Do we worship revival?

sermonindex May 19, 2012

Recently threads have been opened up regarding signs and wonders and the dangers of seeking such apart from seeking Christ alone. That begs a question. What about revival? Is it possible in our desire to see a movement of Christ, or a third great awakening, that we get fixed on the revival and not the One who revives.

I remember hearing a brother share out of John 15 regarding the vine, the branches, and the fruit. The brother made the observation that we become so focussed on the fruit that we lose sight of Jesus. Is it possible that we become so focessed, almost to the point of obsession, about the fruit of revival.

If revival be a fruit then it should flow out of an intimate, personal walk with Jesus. At least one could have personal revival by being with Jesus in prayer and the word.

No doubt that one can gleam much by reading Edwards, Whitfield, Finny, etc. Personally I like the Anabaptist. We long to see a movement of God of what these saints experienced. But the danger of camping in the literaure of the revivalust is we lose sight of Jesus in the here and now.

God told Moses I AM that I AM. Meaning God is in the here and now. His redemptive work is taking place in the world today. Even in America.

Ny exhortation is let us not worship past movements of God but worship Jesus. Spend time with him in prayer and his word. Let the fruit of revival flow out of a revived life in him.

Posted by Bearmaster.

sermonindex May 19, 2012

Quote,
"Is it possible in our desire to see a movement of Christ, or a third great awakening, that we get fixed on the revival and not the One who revives."

I would say yes it is possible.

I think most realize this.

I do not worship past movements but rather learn from them.

Good, simple, straight forward post brother bearmaster.
(Edit Add, What I mean is your post was good ,simple,straightforward.)

R

RobertW May 19, 2012

I was talking to a dear brother yesterday and he commented on the spotted nature of revival in both location and time, yet one thing that is always in play is the preaching of the Gospel.

T

twayneb May 19, 2012

When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, believers were empowered for effective, fruitful, supernatural ministry. This has not changed.

I know that there may be times that God sets forth for a special work in a particular place. Perhaps this is part of His plan to bring about in the earth what must happen before He returns. But I think these "sovereign" moves are the exception and not the norm.

I believe God is always desiring to move in a powerful way. When we become vessels that He can freely use, He will use us. I believe this is revival on a personal level that can culminate in corporate revival. In other words, God is always desiring to move in powerful ways that we term "revival" but is waiting for a people who will allow Him to do so. Another way to put it is that the Holy Spirit is always on, but we are the ones who are on and off again.

I have seen a local fellowship who was all about "revival". It was a primary focus of their preaching and their conversation. They had several weekly prayer meetings where they bombarded heaven crying out for revival. They seemed to have the idea that they were the only ones in the city in revival and that they were the ones through which the next great move was coming to this area. As far as holiness, relationship with the Lord, and dedication to the Lord was concerned they were wonderful people. I love them dearly and have wonderful friends in that fellowship. I do not say what I say to demean them at all. But I do believe they began to worship revival in a sense.

When we genuinely become hungry to know God more than we want anything else in the world. When we pull ourselves away from the entertainments and business of the world that sucks the life out of us. When we begin to seek God for personal relationship. When we begin to intentionally cultivate our relationship with the Lord, that is when I believe we will see "revival" on a personal level. And it will, I believe, spill out corporately. If I catch fire, others will come to watch me burn.

sermonindex May 19, 2012

Ny exhortation is let us not worship past movements of God but worship Jesus. Spend time with him in prayer and his word. Let the fruit of revival flow out of a revived life in Him.

You've captured the spirit of what this site has been created and maintained for. This is what it's all about.

L

Lysa May 19, 2012

bearmaster wrote:
If revival be a fruit then it should flow out of an intimate, personal walk with Jesus. At least one could have personal revival by being with Jesus in prayer and the word.
...............
My exhortation is let us not worship past movements of God but worship Jesus. Spend time with him in prayer and his word. Let the fruit of revival flow out of a revived life in him.

That’s what I’m looking for brother, revival in me!

Revival begins with ‘one.’ It began with the woman at the well who ran to her town and it began with Evan Roberts who took it to his town. Maybe I’m wrong but I think that revival begins with me, and it begins with you. This is where we ought to be looking – at ourselves. A city on a hill cannot be hid!!

God bless you,
Lisa

K

KingJimmy May 19, 2012

I personally never give much thought to the topic of "revival." A while back I noticed it wasn't exactly a topic that Jesus and the apostles spent any time talking about. Living crucified and resurrected lives, following Christ, and encouraging others to do the same is more of what I'm about. Though I do recognize that Biblically and historically, there are times of "great grace being upon them all," and there are extraordinary times where the gospel makes great progress in a region. I am concerned that many people are obsessed with the topic. Some even make great claims as to prophetically declaring when the next great revival will be, and somehow associating themselves with it when it comes. Such things do cause me to be slightly bothered.

sermonindex May 24, 2012

Ny exhortation is let us not worship past movements of God but worship Jesus. Spend time with him in prayer and his word. Let the fruit of revival flow out of a revived life in him.

This is true and necessary. Those who have experienced revival do seem to have one weakness if they remain in the memory of revival and don't lay hold of their personal continued walk with the Lord. Namely they neglect their personal continued walk with the Lord. On the other hand those who are saved in a time of revival do have an unshakable faith in the reality of God and Christ as Lord.

Not only this, but for those who are already saved, revival stops them in their tracks as they realise that God is saving men and women by His own sovereign power. I think this must be a humbling thing to see. It is equally humbling to see and know God acting sovereignly in ones own life or the life of just one other. Perhaps this is why evangelist have such a zeal for the Lord. They see this effect of God; sometimes daily.

Although historically revival has always proven to have been about God saving sinners; it has also been about, at least, for some of those who already believe, coming to a more perfect trust in God; I wonder if the revival many believe will sweep the northern kingdoms as well as America will not have a more singular effect. I mean that this end time revival which many hope for, will be a 'gift' for those who would make themselves ready, to be suddenly swept into that place of trust in the Lord. I have no doubt that if any one who believes in the Lord were determined to be dressed in readiness then they would in fact be able to dress in readiness. Yet despite there being more teaching and resource today than at any time in history there is also more real deception and confusion than at any time in history. Not only this, but the apostasy or falling away from the apostles teaching will come; it is already visible today. It cannot be avoided.

Some call this, the day of the "wheat and the tares". A time when it is become or is becoming difficult to separate those who are 'wild' from those who are being 'cultivated'. Those who bear no fruit from those who bear much fruit; despite, or else obedient, to God's calling in their lives.

It seems that there is both a godly desire to see revival and a fleshy desire. Those who already realise that they cannot serve God without that God Himself leads them and keeps them; and those who are lazy servants hoping for signs and wonders to stimulate them into a better place. Perhaps because of the exceptional day in which we live God will have mercy for an hour on all those who take the name of Christ because they have believed in Him, and as a testimony to His Own Name.

Andrew

Edited for spelling