Christian Disciple
Jesus said, "He that believes in me, as the scriptures had said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water" John 7:38Building Strong Families, Churches, and Communities.
The
Revival/Restoration
Steps To Revival
Over and over again I have heard cries and prophetic messages about a great move of God, an enormous outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a grand revival that is to come. Christians are yearning for a more personal relationship with Christ but for many, it seems like they are not getting there. There is a saying that "if a person does the same things every time he should expect the same results every time, but if he does something different, he will get a different result". For too long believers have placed all their faith and confidence in pastors for everything that we need to know about Christ. A church is limited to the knowledge its pastor. The problem we have as believers is that we have drifted beyond the cross, backwards to the Old Testament way of receiving the word of God and has ignored the teachings of Jesus of Christ. We somewhat believe that God only speaks to his people through pastors.
Please follow me to Hebrews 1: 1-4 which reads;
1 "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
"1 John 2:26-28
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to God. (John 14:6). The time has come for believers to study the word of God for themselves and walk in obedience to Him and not to man because we have to give an account for ourselves to God based on what Jesus has commanded us to do. If we do this, we will experience the outpouring of the Holy Ghost like we have been anticipating.
Luke 6:46-49
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Matthew 17:4-64 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.We must learn how to recognize and obey the voice of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Remember, pastors and other ministers should take us to the mouth of the tunnel of truth. After that, we will be then lead by the Holy Spirit.
1. We should be able to recognize the voice of God. (1 Samuel 3)
2. We should be lead by the Holy Spirit and not man. (John 14: 25-27, John 16:13)
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
3. We are not "stepping stones", "meal tickets", "gravy trains", or "money trails" for anyone (Ezekiel 34; John 2:16; 2 Peter 2:3), we are Disciples of Jesus Christ.
4. We should not build "golden calves" in the absence of the bodily form of Jesus Christ. We should not "worship" any man as a representative or image of Christ. Some believers unconsciously worship and adorn their pastors with riches. (Ezekiel 34; Exodus 32) because they want to be proud of and show off the fleshy image that is set up before them. Many believers have been traveling miles to attend conferences, workshops, schools, and other services to learn the truth, not realising that the "Truth" lives within them. (Matthew 24: 23-28; John 16: 7-25; Galatians 2:20)
Let us therefore awake from our sleep, tap into the truth of the gospel and become the disciples God wants us to be. This move would guarantee us the revival we are seeking to experience.
Revival
The word revival means 'to live again". This indicates that something was once alive and is now dead. Thus, that thing needs to be awaken or come to life again. We are not talking about religious activity, but the "Life" that Christ alluded to in John 1:4; 3:16; 6:48; 10:10; 20:31. Many people have not experience this "Life", but are actively involved in religious activities. They cannot share what they do not have nor can they have a revival if they have never had this "Life". To believe in God does not make one a Christian. A Christian is a person who believes, received, and follows Jesus Christ the Son of God. It would impossible to revive or restore something that was never in existence, but they could receive this "New Life" in Jesus Christ if they repent of their sins, and ask God for it. Revival is for the Christians who have been "alive" and obedient to the teachings of Christ, but have been "burnt out" or gotten cold, lazy or dead to the things of God, and now desires to come alive again and walk in obedience.
Step 1: (Luke 15:11-16)
Assessment
How is your walk with God?
How is your relationship with other people?
What do they think about you?
How would you rate your lifestyle?
What have you done lately to advance the Kingdom of God?
Do you still love doing the things of God?
Are you still excited about the things of God?
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Step 2: (Luke 15: 16-17)
Analysis
What went wrong?
How did I go wrong?
What caused the decline or separation from God?
Why did I follow that road?
How and why was I misled?
What is my position or condition now?
How can I be restored?
Will God forgive me?
Step 3: (Luke 15: 18-19)
Plan
I will return to God.
I will ask His forgiveness.
I will renew my walk with God.
I will pray more.
I will live right in God's sight.
I will witness to others by my words and my actions.
I will share the love of God with everyone I meet.
I will bless the Lord at all times.
Step 4: (Luke 15: 20-21)
Action
I have repented and God has forgiven me.
God has restored my life, joy and my faith in Him.
I have begun sharing and testifying of His love, mercy, forgiveness and grace whenever an opportunity presents itself.
Everyday, I will read my bible, pray and worship my Lord.
I will an example of a true Christian for everyone to see.
I will share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone I see.
Step 5: (Luke 15:22-24)
Results
I have renewed strength.
I am restored.
I am confident in Him.
I am very contented.
I have led people to the Lord.
I enjoy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am happy and I love everybody despite their orientation.
Once we have realized and admitted that our position in Christ has been compromised, it is then time to repent and return to Him. He will forgive us of our sins and restore back to the right relationship with Him. Revival is not necessarily a corporate action among believers, or a call by a pastor, but an individual action between the believer and God. Remember, Jesus will be returning for those individuals who love Him, and are obedient and faithful to Him. A collection of obedient and faithful Christians make up His church. He will be coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle. Individual restorations eventually lead to corporate revivals.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2: 1-2
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Joel 2:24-26
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
John 20:31 - But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.