| | "Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may
be wiped out- that times of refreshing might come
from the Lord " Acts 3:19
Which is worse...chasing after every wind that calls itself
revival, or feeling no need of revival at all? Actually both
positions carry a warning from scripture. It's sad...many
in the church are ready to accept almost anything that
comes in the name of "revival"! And it's equally as sad,
that many seem to think that everything is just fine the way
it is. Everything's just fine?
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other!" Revelation 3:15
That's Jesus talking! And He goes on to say that these
lukewarm people are about all he can take..."I am about
to spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:16) I think many
of His followers feel the same way. They are tired of dead
religion, however it comes packaged, and are getting sick
of it.
If Jesus is sick of apathy and complacency, then
it's only natural that His followers should be sick
of it too when they see it in themselves and in the
church.
There's a real danger in thinking that everything's just fine:
"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need
a thing.' But, you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,
poor, blind and naked! Revelation 3:17
To think that you're doing just great, when God says you're
"wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked," is the height of self-deception. It's for every one of us to humble himself before
the Lord and ask, "Lord, what am I really like? Have I deceived myself?" Nobody wants to admit that this scripture applies
to them, or their local church, but God is speaking to SOMEBODY!
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches." Revelation 3:22
That's us! God's Spirit is speaking to us, the churches, and
to pretend that He's not, is self deception. He may be speaking
that to me. He may be applying that word to you! "You have
a reputation for being alive, but you are dead! Wake up!...
Revelation 3:1-2
What worries me are the many Christians who think everything's
okay! There are many Christians who make fun of others who
are very hungry for revival. They take the whole thing as a joke.
And they talk about this church or that church, and what's going
on there, and laugh about it. And they may even be right in
saying that some of the things going on are foolish. But their
spirit and attitude betrays them. They are too often smug and
self assured. It's better to be hungry, and thirsty, and feel the
need for revival. But these people feel no need. They laugh
at those who do feel a need, and are searching to fulfill it. Be
careful! Again the word of God warns of the dangers of self satisfaction:
"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need
a thing.' But, you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,
poor, blind and naked! Revelation 3:17
Some Christians ARE running after some pretty strange stuff
to find spiritual life. But they do have one very good quality, they
are HUNGRY. At least they realize that there's this HUGE
need in the church, and a huge need in themselves. Can you
see why people run after these things, or are you just comfortably content? Perhaps blind. Perhaps lukewarm to the condition
of the church today. There is without question a deep need of
revival.
The lukewarm, complacent Christian is in danger because they fail to see their need, however those who chase
after every spiritual wind put themselves in danger
because they fail to use discernment.
I would like to say something to those chasing after every
wind blowing in the churches today. Make sure it's God's
Wind! I understand your hunger, I feel it myself. But I am very
concerned about some of the things I see happening "in the
name of Jesus". The Scripture tells us this:
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
to see whether they are from God..." John 4:1
"Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind
of evil." John 5:21-22
"For false prophets, and false Christ's will appear and
perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the
elect- if that were possible" Matthew 24:24
I believe in a supernatural, powerful God. I myself have
experienced things that can attest to His power. If you haven't
read my testimony and my section on the Holy Spirit, please
take the time to do that. In addition to these instances, there
have been many other occasions where I have clearly
witnessed God's Hand and power. I am NOT against
supernatural things. BUT, I am also not for something just
because someone claims it's from God, or large numbers
of people in the church are doing it! The test for all these
experiences is God's Word. Is your experience in agreement
with scripture, and have you tested it by scripture?
Our experience should not be the final word. God
has the final Word!
If our experience doesn't line up with his Word, we should
forget about it!!! I'm very concerned by an attitude that
seems to chase after anything and everything that claims
to come from God. In many cases the foundation for a
practice is simply tradition, not scripture. The practice of
certain things is assumed to be right just because it's
always been done that way. This blind acceptance can
lead to actions that actually lead you away from the Lord!
Scripture gives a foundation to our relationship with the
Lord. It helps us by keeping us in the truth. As we veer
from God's Word we move away from the Lord.
Before coming to know Christ, I was very much into the
psychic world. I felt MANY things and experienced MANY
things, but that did not mean they were from God! God's
Word brought light and truth to me, and so I left those things
behind. It is no different after we become Christians. God's
Word should be our final authority, not our feelings, not our
traditions, not our experiences. Many people have exalted experience to the highest level, but the psalmist David had
this to say:
"...for You have exalted above all things, Your name and
Your word." Psalm 138.2
In seeking revival we should be seeking Jesus, not experiences. You may experience awesome things as He renews you, that
is very true. Still, it is His Word that tells you to test those very experiences. You should not be afraid to ask yourself, "Is this
from the Lord?", and make it a matter of prayer and guidance
from His Word. Those who seek revival by chasing experiences
put themselves in danger of deception.
THE MARKS OF TRUE REVIVAL:
True revival will always be marked by repentance. Deep
repentance; turning from sin, as we turn to the Lord is what we
should seek: "Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins
may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the
Lord!...." - Acts 3:19 When God brings revival, there is always
a deep repentance involved. Turning from sin, desiring holiness,
returning to the Lord with all your heart. With that kind of revival
there is great joy and peace! Times of refreshing that come
from the Lord! We don't just want a "reputation for being alive" (Revelation 3:1) We want to be alive!
"...alive unto God and dead unto sin!" (Romans 6:11)
True revival is more concerned with fact, than appearances.
Image is not everything, despite what our culture tells us.
Reality is what counts. Where is your focus, and what are
the facts? True revival has it's foundation in grace AND
repentance. When the Spirit of God is flooding your life,
He brings these things. I came to a point in my own life
where I realized that great experiences are hollow without
real holiness. His grace removes every stain of sin. Talk
about joy! Real revival brings that. The Spirit reminds us
of all that Jesus has done for us. He points away from sin
and aims us directly to Jesus. It's fantastic to be forgiven
and to be totally aware of God's grace! Likewise, it's
awesome to be made aware of His holiness and to be
drawn to it in it's sheer beauty as you see Jesus fresh and
new to your heart. That kind of spiritual revival brings a
desire, a strong desire, to be more like Jesus. Everything
looks different in the light of Christ, and the Spirit of God
brings that. He changes your desires. You begin to long
for Him and His holiness in your life.
There are things that come in the name of revival, but true
revival is to be flooded with grace and repentance. It's
nothing less than falling totally in love with Jesus. Why
settle for a cheap substitute when God has so much more! |
