John Kilpatrick - When the Heavens are Brass: Practical Keys to Experiencing Genuine Revival

Copyright 2022John Kilpatrick

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Previously published as When the Heavens Are Brass by Destiny Image
Previous ISBN: 1-56043-190-3

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ISBN 13 TP: 978-0-7684-6245-6
ISBN 13 eBook: 978-0-7684-6246-3
ISBN 13 HC: 978-0-7684-6248-7
ISBN 13 LP: 978-0-7684-6247-0

For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.
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A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

As a revival pastor, I appreciated the diligence of faithful workers under what most people would consider impossible circumstances. Revival only comes where unity in the Spirit is found. Most people familiar with the Brownsville Revival think of my close friends of many years, Evangelist Steve Hill and anointed psalmist Lindell Cooley, or me. Our faces were the ones most often seen on the platform during the revival services, in magazine articles, and on videotapes. However, it took hundreds of peoples cooperation and dedicated efforts to take care of the hard labor of practical ministry necessary for the meetings. The diligent labor of many unseen and often unthanked servants of God opened the door for the Holy Spirit to move freely among people in each service.

Each time I saw Rose Compton in the congregation, I wondered what I would do without such an able administrative assistant. Who else could have worked so well and so smoothly with more than 350 trained workers who so faithfully served night after night? Every time I glanced to my left, I saw Bill Bush, the head usher, with his wife, Jeanie. Bill volunteered countless hours coordinating 75 of the most outstanding ushers I have ever known. Night after night, Steve Whitehead and his loyal crew of cameramen and technicians amazed me; thanks to them, every moment of the revival was captured on videotape and audiotape. Our security team and volunteer plainclothes police officers helped meet the safety concerns of the thousands who attended the nightly services.

In the next section of pews, I saw my beloved wife, Brenda. God started the revival fire in my wife before the fire started in me; it made me jealous to go after God to get what she had. Sitting near my precious Brenda was Lila Terhune, head of our intercessors. The diligent R.L. Berry was our church treasurer, trusted friend, and was always faithful. Cheryl Grayson, in the balcony, was adept in managing our pastors conferences. When I looked across the balcony, I would see Teresa Castleman. Her deliverance teams spent hour upon hour in personal ministry, praying for people to be set free from the bondage of past sins.

Each time I saw Elmer Melton and the members of our fine Board of Directors, or any of our more than 20 deacons, I was strengthened and encouraged. I was grateful to God for people like the lovable Randy Worrell, who visited the sick and ministered to the bedridden, for our faithful interpreters for the deaf, for Vann Lane, our dedicated and dynamic childrens pastor. Joining me on the platform, along with Steve Hill and Lindell Cooley, were our worship team, our ever-faithful choir, and orchestra. Then there was our energetic youth pastor, Richard Crisco; my trusted associate minister, Carey Robertson; my Jewish teacher and friend, Dick Reuben; and the president of our Bible school, Dr. Michael Brown. When revival came to Brownsville, God did a work in all our lives. As it ended, we had a greater love and hunger for Him than ever before.

F OREWORD

What a high honor it was to work with Evangelist Steve Hill for the duration of the Brownsville Revival. He was a soldier of the Cross, a passionate and powerful preacher, and a wonderful ministry companion. We were in over 2,000 services together. When we came together, it truly was God-ordained because it just worked. Im honored to present to you the original foreword Steve wrote for this books first publication in 1997.

J OHN A. K ILPATRICK

John Kilpatrick has been in the pastoral ministry for more than 25 years. I have had the privilege of knowing him personally for 13 of those years. He is not only a dear friend but also a biblical pastor in the fullest sense of the word.

It is virtually impossible to plow along in the field of ministry for any period of time without experiencing major disappointment and incredible victoriesand everything in between. John Kilpatricks road to revival has been full of bends, turns, hills, stop signs, and, of course, lots of traffic.

He has fought bull demons from hell and experienced firsthand the warfare of the enemy. Victory has comeand continues to comewith a price. William Bramwell once said, Never look for peace while you proclaim war. John Kilpatrick has proclaimed war. He has planted his feet firmly in the trenches, vigilantly protecting his flock and fighting to the end for the salvation of souls.

This book, When the Heavens Are Brass, is timely. America and the world are on the verge of a widespread awakening. We need to be alerted to the fact that a price must be paid in order to break through the enemys lines and plunder his camp. I encourage the reader to heed the words of the late Leonard Ravenhill: Dont just go through this book, but let this book go through you.

May the Lord open the eyes of your spiritual mind and enable you to grasp the truths in this much-needed book.

Stephen Hill, Evangelist
Together in the Harvest Ministries

I NTRODUCTION

Corporate businessmen in expensive suits knelt and wept uncontrollably as they repented of secret sins. Drug addicts and prostitutes fell to the floor on their faces to lie prostrate before God as they confessed Jesus as Lord for the first time in their lives. Reserved, elderly women and weary young mothers danced unashamedly before the Lord with joy. They were forgiven! Young children saw incredible visions of Jesus; their faces were a picture of divine delight framed by slender arms raised heavenward.

I saw these scenes replayed service after service and week after week during the Brownsville Revival. I knew that this was the fruit of a seven-year journey in prayer and two and a half years of fervent corporate intercession by the church family at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida.

The souls who came to Christ, repenting and confessing their sin, the marriages restored, the many people freed from bondage that had long held them captivethese were the marks of revival and trophies of Gods glory. I am not speaking of a revival that lasted one weekend, one week, one month, or even one year. The Brownsville Revival continued unbroken for five yearsexcept for brief holiday breaksfrom Fathers Day 1995 to 2000! How? Only God knows. Why? First, because it was Gods good pleasure, and second, perhaps the soil of our hearts was prepared in prayer long before revival came.