Burmese Revival

 02 Aug 2024  World Scene

 

The remarkable, transforming power of Christ at work in Myanmar

The following article is by Asia Harvest, a missions organization committed to serving the Church throughout Asia.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” (Matt 11:12)
 

Win and die

The revivalist Charles Finney, when commenting on Matthew 11:12, accurately captured the desperate circumstance through which God had moved mightily in history. He said,

“Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—or if need be, to win and die!”

Such words prove true whenever believers choose an uncomfortable and inconvenient obedience over the easy life. War, struggle and various forms of persecution are unwanted external pressures, but in Christ, they have the potential to push the believer to greater faith.
 

...in war-torn Myanmar, not only starving bodies, but starving souls, are desperate for a life-saving intervention.

“Hangry” is an expression sometimes used by Westerners to describe the uncomfortable, annoyed, or even angry state of an individual who hasn’t eaten in some hours.

But the fact is that most of us in the West don’t even know what true hunger is. To go days without eating due to an unreliable food source or to be faced daily with violence and the threat of human trafficking is beyond the experience of most of us.
 

A light has dawned

Yet, this is the state of many today in war-torn Myanmar, where not only starving bodies, but starving souls, are desperate for a life-saving intervention.

It's during this life-and-death struggle that multitudes of idol worshippers are turning to the Lord in vast numbers—turning the tables on demonic darkness that has held so many spiritually bound for so long. It is truly the unfolding of Matthew 4:16 which says:

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
 

... an undercurrent of Christian revival is sweeping across these bruised and battered lands.

And while the stakes continue to remain high as the warfront and bloodshed spread, an undercurrent of Christian revival is sweeping across these bruised and battered lands.

A team from Asia Harvest had a remarkable experience on a recent visit to Myanmar. Here is their story in their own words...
 

Darkness and despair

From the moment our plane touched down in Myanmar, the sense of tension and turmoil quickly became apparent.

Barbed wire lined many roads, and city intersections had become military checkpoints controlled by soldiers with high-powered weapons—scenes that reinforced the reality of the conflict around us.

Because much of the fighting in Myanmar had gone unreported to the rest of the world, we were shocked to see the deep poverty, pain, and economic ruin. It was then that we understood the despair of many Burmese who felt the world had forgotten them.

Although we were in areas hundreds of miles from the front lines of military conflict, that was enough for us to get a glimpse of Myanmar’s dark underbelly, blackened by kidnappings, sex trafficking, organ harvesting, drug trafficking and enslavements of the worst kind.
 

... we were shocked to see the deep poverty, pain, and economic ruin. It was then that we understood the despair of many Burmese who felt the world had forgotten them.

Our ministry guides were careful to ensure our safe passage by paying “fees” to gangsters, military, police and village leaders along with abiding by a strict “back-before-dark” curfew.

Despite the overwhelming spiritual darkness we experienced in Myanmar, God was about to give us insight into His strategy of light.
 

Heavenly dimension

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, our Christian hosts took us to a slum where a tin door to a run-down shack opened in front of us. When we stepped inside, it was as though we had passed through a portal and entered another dimension, a heavenly one—a world where Jesus reigns.

It was a church meeting of Burmese children deep in the heart of the slums, providing a ray of hope to penetrate the darkness many were living in.

We were slightly embarrassed to be the only ones with socks and shoes among these bare-footed believers, but that didn’t bother these children whose eyes remained closed with tears streaming down their faces as their attention was fully fixated on their Saviour.

This experience was repeated again and again at each of the centres we visited. Healings and deliverance from demons, drugs and crime were commonplace. Most of the gatherings consisted of believers who had come to Christ within the past few years.

Ex-prostitutes sat shoulder-to-shoulder with former murderers and gang members whose tattoos told the tale of their past, but who had now found redemption and cleansing through the blood of Jesus.
 

... it is not based on the efforts of a single ministry, but rather through a sovereign move of the Spirit of God that is sweeping across this vast land

The best part of this story is that it is not based on the efforts of a single ministry, but rather through a sovereign move of the Spirit of God that is sweeping across this vast land—a move that is finally penetrating the poorest and hardest demographic in Myanmar: the 50 million ethnic Burmese people.
 

Shine and the witchdoctor

Shine was one young man we met who was swept up in this revival just a few years ago. His story is one that demonstrates the bold faith that is emerging throughout Myanmar today among many Burmese.

Raised a devout idol worshipper, his commitments to witchcraft were influenced by his parents from a very young age. But everything changed the moment he found Christ. At just 17 years of age and a newborn in the faith, Shine’s burden for those bound by darkness caused him to conquer his fears, and he unreservedly gave his life to serve God and to do whatever Jesus asked him to do.

His journey has led him down some extremely dangerous paths, where very few believers dare to go.

On one occasion, Shine was inspired by a dream to take the gospel to a famous witchdoctor in the area (who had a reputation for cursing people to death). It was no surprise that other believers were unwilling to go with him when he shared this burden with them.
 

All this happened through the bold obedience of a simple Burmese teenager—and it is not an isolated incident.

But with little care for his own well-being and focused on the eternal well-being of this witchdoctor and his family, Shine daringly approached the “unapproachable. The door was angrily slammed in Shine’s face.
 

Transformation

Undaunted by the rejection, and not fearing what this dangerous man might do should he try again, Shine came back later with gifts for the witchdoctor’s family. This time he was granted entrance to their home and the opportunity to share Christ with all of them.

After demonstrating the love of Christ in selfless and practical ways over a few visits, the witchdoctor’s entire family was converted, including the man himself!

All this happened through the bold obedience of a simple Burmese teenager—and it is not an isolated incident. Shine continued to boldly proclaim Christ to many more people, and he even led two more witchdoctors to the Lord in the months that followed.

Shine shared his account with us first-hand while we were among other young ministers who validated his story. It was also during that interview that he shared with us how the previous week, he had prayed for a poor woman who had been pronounced clinically dead for 30 minutes, and the power of Christ raised her to life again!
 

A supernatural outpouring of the Spirit always leads to societal change in some degree.

The other evangelists in the room had not heard this before, and the Burmese believers rejoiced together when they heard the news but didn’t seem overly surprised, as this miracle was consistent with how God had been moving in their midst.
 

Myanmar’s demise

True revival effects change. This is the reality for any genuine move of God that has occurred throughout history. A supernatural outpouring of the Spirit always leads to societal change in some degree.

Just a few short years ago, Myanmar was doing better economically in relation to its current state, while idol temples shadowed every street, overflowing with devotees.

Then suddenly the government changed hands after a military coup, and all international trade ceased. Jobs were lost, and areas became dangerous. Then again quite unexpectedly, Covid mandates eliminated the few jobs that were left, civil wars worsened, and the entire country became desperate.

Black markets replaced honest trade, and the rule of thugs replaced the rule of law. Illegal drug factories popped up overnight and provided the only jobs available in some areas.
 

... one of the ministry training centres that Asia Harvest support has reported that the largest drug factory in their area is now closed!

As the drugs flooded the markets, traffickers targeted every class throughout society, luring in many addicted customers across all income levels. Starving children were recruited to walk the streets, selling opiate drugs from open baskets they balanced on their heads.
 

Resurrection power

And yet in the midst of this hopelessness, God was stirring His Church.

Not only have scores of idol temples closed for good due to lack of attendance while new churches spread like wildfire, but one of the ministry training centres that Asia Harvest support has reported that the largest drug factory in their area is now closed!

And what became of the workers and distributors for this factory? Many of them became believers, joined the church, and are being trained to go forth and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

As a result of accounts like these, we trust that you will be encouraged by the fact that, even in the darkest hour, we have reason to hope in Christ who can do the impossible, bringing lasting societal change through His Church.

We also trust that you will know better how to pray for these dear believers who still face many dangerous days ahead, and that you will consider helping to support their efforts.