Christian Living

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A revival is coming to my area this summer. I am confident that God has been preparing me for this calling over five years ago. It is for this reason that I am here for such a time as this.

I was met with a challenge by my pastor who said if I could put this whole experience into a teaching that would excite the congregation into actively participating, perhaps the interest would rise.

Being a teacher of the Word, I took his suggestion and ran with it. This was not an easy undertaking as there are so many avenues and a myriad of information that has been revealed. But being determined to arouse the interest of others, I turned to the One Who could best describe just what a revival is and how it must be approached, the Holy Spirit. I prayed for the ability to compile more than enough information into a teaching of understanding and simplicity. And as I began tapping away on the keyboard, this is what my Helper showed to me.

"if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This is the basis for revival. There is an "IF" and "Then" clause. In essence, God tells us, if we do, then He will do. There is a criteria that needs to be met before God will meet our needs of salvation and healing.

God can do whatever He chooses to do, He doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us. He works through His people for two reasons. One, it's for our own good and secondly, it's for His glory.

In this scripture, God tells us that if those who are called by His name will humble themselves, which simply means to examine their heart, and will pray which is intercessory prayer for others and themselves, and seek His face, which means to be in His holy presence, will turn from their wickedness by repentance, then He will hear from heaven. Once this criteria is met, God promises to hear our remorse and forgive our sin and heal our land. Our great land is in dire need of healing as we have strayed so far off the path of righteous living.

Revival begins with a knowledge of true sorrow and repentance. Our hearts will cry out and our souls will weep in distress.

"And Hannah was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly." 1 Samuel 1:10.

Hannah recognized her utter helplessness in her situation and wept to the Lord for a blessing. Her attitude was one that should be ours as well. As she reaffirmed her covenant with God through repentance, He healed her. Her barren womb produced a son named Samuel who fully followed the Lord. It was her sacrifice that God heard and answered. What are you willing to sacrifice?

Our prayers matter. It's when we don't address the Lord in distress of soul that we will not experience our healing. Lack of prayer is allowing our enemy Satan to intervene. Lack of prayer is telling God we don't need or want Him to help. What our prayers do achieve is the proof that by our will, God will do as He promised when we humbly go before Him. Can we afford not to ask God for healing?

"for godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil and it never brings regret." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Today our society has turned a deaf ear to God's truth and have believed reports of the world. This attitude of being "politically correct" has all but pushed truth aside. Because we have accepted so many wrong beliefs, Satan has begun to destroy the church body. He starts with the family. As the family goes, so goes the church and as the church goes, so goes the nation. It has a deadly rippling effect that we are now being faced with in our country which once was a God fearing land.

"For Christ must be King and reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet." 1 Corinthians 15:25

Today we are under grace, and God wishes that no one will perish but have everlasting life through Christ. This grace will bless us to bless others. It's every Christian's responsibility to win souls to Christ. Only God can do the converting, but it's our duty to pave the way.

There are certain Christian characters that God is looking for in His people in order to make a way for revival.

The first character is one of obedience. Since we as God's elected are entitled to all that He has, we have a responsibility to Him as stewards of all He has blessed us with. The main duty we have been given is to bring lost souls into the kingdom by introducing them to our Savior Christ Jesus. This is our main commission to spread the "Good News".

"For if I do this volunteerily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me." 1 Corinthians 9:17

It wasn't that Paul was unwilling to obey, but rather it was a calling that he obeyed to follow in order to be a steward. God gives His children duties to manage on His behalf and trusts us with them. God is looking for people whose hearts fully belong to Him.

"The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9a

God was and still is ever present in the defense of His people. When we are obedient and faithful stewards, God promises to protect us from all evil. But He's looking for those faithful few who are willing to answer this call. Has He seen you?

Next God is looking for those with faithful convictions to do His will.

One person who is a wonderful example of this was Caleb. When 10 other men saw defeat, Caleb rested on the fact that God had already made a promise and he carried out that conviction in his heart. He fully followed the Lord.

"Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite until this day, because he followed the Lord God of Israel fully." Joshua 14:14

It was this conviction of faithfulness that God gave Caleb the desires of his heart. Some things never change. God is still searching for those who are faithful to do His will. Sadly, there are too many who chase after the whims and the fads of the day to find a fleeting glimpse of hope. Which is never found.

Thirdly, God is looking for those who are determined to be courageous. The Christian walk is not a cake walk. It's not easy, and was never promised to be easy. Paul tells us to persevere in this journey. It is for the courageous because the battles we face are not visible to the naked eye. We first must know the Word of God before we can be strong and courageous.

"Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go." Joshua 1:7

This strength and courage only comes through faith and trust in God. We must fight the good fight of faith in order to stand in the day of trouble. God will hear and heal when we stand and face adversities. God promises us success when we stay on the righteous path and follow His commands which by the way, are still in effect today. It's our intercessory prayers that we deliver for salvation of lost souls that God will hear and heal. This is for everyone's benefit. It's a courageous and believing heart that knows prayer will save those in need of redemption. Do you know anyone who needs Jesus?

Our confidence and courage is not of ourselves. We must draw this from the Lord. God will always ask us to get out of our "comfort zones" so He can use us. This is a character builder. As long as we understand that aside from Christ we can do nothing, unless we know Him for Who He is, His power and strength then we will never realize our lack of it. It's by His strength that we are strong.

Finally, we must dare to confront our enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy God's children. Since revival means an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, this will bring about spiritual attacks on those who are praying. This is the one thing that Satan does not want to happen. As God's elected, we must be prepared to stand and confront this enemy who will stand in God's way and do whatever it takes to keep this from happening. As long as we sit back and remain neutral in the process, God will not be able to move on our behalf. In order to pray for revival and expect miracles, we must be obedient, have courage, confidence and prepared to confront our adversary the devil. When we recognize just who our enemy is, we can stand tall and declare our victory over him just as David told Goliath.

"This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you and cut off your head." Sam. 17:46

God already delivered Goliath into David's hand and he believed and stood up to his enemy with obedience, courage, confidence from the Lord and defeated this giant.

"For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught" Proverbs 3:26

This confidence we get from God is the beginning of wisdom. This wisdom gives us the peace and the joy that removes all fear. It is this wisdom that we can pray with confidence in knowing that God will bring an outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon a dry and dusty land in great need of redemption. When we understand the criteria and the character, we can then pray and know that God will restore and heal our land. As a believer in Jesus Christ, this is every Christians responsibility. Are you ready to answer the call?

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