Wednesday, August 31, 2016

It's Time For Revival

"Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity." Joel 2: 12-13
At my work church, Pastor Butch is teaching on revival. I have been attending prayer walks around my city and the organizer, Shane Waller, has led us in praying for revival in our city.
Dictionary.com defines revival this way:
1.restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.

2.restoration to use, acceptance, or currency:
the revival of old customs.

3.a new production of an old play.

4.a showing of an old motion picture.

5.an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.

Here is my take on what happens to people..and possibly what has happened to our country.

We don't see God correctly.

We believe He's this big bully in the sky waiting for us to mess up so He can strike us down with lightening. We are AFRAID of Him..but the wrong kind of afraid.

Read the Scripture above again... what is God like? Psalm 145:8 and 103:8 tells us the same thing...

God is "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."

God doesn't hate you. He isn't mad at you because you haven't lived up to His standards. He KNEW you wouldn't live up to His standards, which is why He sent Jesus in the first place.

Revival can happen when we realize the truth of who God is, what He wants for us lives, and we repent of all the other stuff... turning to Him so He can be fully in our hearts.

This world is jacked up. There are so many horrible things happening. God is not doing that stuff. God doesn't tell anyone to kill anyone else. His Word tells us "Do not kill." God isn't causing people to go hungry or without water, He's called us to care for those in need.

As the "church",  the body of Christ, we've got to come together, turn back to God fully, and do what He's called us to do.

Revival will come when people see His love. Revival will come when people understand that they are forgiven of their past. Revival starts with YOU and ME!

Have you fully given God every area of your life? Or are you still trying to compartmentalize your Christianity?

You can't have "work life", "church life", "sporting life", and " marriage" departments in your heart.

It's got to ALL be God's. Christianity is about following Christ. Not just doing whatever is convenient for you whenever you feel like it.

I urge you today, fully surrender yourself, your will, your pride, your WHOLE life to God. Then watch revival come. Watch your life light up like the beacon of hope it's supposed to be to this dark world.

If you'd like me to pray for you, I will. Contact me.

God bless you today and always!

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