christian renewal, reformation, and revival has begun with quiet bands of fifth columns active inside the Body of Christ, working toward the needed spiritual revolution—an outpouring of the Spirit—first of all, by prayer.
Fifth columns are needed today more than ever
inside Christian congregations from coast to coast!
Call them CHRIST AWAKENING SERVANT TEAMS (CASTs).These small groups represent what many believe to be the greatest possibility for the restoration of God’s people and the renewal of our nation as a whole.
What is a Christ Awakening? It can be defined in a couple of ways:
(1) It is when the whole church becomes wholly alive to the whole vision of the whole Christ and the whole extent of his saving purposes—whether in one church or the whole Body of Christ in a nation.
(2) It is when God’s Spirit uses God’s Word to reintroduce God’s people to God’s Son for all he is in the fullness of his spectacular supremacy.
Who will God raise up to form these fifth columns?
Who is he calling to form new CASTs where they live?
Serving as fifth columns, CASTs work quietly and strategically inside their local churches. They stir up their congregations with a vision for a Christ Awakening. They pray for revival in their churches. They help prepare Jesus followers to receive a fresh ministry of the Holy Spirit coming from the Throne to exalt the King among them in new ways. They do this knowing for sure a Christ Awakening will transform their life and mission together.
Lovingly, they create ways for the Holy Spirit to “overthrow” the status quo of “dead religion” and bring forth a genuine spiritual revolution where the glory and greatness of Jesus drive the driving vision and passion of all who belong to him—leading to whole new advances of God’s Kingdom in our nation through the gospel.
Would you consider facilitating a CAST
in your own church?
IF SO, take these three steps:
PRAY! Ask the Father to show you if he is calling you to explore becoming a facilitator of a CAST in your church as a strategic way to serve his Son.
SIGN UP! Choose one of our free, introductory 30-minute CAST Webinars with David Bryant being offered soon. After the seminar, you’ll be able to download our free, helpful,18-page CAST Vision and How-to Handbook to learn more and help you get started.
ASK OTHERS in your church to attend a Webinar so together you can investigate, ask questions, and learn how ChristNow’s free resources can empower you.
Finally, KEEP PRAYING WITH GREAT FAITH! Pray that the Father will raise up CASTs in thousands of churches across our nation that will “explode” with the majesty and supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ, bringing his reign to bear in every corner of America through the Spirit’s mighty power!
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About the Author
Over the past 50 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ Awakening movements. Download his widely read ebooks at ChristNow.com. Enjoy hundreds of podcast episodes. Watch his vlogs at David Bryant REPORTS. Meet with David through Zoom or in-person events through David Bryant LIVE!
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