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Originally posted at American Revival Press
I’ve really been into this “personal revival” message lately. Before trying to change world, maybe I should change myself some, invite the Lord in, even to His fullness. It’s been a long journey to say the least. Trying to forget some of the failures and even the victories of the past and press into what the Lord has for us now! But it’s hard to do. Very easy to drag the past around with me. Unfortunately.
Jesus really didn’t do much the way we do it. He was so perfect. Flawless. In every way. I get so grumpy, I lose heart too easily, I get distracted with issues of the heart: remembering some past hurt, bitterness, despair. “But for the Joy set before Him”, Jesus endured the cross! He never lost heart, even in His moments of trial He would turn to His Father and be strengthened. He is truly our champion!
I don’t want to be overly critical of our religion because I found the Lord within the walls of the established church. I don’t want to be overly critical of what men have built because some of it was laid upon the foundation of the kingdom of God. But there are times to call what is black, darkness and what is not working, broken. Simply put, there will be no religion in heaven. In eternity, we will all be one big and loving family and nothing will divide us.
So much of what we have built over the past centuries has little to nothing to do with the word of God. Even still, many other things we build are actually working in opposition to His word! “But if it keeps the pews full” we might say to ourselves, in compromise. Jesus was and is the fulfillment of the word of God. Every single thing He did and said was perfect, He was perfectly equipped to minister to us. We should reread His story and teachings with these things in mind.
Jesus lived among the people. I never hid Himself away in buildings, secret places or lofty positions wherein only a select few could venture. He did not hide behind titles, pulpits, formality or decorum. He was 100% invested, His love on display, vulnerable among the people, ready and willing to serve and show the world God's commitment and unending devotion to us! He was beautiful. A shining, radiant beacon of God’s glory! I think our own brokenness is like a veil, obscuring Him from us – making it difficult to truly see the Son of God.
He was and is so wonderful. When He would do a miracle or a wonder of God, usually He would tell the people to be quiet about it. Matthew 8, “And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Here Jesus is again with His disciples, Matthew 16, “Then He commanded [them] that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ [Messiah].” After they saw Him upon the mountain, Mark 9, ”He commanded [His Disciples] that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Luke 8, after He healed the little girl, “And her parents were astonished, but [Jesus commanded] them to tell no one what had happened.”
If we performed such wonders of God, I'm sure most of us would run out and get film crews, documentary producers, YouTube channels, radio shows and websites to show the world what power we have and just how remarkable we are! But Jesus didn’t do it they way we do. He was intimate, modest, understated, meek... If only we could be people like Jesus! Try and imagine a world like that - it would be heaven on earth!
So, I am rather focused on a personal revival at the moment. Jesus began His entire ministry after a time of prayer, fasting and one might say personal revival... alone in the desert, battling the devil. He would not try and minister without the power of His Father: the One we call, Holy Spirit. And after His time of trial and testing, Jesus came out of the wilderness, was baptized, received the Holy Spirit (John saw Him descending like a dove upon the Lord) and His miraculous, ministry began! The power of God was on display – but also the majesty and beauty of His love, grace and perfection!
If only we could do it like Jesus. Well, technically we can. If only we would do it like Jesus, I should say. How dramatically our Christianity would change!? How much salvation would come to our city, nation and people!? We would come to walk with our God, hand in hand, never turning, never retreating, always hidden in His presence and full of His Spirit! It’s the same thing God did with all of His disciples. He taught them to live with Him, never departing, never leaving His presence.
Reread the book of Acts. Peter, James, John, etc. they had almost no power until Pentecost came. Then they received the power from on high! They received the spirit and grace and anointing to bring God’s kingdom to the earth! They followed in lock-step with what their Lord and Teacher had shown over the three or so years when they lived with Him. And then those twelve men turned the whole world upside down for God! If only we (Christians) would live as our Messiah, Jesus lived. We just might just be amazed at what God does thru us!
“But as the blind leads the blind eventually everyone falls into a ditch,” (Matthew 15) My personal revival is beginning with my return to the True Shepherd and King of my Faith. I fear that I might have accidentally started to look to men, hoping for some salvation to come out of them... I might have been confused and taken my eyes off of the Lord? I fear I have been deceived and started to look at the wind and the waves, letting the loud noises of the storm overcome me and perhaps I have been sinking..? But we have all like sheep gone astray.
“Revive me, Lord. Take away all these distractions, all these things that war against my spirit and quench Your Holy Spirit remove them from my life. Baptize me again in Your Power, in Your Hope, in Your Love, in the Strength of Your Spirit, Baptize me anew. I have been weary for a long season now. I need your anointing to flood over me again. I need Your Spirit to wash me and to fill my cup. I cannot do this without You. Fill me up, Adonai, help me, my Savior! Fill me to overflowing.”
Brothers and sister, Some of us need to repent and cease from our sins. Some of us need to seek Him out and come to know Him as if for the first time. Some of us will need some time away, in the wilderness, alone with our God. Some of us need to cast our cares upon the Lord and trust Him with the things going on around us. Some of us need to be discipled and taught in the ways of the kingdom of God. Some of us need to lose our religion and start anew with Jesus, who is the True Shepherd of our Faith! So, by faith, let us live a new life today with our God and Father for “Today is the day of [our] salvation!”
Eternity lies before us. And “His reward is with Him…”
There has never been a better time to surrender to the goodness of our God
I hope and pray this encourages you saints.
It encouraged me
Greatest love and affection to those who are called by His name.
(This is a wonderful worship song)
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