Gery
Aug 31, 2005
Dear BrethrenIf you had to explain Revival to someone, not using ANY quotes or Bible verses, ONLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: what would you say???In Him,Gery
Dear BrethrenIf you had to explain Revival to someone, not using ANY quotes or Bible verses, ONLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: what would you say???In Him,Gery
spiritual awakeningDiane
I've had personal revival a few times. I think conviction, the presense of God, and TRUE 100% understanding that GOD IS REAL, more real than we are.
The things of this world lose their signifigance. One becomes aware of the magnitude of personal sin before a Holy God yet embracing the great love God bestowed upon us. The tasks of everyday life and even things or events which once held signifigance and pleasure are meaningless and even a nuisance. The desire to just sit at the feet of Jesus is overwhelming. This is my personal experience and even though it is wonderful I know there is still a place in Him that I have not yet found. I have been on this road long enough to know that this relationship and burning desire to know more of him must be guarded and intentionally, purposefully sought after. If we are not careful, we will get distracted with other things, (even good things) and the fire will die quickly if neglected.I would also like to add some thoughts about revival beyond a personal level even though I don't think this is what you were asking. This is not from observation or experience (yet) but some of what I expect to see when God pours his spirit out on my city and beyond. I believe the very atmosphere and culture of the region will be changed. Generational sins and strongholds will be broken as men realize their need for redemption and cry out to God. Husbands will love their wives and children and will abide as priests in their own homes. Wives will honor and submit to their husbands. Children will be obedient and honor their parents. Crime will be nonexistent. The complacency of God's people will be shattered. Strife, disputings and divisions will end. God's people will manifest the fruit of the Spirit, love and esteem one another above themselves. The name of Jesus will be exalted and reverenced. It is hard to put into words all that my heart desires and expects to see. Yet, I really don't even know what to expect because I expect God to do exceedingly and abundantly above anything I could even fanthom.While it is refreshing to read about some of the great revivals and moves of God in the past I really believe we have no reference point as to what God will do when his people turn from their sin, humble themselves and pray. Come on church. Can we just do this? Let's start here. Let's wash our hands and remove the idols from our hearts and petition the throne of God for our community, our country and our world. Pray Christians! Pray! Society has and is deteriorating so quickly while God's people stand idly by and watch. How long will the church continue to blame everyone else for the moral decline all around us? You can hardly tell the church from the world anymore. God, have mercy on us and teach us how to pray.Hope
If you had to explain Revival to someone, not using ANY quotes or Bible verses, ONLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: what would you say???I would quickly quote and stand on verses in the Bible and how God has spoken to me through them. Such things as Jeremiah 31:31, Ezekiel chapter 36, and the promises to the Churches in Revelation. Going on personal experience only is dangerously close to subjectivism.I can honestly say I've never experienced personal revival--and I have experienced wonderful times of refreshing--outside of God speaking to me through His word, either directly through the Bible, a sermon, or devotional liturature.
What is subjectivism?Hope
Hope,Subjectivism is relying on feelings. Feelings can be deceptive and are not always grounded in the truth. Having said that, I'm most certainly not against an experience with God. I've had them myself. I came up with a saying during my short stay at Central Bible College in Springfield Mo. that goes: "Truth without fire is dead, but fire without the truth is deadly. God give us the truth on fire!"Having said all that, I hope that Gery doesn't take me wrong. He seems like a serious brother intent on revival and the seeing the Glory of God.
I've had only one experience that was so profound and extraordinary that I would call it a personal revival.It is a terrible, awful awareness of my sinfulness and an awareness of the Holiness of God. Awareness doesn't describe the experience, maybe 'reality' does. And it brought me to repentance and hatred of sin, it made me eternity conscious, and aware of the lostness of man. And I was able to stand up to my bosses about things I was too scared to do before.But it was based on Scripture (Isaiah 6) and from listening (recording) to a man who rightly divided the word of Truth (Ravenhill).I agree with Br Husley if there was no foundational truth, it was but a feeling.An aside: though I've often prayed and yearned for such a reality with God, it's only happened once. And I still struggle with things, though I know I'm different.I guess we don't live in the mountains, and we yet have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, out here on the plains.I don't have answers to why the reality of God is so rare.But I believe Revival changes things.God bless
God is here.
Jeremy,Thank you for responding. I understand where you're coming from and I love your quote, may I share it? (giving you credit of corse)I had an experience once that maybe fit this description, "truth on fire" I was in worship and thinking about the scripture in Isaiah (63?) I saw the Lord on a Throne high and lifted up...............Woe is me for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips and dwell in the presence of a people of unclean lips. It was like I had a glimpse, ever so brief, millisecond greater understanding/realization of God's holiness. I literally felt like my flesh was disentigrating on my bones. Although it was brief in "time" (because I don't think I could have lived)on the other side/realm it was like an absence of time. I don't know if this makes any sense. I don't know how to put it into words. I have only ever shared this with a couple of close friends because I think most people would think I was crazy.Hope
Dearest precious souls,Thank you for all the blessed replies. Feel free to continue to discuss and challenge one another.May the Lord even now continue to work in every heart.Pressing on,Gery
OBSESSION WITH THE ONE THAT IS HOLY... (and all the implications that the HopeInChrist has mentioned) sad to say, some might call that subjectivsim. I didn't find a single thing that brother said unbiblical or untruthful. May you expound upon what you were refering to brother Husley?
HopeinChrist wrote:The things of this world lose their signifigance. One becomes aware of the magnitude of personal sin before a Holy God yet embracing the great love God bestowed upon us. The tasks of everyday life and even things or events which once held signifigance and pleasure are meaningless and even a nuisance. The desire to just sit at the feet of Jesus is overwhelming. This is my personal experience and even though it is wonderful I know there is still a place in Him that I have not yet found. I have been on this road long enough to know that this relationship and burning desire to know more of him must be guarded and intentionally, purposefully sought after. If we are not careful, we will get distracted with other things, (even good things) and the fire will die quickly if neglected.I would also like to add some thoughts about revival beyond a personal level even though I don't think this is what you were asking. This is not from observation or experience (yet) but some of what I expect to see when God pours his spirit out on my city and beyond. I believe the very atmosphere and culture of the region will be changed. Generational sins and strongholds will be broken as men realize their need for redemption and cry out to God. Husbands will love their wives and children and will abide as priests in their own homes. Wives will honor and submit to their husbands. Children will be obedient and honor their parents. Crime will be nonexistent. The complacency of God's people will be shattered. Strife, disputings and divisions will end. God's people will manifest the fruit of the Spirit, love and esteem one another above themselves. The name of Jesus will be exalted and reverenced. It is hard to put into words all that my heart desires and expects to see. Yet, I really don't even know what to expect because I expect God to do exceedingly and abundantly above anything I could even fanthom.I believe every bit of that.There was a time where i was a living well of water. Where when I spoke, things moved, that demons trembled, that there was liberty. Me and my friend tested each others faith. "Can you trust God more than me" not as a mean down tone-ing way, but as a 'challenge'. Me adn my friend were like 2 kids just having fun IN JESUS; yes we were EXTREMLY radical, but power power power was our lives. I wouldn't even need to speak and random people would speak to me about the Lord. Power. Conviction.Every time me and him and others were together, looking back to it now, i always felt that there was a FIRE around us, like something that couldn't be put out. God revealed many demon-possessed (all a learning experience; no actual delieverances), hurting people, God really taught us 'how to use the gifts and abilities He has given us', Always being humbled, always being refined. It wasn't a 'church service' when we were together it was a way of life. Almost always had new stories to share on 'how God opened a door today cause we said "LORD SEND ME WHERE EVER!!!" '.It lasted for about 4 months. Power. I came from a Cin-sation-al-ist denomination, that time raptured my doctrine and God has refined and taught me many things.It's motivating when i look at my own past saying 'wow, did i really do that?'.God is bringing me back not to those 'old days' but bringing back the idea of those days 'God, we want You, we want You to do SOMETHING tonight, open a door, anything, from just listening to someone to leading them to Your name (healing goes in the middle...not quite as big as a salvation decsion), just OPEN THE DOORS, Teach us, Move us, Show us what YOUR plan is for tonight one step at a time'. It's amazing to see how we have all changed in the past year. 8-)
a community or individual becoming saturated by God
(healing goes in the middle...not quite as big as a salvation decsion), Slightly off topic...Let's not overlook this very important aspect of blessing which revived believers can bring to multitudes of those who will receive it.
If you had to explain Revival to someone, not using ANY quotes or Bible verses, ONLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: what would you say???A sin-cleansing encounter with the Blood of the Lamb, bringing one immediately to the utterly HOLY, transforming presence of God.
Hi Gery...!To my feeble mind, a "revival" is:- An awakening of the spirit within a person or community in which they realize the true state in which they exist. - It is the point at which "scales" fall from our eyes (Acts 9:18), and we view the world and our life as God intended. - As a result, a deep abiding hunger for a real and intimate relationship with God permeates our entire beings and all aspects of our lives. - Prayer or worship is no longer viewed as a chore or a necessity, but they are embraced as the highlight of our existence. - We realize that the unseen and eternal things are more real than the things of earth.- We no longer worry about menial tasks, but we are consumed with a longing for things eternal. - We give God unconditional control of everything we are -- and everything we ever hope to become. - The desire to please God is supreme, and all other things are considered subsidiary. - We constantly put to death the old man (including all pride), and then place others before ourselves.- We are filled with deep compassion for all, including those who have wronged us.- We become homesick for God more and more as each moment passes by. :-)
dorcas wrote:
Wait, what do you mean by this.(healing goes in the middle...not quite as big as a salvation decsion), Slightly off topic...Let's not overlook this very important aspect of blessing which revived believers can bring to multitudes of those who will receive it.
"Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and might things, which you know not." (Jer. 33:3)I've had experiences where the Lord has literally moved upon me as a wave of presence. No one can discount the vitality and power of such communion that He wants to bless His people. Every time that it has happened have been times in which I was putting myself in the gap to have intimacy with Him. He dwells in the quiet places as much as the church service. Perhaps that was why Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-13:21) was such a mighty man of God? For, he was always in his hut, which probably implies intensive prayer time. May we ever seek to allow the Lord more room in us to "continually fill us with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).
Wait, what do you mean by this.I'm not sure what you're asking... Please could you rephrase the question?
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