I have started a new series on Sunday nights "God's Ways of Revival" reviewing Biblical texts concerning revivals and historical, contemporary (last 200-300 years) revivals.
The first night I used Isaiah 43:18-44:3 as the Scripture.
I. God wants to do a new thing.
We must not look for what God wants to do in us and our churches to necessarily look like anything He has done or is doing anywhere else. If each snow flake that falls can be unique and different, then surely what God does in your life and our churches will be unique and different. Following Christ is not a "copy-cat" mentality; instead He wants to do something "new - springing forth" from the fountain of "living" (not dead, stale) water.
One of the greatest faults of the local church is accepting emphasis and programs into their church simply because it worked somewhere else. And to go along side of that, the church is looking "for things that work" to such a degree that it is near idolatry level - if not already there.
God wants to show Himself strong in each unique and different church with a "new" thing.
II. This "new" thing will be like a "road in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert."
The wilderness and desert are always symbolic of wild and barren areas. Such is our world today (and has been soon after Adam sinned). The average Christian and church focuses on how bad things are in our world; moaning and groaning about how hard it is. Stop the moaning and groaning and complaining. God is not dependent on a good environment to send revival. He can do it in the wilderness and desert.
One of the things I had said and heard is that America is so wicked that it is beyond revival. I will write another article about that so see it entitled "America today is not as bad as it has been." Three years ago I had to repent of the lie I had believed that things were too bad to turn around. I encourage you to repent, as well, if you have believed that lie. Satan has almost taken our ground with a lie. God specializes in making a "road in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert."
Start looking for them!!!
III. This "new thing" is all determined on your thirst!!
Isaiah 44:3 has been one of my favorite verses for over ten years when God did a fresh work in my life. "I will POUR water on HIM who is THIRSTY."
I - God is the one who will do it through the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the only member of the Trinity-Godhead that we know personally as earthly believers, then what God does will be through the Holy Spirit. You can not be scared of the Holy Spirit or confused about Him and experience all God wants for you. Welcome Him - Embrace Him - Be filled with Him - Him the Holy Spirit.
POUR - Not a trickle or a splash. But a pouring - an abundance of water!!! Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." Doesn't that sound like a "pouring?"
John 7:37-38 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." rivers - not a trickle.
Oh the abundance of God that is available to us through the Holy Spirit.
HIM - that is you and me. There is NO ONE in heaven or hell or earth keeping you from a renewed, revived and refreshing walk with Christ but YOU. You can experience the fullness of Christ even if no one else in your home, church or nation does.
THIRSTY - The main qualification for revival is thirst!!! God promises to pour water on him who is thirsty. I'm glad he didn't say, "If you are full," or "If you are empty." Being full or empty are not the pre-requisites for a fresh encounter with God - but being thirsty. The gas tank in my car has been both full and empty, but never thirsty. And...you can be full and yet thirsty for me.
Now - here we go. I KNOW theologically that we have all of God we will ever have. Since the "fullness of the God-head dwells in Christ bodily (Colossians 2:9) and that Christ dwells in us; thus all of God dwells in us. Oh yes, that is true and thank God that it is.
BUT - it does not mean we experience all of God or can we totally in this body. But if we will "hunger and thirst" after Him - we will experience more and more.
The old hymn says, "More about Jesus would I know; More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me."
Thirsty - I doubt anyone (or only one or two) reading this has ever experienced real thirst. But when I think of real thirst - I think of desperation that if I don't get water, I will die.
Am I desperate enough for more of God? Or am I satisfied where I am.
Revival has never come to anyone satisfied. Let your moto be, "Revival or Bust."
Others won't like it - friends will think you have gone off the deep end (rivers, pour, floods - well, may be you have - GLORY) - and your own church may stare you down. But they are not the ones thirsty - in need - desperate - you are!!!
Oh, God - give me more!!
Then God promises that He would "pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring." Our children and grandchildren need to see in us a fresh touch of God so that they can know Him in His fullness in even more than we do.
What are we passing to the next generation? My generation has given America prayer out of the schools, abortion on demand, and a church who believes more in a political party than God to make changes in our land - plus too many times dead and lifeless worship services. Let's see it changed - and NOW.
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