God’s Holy Spirit: Doing What He’s Always Done!
So many people want to see revival in their churches.
Revival is not a campaign or an agenda.
Revival does not begin with a strategic plan.
Revival is a work of God, one where He pours out His Spirit.
Revival begins with faith.
Revival begins with prayer.
Revival changes lives, communities, and evangelism.
Revival begins in the heart of a believer.
Are we—each—prepared for revival?
The apostle Paul wrote under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, a letter to the young preacher, Timothy, sharing his personal testimony, the only story Paul really had to tell. See with me the Word of God.
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
(1 Timothy 1: 12-14 NASB)
even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
- Before Jesus, we walked in ignorance.
- Before Jesus, we persecuted those who believed with our words.
- Before Jesus, we were often blasphemous, not giving God credit for all that He created and did.
- Before Jesus, we were just like Saul, the persecutor and aggressor.
BUT WITH JESUS:
We walk in newness of life because of our belief.
We recognize God’s mercy.
We know the abundant grace of our Lord.
We are like Paul, journeyers, “with the faith and the love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
One news article of interest this morning focused upon last night’s Super Bowl game, but it did not report on the game, or the plays, or even on the athletes who played to gain victory. This article was different; it spoke of a pre-game pageantry, one that focused upon a player for the Buffalo Bills who had experienced a cardiac arrest earlier this season and upon the first responders who tended to his life-threatening needs. That’s right. This article spoke of the athlete Hamlin, of the medical center staff, and of the team’s training staff. We remember the story—the way Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after a tackle on the field. Since that moment, we have witnessed an outpouring of prayer on the football field, in the locker rooms, and open witnessing of players who stand and proclaim: “I am a believer, a Christian, a follower of The Way.” As we recall that fateful tackle, one that left Hamlin crumpled on the turf, we also remember the prayer meeting that immediately began to occur.
Last night’s Super Bowl pre-game show featured this young man who made this statement: “My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope and now with a new set of circumstances, I can say He’s doing what He’s always done. I have a long journey ahead, a journey full of unknowns and a journey full of milestones, but it’s a lot easier to face your fears when you know your purpose.”
This week, at a university just north of where I reside, a revival has begun. These meetings began with a chapel service where a group of students stayed behind to pray. Many are skeptical; many have traveled to see; and many now believe because they went. How many days will this revival last, well no one knows. One man spoke of these meetings in this way: “I believe these meetings are being driven by a desire to see a fresh outpouring of the spirit. So many people want to see their churches wake up. Programs, plans, and strategic places can never replace the Holy Spirit.”
“Yes He Can” by CAIN is a melody that includes these lyrics:
“Did He defeat the darkness?
Yes He Did!
Yes He Can!”
We cannot walk through our days with misplaced priorities. Serving the LORD has eternal value. The question is NEVER—“What shall I do?”
BUT the question is ALWAYS—“What does God want me to do?”
Then we begin re-evaluating our priorities based upon biblical guidelines, changing those that have become misplaced. We must remember how the Bible speaks of the treasures we are storing up in heaven, how we should not focus upon the storing up of earthly treasures that are left behind at the end of our lives. So, we look at where we invest our time, our resources, and our energy. Are we living for Christ, as our Lord’s hands and feet, OR are we focused on living for ourselves? Do we worship GOD or do we allow ourselves to place our worship upon the many gods that command our attention as we walk throughout our days?
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.
(1 Timothy 1: 15-16 NASB)
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
IF REVIVAL IS TO BEGIN—
- IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WITH A CAMPAIGN, OR AN AGENDA, OR A STRATEGIC PLAN.
- BUT—IT WILL BE THE WORK OF GOD, ONE WHERE HE ALONE POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT.
- AND—IT WILL BEGIN WITHIN ME & WITHIN YOU.
REVIVAL WILL BEGIN WITH A HEART FULL OF FAITH & WITH PRAYER TO A MOST HOLY GOD.
- IT WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES, OUR COMMUNITIES, & OUR EVANGELISTIC OUTLOOK.
God’s Holy Spirit: Doing What He’s Always Done!
MAY REVIVAL BEGIN TODAY IN THE HEART EACH BELIEVER.
Are each of us—prepared for revival?
Are each of us—prepared to give worship? TO THE ONLY LIVING & TRUE GOD!
Thank You, God,
- For the spirit of revival that YOU have the power to place in each believer!
- For changing our priorities, our focus, our everything!
- For placing our attention totally focused upon YOU!
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1: 17 NASB)