Any true follower of the King of kings and Lord of lords can experience a spiritual rejuvenation through an authentic personal revival. Though revival is counterfeited in manifold ways these days, true revival is lasting and life changing. Instead of trying to manufacture revival through entertainment, emotional apron strings and a worldly philosophical approach, pastors need to have a personal encounter with God EVERY day! In turn, this will inspire the driest of bones, around the minister in question, to draw life giving sinew from the Holy Ghost once again. The real question is, “Pastor, do you really want revival?”
Listed below is a suggested checklist of 10 important ideas that will help you improve your Christian walk as well as to have true revival in your life.
(Ephesians 5:18) “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (KJV)
It is one thing to be content materially speaking, but it is quite another issue when involving spiritual matters. Our Lord Jesus indicted the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:4 of leaving their first love. God did not stop loving them, but they LEFT their love FOR Him. This happens, many times, as a result of spiritual complacency. Before revival can take place in one’s heart, they must see the need of revival in the first place. This will never come into view until we get disgusted with ourselves!
Experimentation has no place here! Many folks window shop, but they never purchase anything. When seeking revival, one must be all aboard or just stay out of the way. Dabbling around the idea of revival will never do. If one is to truly live in the atmosphere of revival, then they will have to wholly give themselves to it AND its radical ramifications!
Imagine a family of four, who desire to take a vacation to Miami, Florida. They speak of it often, emailing their friends. They seek after it by getting advertisements, and brochures about their desirable, fun filled week. They plan and pack. Once loaded, and sitting in the car, they suddenly realize that they forgot to fill the gas tank and change the oil. The problem was that this family was so excited about the blessings of the trip ahead that they neglected to get in the pathway that would provide it!
God’s people often make this same mistake. While desiring the blessings of God and ramifications of what we would term a state of revival, many saints do not place themselves in a way of living to where they can experience the aforementioned blessings. There are plainly marked pathways for God’s people to travel in which provide arenas of blessing. Venturing away, however, from this well worn path and engaging in sin, will only produce heart ache and judgment.
Revival and repentance are inseparable. Our problem is that we move through repentance with a rocket’s pace! As the hymn of old is entitled, “Take Time To Be Holy”, so must we who are seeking revival. Unless, godly sorrow is worked into our soul, then we will have an extremely shallow view of sin. Tolerance for sin and carnality will be the flags flying from our soul’s mast. Be deliberate and distinct when dealing with sin and repentance from it.
We cannot be right with God, if we are at odds with our fellow man. How can we be right with God, who we cannot see, and be crossed up with someone who we can see? Though almost extinct, restitution has its place in revival. When people can be as right with others as they can, they they can be a candidate for a personal revival! Many pastors are not right with their fellow pastors and parishioners alike. As long as this is allowed to continue, revival will remain elusive and intangible!
Belief and behavior are forever bound together. You cannot divide creed and conduct whatsoever. 1 Timothy 4:15-16 bears this out clearly. The Apostle Paul made sure that his son in the faith knew the importance of doctrine AND practice of that same doctrine! To be knowingly out of step with the Scripture and seek revival is like living in a fantasy world. In order to experience a genuine revival in our life, we must be in lock step with God’s Word! With diligent study, seek out how you can be a better Christian servant according to the Scriptures!
It is amazing what we get serious about! Some pastors get serious about everything, but what they are supposed to. I am sure that they are in the extreme minority, but it is true! Our recreation time must be kept under close scrutiny. The eye and ear gates to our mind, must be guarded. Amusements can desensitize us to the point of tolerance to sin.
Be extremely careful and very serious about your relationship with God. Remember, there is no short cut to spirituality! Someone said, “God is not obligated to reward single acts of obedience, but a lifetime of faithful surrender!” The bottom line is that we must take revival and walking with God very serious, if we are to experience either one!
In our day especially, it is easy to be a “Jack of all trades and master of none”, isn’t it? Every pastor has the same amount of time allotted to him! In the 24 hours that we have available each day, how are we spending this valuable commodity? There are, no doubt, some things that we can do without. I am not saying that they are sinful, but possibly a hindrance. Think about it… if we could do fewer things better, than more things mediocre, would not this be more productive? When we are muddled in an endless list of “THINGS” requiring our attention each day, then we are bound to suffer loss in our personal time with the Lord!
Involve yourself in proper things like sharing the good news of Christ! Activities of Biblical priority will be a good use of time and talent. Growing, refining, and pursuing these things will not make you spiritual, but will be tools by which you can learn to be more obedient to God. Laziness will sap your spiritual growth quicker than anything I know of. For sure, one of the best things to excite you for God’s work is to share the gospel with others!
Taking God at His own word will help you immensely. This is an ever increasing issue in a believer’s life. Believe not only that God can do something, but that He will do something! Each day, look to Jesus for everything. Don’t trust yourself one minute. Look Heavenward for everything! HAVE FAITH IN GOD!
Simply put, being filled with the Spirit of God is a state of revival. Getting down to business with God and walking with Him must be a daily priority. If it is not, then you cannot expect revival in your life! Every suggestion, that was mentioned above, deals with some aspect of being filled with God’s Spirit or of God’s control of our life. If you are driving your life, then God is not! Why not let him have the reins of your soul and bless you with a sweet walk with Him every day?
 |
Why Revival Tarries
By Leonard Ravenhill / Bethany House Leonard Ravenhill’s call to revival is as timely now as it was when first published over forty years ago. The message is fearless and often radical as he expounds on the disparity between the New Testament church and the church today. This book contains the heart of his message, A.W. Tozer called Ravenhill “a man sent from God” who “appeared at (a) critical moment in history,” just as the Old Testament prophets did. Included are questions for group and individual study. |
