Well, our revival services came to an end last Wednesday and with them the gnawing question as to whether what we experienced last week was a true revival or merely strong support of revival services. The early indicators leave me scratching my head. After having such great attendance all week during our revival services and such a powerful sense of God's Spirit, it seemed as if there was a spiritual vacuum present this past Sunday. There was no emotion, no zeal, and no sense of a hunger for God. However, the true indicators will come later.
How do we determine if revival has truly taken place? We must do an inventory of our lives. Has God brought about a change in your life? Do you know have a quickened desire to worship Him, to enter into His presence, to study His Word, to spend time in prayer, to share your testimony with others? The greatest indicator of revival is a change in behavior. Has the Spirit of the Living God readjusted the priorities of your life where God is now first and foremost,or are you still putting others things before Him? Do you find yourself more passionate about seeking God and learning from His Word,or is your passion channeled in another direction?
My spirit was broken Sunday night when I looked out at the congregation and saw barely 20 people there. Throughout the revival services we averaged 110 people a night. The Spirit was present and powerful and people were lining the altar to meet God. I was excited that the revival we had been praying for was coming. Now, I am left to wonder. If God really did a work in our hearts last week and brought a change to our lives, where was everybody? Our community is in a desperate situation. There is a great need for people to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If we are going to penetrate the darkness with the Gospel of Truth, then we must return to God with genuine repentance that shows its fruit in a changed life. My friends, I pray for a revival that brings a change to our lives and impacts our community for the Kingdom of God.
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2 comments:
Pastor,
I don't believe it's the question so much as it is the reality of the answer that's gnawing at you. It's truly a shame that we can be so manipulated by what is in front of us at any given time. I believe if you asked a hundred believers if they wanted to experience revival, you would receive a unanymous yes, but the truth of it seems to be that although we want it, we want it given to us. We don't want to give up anything, be it time, posessions, entertainment or personal hobbies, interests or activities in order to attain it. We don't have time to read the Word, let alone set aside time to spend with God in prayer or attend church for more than a few hours on Sunday morning. We are a busy, self-centered generation.
I can only imagine how you must have felt Sunday evening when the attendance was so low but please take encouragement in the fact that the Holy Spirit is moving within God's people and revival will come, if only in a few at a time.
May God bless your efforts and strengthen you for the work He has called you to do.
I know that the Holy Spirit is moving in some of the people. I also realize that God will bring revival on those whom He chooses in the time He chooses. My responsiblity is to continually draw closer to God and to go deeper in His Word so that I can lead His people into a deeper and richer walk with God. Thanks for the encouraging words.
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