Filled with a desire to experience the presence of God and a hunger for a truth that transforms—this is why they traveled from across the nation of Russia to Crimea last week. They came on buses and trains from as far as five days each way. They slept in tents, stood in long lines to eat and showered in salty water.

Nearly 3,000 young adults gathered for a time of fellowship and a powerful move of God. Altars were jammed, tears of repentance poured down faces, and explosive praise resounded as young leaders were transformed by the grace of God. I witnessed over 1,300 young hearts surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.

Prophets like Habakkuk and Isaiah spoke and wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about the end-time awakening in the nations before the return of Jesus Christ:

"Look among the nations and watch—wonder and be amazed! For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe, though it were told you" (Hab. 1:5).

I believe there is a deep desire in the hearts of many spiritual leaders in America and around the world. They are crying out for a fresh awakening—a revelation of the truth.

The truth we want to know, the truth we desire to design our lives around, is the truth of God's Word. It is vital that we fix the truth of God's Word continuously in our hearts, on our lips and in our minds.

When we fully grasp the truth of God's Word and let it awaken our hearts to the reality of God, it is then that we can be radically transformed leaders—leaders who are awakened, shaken and loosed from every distraction. Only the Word of God has the power to radically transform your life in this way.

How does the Word work in our lives? When you know the truth of God's Word and are faced with any situation, you will have all the power you need to get through all challenges:

• You will have the power of Christ's redemptive truth
• You will have the power of the believer's authority
• You will have the power of the truth of who you are in Christ
• You will have the power of God's peace
• You will have the power of God's love
• You will have the power of God's healing mercy
• You will have the power of patience
• You will have the power of the truth of Satan's defeat

Truly, only the Word of God and the truth it holds over the realities of our lives has the power to transform them.

It is time to awaken to the truth of God's Word. This is the only sure way to experience spiritual awakening in our lives, families, cities and nation. Our critical need in this hour is to awaken to the truth.

Paul wanted to mentor a new generation in this all-important area. He instructs Timothy: "Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Only when the truth is active in our lives can we be sure that we will be unashamed before God, because our lives will be shaken and loosed from all distractions.

Jesus shared this idea in John 8:31-32: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.'"  

Notice that knowing the truth and experiencing spiritual freedom is for disciples, those abiding in His word. Spiritual freedom is when we have experienced spiritual awakening, shaking and loosening.

Knowledge is power. When you have the knowledge of God's Word, it unlocks to potential for you to be used for God's kingdom.

Christ already did all of the work for victory—you just need to have the knowledge of victory to win.

Isaiah wrote of an awakening as Jerusalem is to be restored:

"Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. For the uncircumcised and the unclean
will no longer enter you" (Isa. 52:1).

Today I encourage you to put on the beautiful garments of the truth of Christ, and to wrap your mind, heart and soul with the living truth of the Word of God.

Mikel French has challenged spiritual awakening all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with The book of hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide soul-winning celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor's conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia's 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rebecca Moore contributed to this article. 

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