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Revival has been a dream since the 60's. We've had spurts here and there, but nothing on a grand scale. Everyone who desires Revival all have something to say regarding what is lacking, everyone has an opinion. We hear the examples; "The Church is lacking this, the Church needs to do this or do that, then we'll have revival".
I have heard them all. I have heard that prayer is the key. So we hold more prayer meetings. Then I hear that holiness is the key. So we sell everything toss out our TV's and try to be holy. Then we try to listen to more sermons, read our bibles more. That would go for awhile then the preacher would start a positive thinking program to jump start the congregation, to get people excited about something. Then the laughing started and the hissing and barking, that was all the rage, the revival that everyone was praying for.
And now I am going to give you exactly what the key is, this is not an opinion, this is hardcore truth.
The key to revival is RELATIONSHIP.
Not to one another, but to the LORD our God. We spend more time on our selfishness, then we do with our LORD in our closets. Our God is a Jealous God. Everyday He woo's us to Himself saying, "Come away my beloved". But we don't hearken to Him, therefore He leaves off knocking on the door. The great men and women who have prayed for personal revival were folks just like you and me, they had an insatiable thirst to know God. They met in a barn of all places, to seek their one true love to establish a connection with Him that they could never find in Jeannette Oke or Zane Grey, or the TV, Radio, Internet, Fishing Rod, Car, Boat, Self, Porn, Men, Women etc..
Those folks that met in that barn, they came after they were done with their responsibilities for the day, and I can see them running there, I know what thats like to want to be someplace where the LORD is moving. Oh Saints, it could have been anywhere, but this is where God had chosen for them to meet. It's not the barn or the Cathedral, it's where God wants to meet with you.
I remember a time when I would stop what I was doing and give into that wooing. Worldliness had crept into my life, and I no longer heard the rapping on the door. I only heard my self saying, "how can I please and entertain myself today". I've neglected the one who gave me life.
I remember when I'd get off of work early in the morning and literally run to the woods to get alone with the LORD rain or shine, it didn't matter. In the dead of winter, thru bitterness of cold, thanking Him for snow and the cold, in my thankfulness He warmed my body, I walked slower and singing and praising His name. It took an hour to walk home.
When I was walking with friends and when the subject changed to a doctrinal argument, I'd fall back and duck into an alley way, I didn't want to subject myself to that kind of bickering, it was having an effect on my relationship with the LORD. Today I can argue with you about those doctrines that don't amount to a hill of beans, because I have not that wonderful sacred union that I once had with the LORD. I am speaking like this to you Saints because my condition is the same condition as the whole body of believers in the Westernized nations.
I remember when I had no TV or internet, it was wonderful. I still don't have a TV, but I have the internet, and with the filters it's still a distraction. It's not these "things" that are the problem because there are Saints here that have these "things" and they put God first in everything they do, I know your out there. The issue is with our heart, we do not love the LORD our God with all our heart soul mind and our strength. Jesus said that the law is full filled in these 2 commandments.
It's easy to know what the bible teaches and to rightly divided it, but to know HIM and to push out all that is holding us back or holding us hostage, that is the battle. The enemy our flesh is keeping us from knowing our LORD in that command to LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART.
You see my friends, when we LOVE HIM and set time for Him, love will automatically flow from us to others. When we LOVE HIM with all our heart, miracles and healings will automatically occur. Virtue will proceed from us.
Jesus would spend all night long fellowshipping with the Father and come down refreshed to meet the people.
The answer to why there is no Revival is found in our selfishness in not wanting to know our heavenly Father. There is a difference in wanting to know Him and actually getting to know Him. The whole purpose of Christ coming is that He would bring man back into fellowship with the Father. "What is man that You desirest him?"
I want that again, don't you?
God Bless you Saints.