Critical Mass and Kinetic Momentum
A massive evangelistic outreach provides the critical mass needed to induce a continued kinetic momentum in evangelism.
Critical mass is the size, number or amount large enough to produce a particular result. Kinetic momentum is caused by a stimulating cause. For example, we may initially be elevated on a roller coaster for a hundred feet or more. Once we reach the top, kinetic energy is released when we are flung forward for a ride that continues for several thousands of feet, with no more effort. A massive evangelistic outreach is an event of such colossal magnitude that it continues in momentum and results long after it concludes.
In a worldly sense, the great music festival at Woodstock had repercussions that are still felt today—even though the concert is long gone and many don’t even remember it happened. A massive evangelistic outreach has the same influence for righteousness’ sake.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Global Population Explosion
According to an article in the National Geographic (Jan 2011,) I learnt that at the time Christ dwelt on earth the population of the world was only around 200 million. It would take another 1,800 years for the world’s population to reach 1 billion. Then only 130 years to reach 2 billion in 1800 AD. It then reached 3 billion by 1930, 4 billion by 1987, 5 billion by 1987, 6 billion by 1999, and 7 billion by 2011. (At the time of this writing we are almost there, and by the time this book is published that will be old news.)
Interestingly, the 1,500 square miles of Rhode Island (almost 7 times smaller than Israel) alone could hold all these people if you gave them 6 square feet each. It is estimated that in sync with the current trends the world population will reach 8 billion by 2024 and 9 billion by 2045.
While legitimate concerns exist about energy, housing and food for all these people, we must also concern ourselves with their evangelization. All methods must be used, including massive evangelistic outreach events.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
A Burst of Glory
In Acts 19:13-20 we read about a certain demon-possessed man. Some non-Christian exorcists decided to give the Name of Jesus a try, along with their other methods of exorcism. They said, “We adjure thee in the Name of Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” Immediately they had Mr. Devil’s attention. He replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know of, but who are you?” He then leaped on them, prevailed against them and they fled from the house wounded and naked! The point I want to make is that the devil in the man had been aware of both Jesus and Paul.
Can you imagine what must be happening in the spirit world when a massive outreach is conducted? Can you imagine the atomic force that is unleashed when the Gospel is preached in such a manner with miracles happening left and right?
When seventy disciples of Jesus returned with joy reporting to the Lord that even the devils had been subject to them through His Name, Jesus said that He “beheld satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18.) He also told them that He was giving them power to tread on serpents and scorpions, referring to all the power of the enemy, and He gave them the assurance that nothing would by any means hurt them. Then He said something very significant:
“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:17-20.)
Note that Jesus didn’t say “the Lamb’s Book of Life,” although it also refers to that holy book. He said that their “names are written in heaven.” In addition to the fact that our names are also written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Jesus may also have meant that their names were now known in heavenly realm—the spirit world. The Bible tells us that we wrestle against “spiritual wickedness in the high places” (Ephesians 6:12.)
When Jesus said, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven”, He was also referring to the fact that they were known and had made an impact in the spiritual realm. The Bible says that Paul was caught up to the third heaven. I have made a study of this and have concluded that the first heaven must be our atmospheric heaven (sun, moon, stars, clouds and sky.) The second heaven is the spirit world, and the third heaven is the domain where God dwells—where His throne is, where the streets of gold are. The second heaven is the realm of the supernatural—the sphere of the spirit world whether angelic or demonic. It is in this second heaven that our names become known.
When such a massive outreach is launched, can you imagine its impact on the spirit realm? Jesus said:
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:7.)
I believe that the joy in heaven includes the joy of the angels, the departed saints and of God Himself in heaven. I also believe it is the joy of the Holy Spirit and of the angels present in the spirit world. When thousands upon thousands of souls turn to Jesus in one region, there must be something like an atomic explosion of praise and joy that penetrates the world of darkness, and sends demons flying in every direction!
There must be an incredible burst of light and glory in the spirit. Such a glory burst should affect the visible world. It is not uncommon for crime rates to drop significantly and even to zero during and after such an outreach—all because of the burst of glory that comes with a massive evangelistic outreach.
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Stirring up the Devil
I can understand that it may appear to the casual observer that there is shine to the ministry of Massive Miracle Campaigns—almost like the evangelist is enjoying his own private little moment of glory.
This is a matter of personal integrity and motives. One can have a pride problem in any area of the ministry. Massive evangelistic outreach evangelists are not excluded from this danger. However, I have found that massive outreach evangelists are some of the most humble people I have ever met, because they know how insignificant they really are.
They know that it is not they that do the work, but that it is God who does the work through them. These outreaches are often conducted in the far corners of the world where most people who would want to be "in the spotlight" would not even bother to go. These evangelists have spent many days and nights preaching to small crowds—whether large or small. They are obsessed with the furthering of the message of Christ, because of an untamed passion and an unquenchable, God-given desire to take the Gospel of salvation and healing in Jesus to the masses of the world.
While the ministry of massive evangelistic outreach is certainly exciting, the casual observer has no idea of the trials involved—not only in the sacrifice in trying to make the event possible, but also the trials that often accompany this ministry.
I will never forget the strain and the stress my wife Heidi and I went through when a friendly crowd of around 3,000-4,000 people dispersed, and I was left alone with 200 youths that were aflame with anger. I am partly to blame as I showed my irritation when part of the crowd became unruly. One 12 or 14-year old kid kept shouting in my face, and stones were hurled at us. Heidi stayed in the car and prayed and told me later she was in perfect peace. I on the other hand—the great man of faith (I say that tongue in cheek,) was stressed beyond the limit. Eventually the police came out and escorted us out. When we got back to the hotel room, I broke down and cried. Yet I had learnt a lesson that is benefiting me till this day.
On another occasion we were holding a massive evangelistic outreach in India. We had poured thousands of dollars into the outreach, and because of the larger city and location, we felt that we could very possibly draw 100,000 people to a single service.
I was told that there were already around 10,000 people at the outreach venue, when the police came up to the platform and announced that the event was cancelled. They then disconnected the sound system. The local believers were very upset, but continued in prayer and singing praises to God.
What had happened was that a sizable crowd that belonged to an aggressive religious political group came marching down the streets towards the stadium where our outreach was about to begin. The police tried to stop them but couldn’t. Finally, when they convinced them that they would cancel the event, the mob dispersed.
These angry people were later caught on video by my cameraman saying things like that there would have been terrible consequences if the outreach was not cancelled. And that they would have sent their youth into the crowd and terrible things would have happened. And that they had planned to blow up the platform. Maybe much of what they said was probably just talk, but they were certainly not very welcoming.
To make a long story short—the outreach was permanently cancelled. My hard working outreach director went to court without success. Yet surprisingly (probably because the event was the talk of the town and all over the media) the case came before the high court of the state within a couple of days. A respected non-Christian attorney presented our case, charged us five times less than he normally would have and within five minutes the judge ruled in our favor.
Even when I mounted the platform a week later, I was still very aware of the potentially explosive circumstances—yet everything was peaceful. The only explosives we heard were the fireworks on the final night when India beat Pakistan at cricket. The police were now guarding us—having received direct orders from above. Unfortunately we never did draw as many people as we initially thought we would, yet God worked mightily among the 2,500 that came.
Still, the local Christians were elated! They explained to me that the legal victory we had gained probably meant more than had we held the outreach without any incidents. As they put it, their prestige was now raised. Previously their churches had been raided by militants and their local authorities seemed to turn a blind eye to them. One pregnant lady told us that they came into their church and kicked her and that she was still bleeding because of it. But they rejoiced because of the legal precedent this ruling brought.
In the next year a couple of well known American preachers came to the same city and drew more than 100,000. I have often wondered if perhaps it was our trials and legal victory that paved the way for them to hold their successful events. God knows, and I still credit my outreach director for pulling it off.
A massive evangelistic outreach may stir up the devil, but to his detriment. He is a defeated foe, and as God’s Kingdom advances wherever the Gospel is preached, his demons are smoked out of their holes and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Numbers 14:21.)
Massive Miracle Campaigns:
Credibility in the Community
A massive evangelistic outreach helps bring credibility to many local churches and ministries. I salute local churches and their pastors that tirelessly and faithfully build a work in their community. When a massive evangelistic even is held, it brings credibility to their churches in their neighborhood. A massive evangelistic outreach impresses authorities and those in political positions.
Political leaders responded to our invitations to the outreaches because the size of the meetings and perhaps the exposure they may enjoy. It also benefits both parties—the political and governmental leaders as well as the evangelistic event. When we had our troubles in India, a high profile political leader in the country attended the outreach to show his solidarity—even though he himself was not a Christian. It was actually because he noticed the power in the prayers of some Christians who had visited him when he was sick, that he befriended Christians. Politically, he had a lot of clout. When he attended our meeting, it benefited us as well as him.
On one occasion the mayor of a larger city in Venezuela came to the outreach and was given a chance to speak. He kindly welcomed me, and I later heard he gave me the keys to the city. I didn’t know much about protocol, but I knew about altar call. I thanked him then asked him if he would like to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. Without hesitation, he said yes.
I led him in a prayer of salvation, and my outreach director ministered to him the rest of the evening. He was deeply touched. About four years later I visited him again—this time as the governor of his state!
"Miracles for the Multitudes" is a combination of two focal points of Joel Hitchcock's Ministry, namely:
(a) Miracles, Signs and Wonders and (b) Massive Miracle Campaigns
This Blog is based on Dr. Joel Hitchcock's book "Miracles for the Multitudes".
To order Joel's eBook, go to http://www.joelhitchcock.com/p/product-store_4.html
www.joelhitchcock.com // www.joelhitchcock.blogspot.com // www.manifestingchristinyou.blogspot.com // www.joelhitchcock.wordpress.com // www.joelhitchcockonline.blogspot.com // www.healingevangelist.blogspot.com // www.endtimerevivalandgreatawakening.blogspot.com
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Permission to duplicate is hereby granted as long as the complete quote does not exceed more than 1,000 words and that due credit is given to the source.
For the website of the church led by Pastor Joel and Heidi Hitchcock in
Georgetown DE, which is an exciting Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of
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