I am a little tired this morning. Sleep eluded me for some time last night and it is having an impact on me this morning. So up the stairs I went with a cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee in my hand and a prayer on my lips. Time to write.
I look at this world and there are times when I can't see any hope and my immediate prayer is for Jesus to come back this very moment. But in times past, the Holy Spirit moved across the world and revival broke out and transformed hopelessness into hope. This world needs a revival once more. God has laid it on my heart to pray for one.
1 Thessalonians 1:5English Standard Version (ESV)
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Revivalism is increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or society, with a local, national or global effect. This should be distinguished from the use of the term "revival" to refer to an evangelistic meeting or series of meetings (see Revival meeting).
Revivals are seen as the restoration of the church itself to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline. Mass conversions of non-believers are viewed by church leaders as having positive moral effects.
Within Christian studies the concept of revival is derived from biblical narratives of national decline and restoration during the history of the Israelites. In particular, narrative accounts of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah emphasize periods of national decline and revival associated with the rule of various righteous and wicked kings. Josiah is notable within this biblical narrative as a figure who reinstituted temple worship of Yahweh while destroying pagan worship. Within modern Church history, church historians have identified and debated the effects of various national revivals within the history of the USA and other countries. During the 18th and 19th centuries American society experienced a number of "Awakenings" around the years 1727, 1792, 1830, 1857 and 1882. More recent revivals in the 20th century include those of the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival, 1906 (Azusa Street Revival), 1930s (Balokole), 1970s (Jesus people), 1971 Bario Revival and 1909 Chile Revival which spread in the Americas, Africa, and Asia among Protestants .
But as with every fire, it is a small spark or flame that produces a fire. We all need to look within at the flame which burns inside of us. This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all believers. But we tend to keep the flame burning low and would rather not get involved with the lives of others. We need the revival to start within us and flame the desire deep inside to work with God to reach the world through Jesus Christ and His sacrificial love.
A fire cannot start without a spark. A revival starts with one person after another who is sold out to Jesus Christ and reaching a lost world. Look around you and read the eyes of people. There are eyes without life, for they see no hope. Look around you and you see people practicing lawlessness for they have lost hope and their own conscience. They lack a personal relationship with God. They need a Savior to redeem them from the sin that so easily ensnares them. We need to have that spark light a fire inside of us, the fire of one who cares.
So as for me and my house. We will serve the Lord.
Marty
No comments:
Post a Comment