November 2004
Volume 33 Issue 11 No. 344
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November 2004 Volume 33 Issue 11 No. 344 |
3 Phases of RevivalGordon L. Anderson What is a revival? What does one look like? For many, the word revival creates an image of long, emotional, powerful church services where people worship with enthusiasm, pray with passion, reach out in faith and see the power of God demonstrated in new and unique ways. This might be generally true, but I believe that revival is much more than that. I define revival as a period of time when people awaken to the reality of a God who is always present and always willing to work on behalf of His kingdom through His people. When people awaken to God and begin to conduct themselves as though God is truly present, things begin to happen. Schedules and priorities change, sinners are converted, saints are sanctified, people are called into ministry, church services come alive and the power of God is revealed in new and thrilling ways. It is the narrow view of revival that focuses on the long and emotional church services characterized by long and loud singing, preaching and praying. Often this picture includes running, dancing, falling or other physical responses to the presence of God that have been clearly documented as common in the history of revival. But revival is much more than that. One issue complicates the problem. The language of revival is made up of many metaphors. Metaphors describe something about which we know very little in terms of things about which we know a great deal more. We know so little about spiritual matters, and we have no vocabulary adequate to explain them, so we use metaphors. Since metaphors are imprecise, revival must be described with great care. Revival is composed of three phases, preceded by a condition that requires the power of God. The precondition is spiritual death or slumber, followed by the phases of reaching up to God, receiving from God, and reaching out for God. Most descriptions of revival emphasize phase two, receiving from God, but that is not all there is. The precondition: Death or Sleep Spiritual death requires revival. Theologically, death is a metaphor that refers to the fact that sinners are separated from God. Paul has this in mind in Ephesians 2 when he says that we were dead in our sins, without hope and without God. If this condition is never corrected, then the sinner suffers eternal death, that is eternal separation from God. This metaphor works well to describe the condition of the sinner but is not entirely accurate when describing the Christian who needs revival. By definition, Christians are alive in Christ, so what needs reviving? Often the problem is that they have fallen into a worthless condition much like death. Sleep describes this condition well. Technically, these believers are alive, but they are rather deathlike in their passion, godliness and fruitfulness in the Kingdom. They need to be awakened; they need to be revived. Basically, the precondition for revival is that the sinner needs to be made alive-or "revived" in the first place; the apostate Christian who has lost his or her salvation needs to be revived (brought back to life); and the worthless saint needs to be awakened. 1. Phase one: Reaching up to God If is often said that revival is preceded by a significant period or prayer—two years often being the period cited. But I believe that prayer is the first indication that a revival is actually under way. I say this because sleeping saints seldom pray; and when they begin to pray, it means that spiritual life has already begun to stir. This is not as exciting as phase two, when people receive from God, but it is vital spiritual activity nevertheless. Why does phase one seem to take so long to produce fruit? It is because the sleeping condition is a powerful form of spiritual bondage that does not yield easily to the will and power of God. Sleeping saints are very religious saints, and religious saints are nearly impossible to arouse. In Revelation 2 and 3, the church at Ephesus had lots of works but had lost its love for God. Sardis had a reputation for life but was dead. And Laodicea thought it was in fine shape and did not know it was wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. You would think they would have a clue. But sleeping saints are clueless. When they do face the prospects of spiritual renewal, they fight violently to protect the status quo. John 11 and 12 show how this works. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The Jewish leaders determined they should kill Jesus. If He kept this up, they would lose their people and their place. Revival means change—and religion hates change, especially if it means losing power, position and influence. Rather than cooperate with God, they decide to kill Him. That is always religion’s answer. In chapter 12 they decide to kill Lazarus too. Kill the Messiah and the miracle. The instincts that drive this response are powerful, and they do not yield easily. That is why revival is "preceded" by a period of prayer. Only prayer can reveal the depths of religious pride and slumber, and only prayer can dissolve the bonds that hold the spiritual sleeper. Religion is a powerful sleeping agent—a powerful anaesthetic to the pain of a useless and essentially godless existence. It is an insidious form of idolatry because it looks so much like the real thing and resists change so arduously. Second Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro across the earth looking for a people on whose behalf He can demonstrate His strength. We invite Him to land in our lives, only to find the runway so cluttered with the trash of our religiosity that there is no space for Him. Idolatry is simply putting something in God’s place. We sing that we surrender all to Jesus, then fight like mad if He tries to rearrange something in our lives so He can move in. Removing "space-takers" is profound spiritual work, and it takes time. 2. Phase two: Receiving from God This part of a revival usually gets most of the attention. "They run, jump, shout, holler, hoot, shiver, shake, quake, fall down, jump up and run around. They sing for two hours, preach for two hours, pray for two hours, and come back the next night to do it again. They are having revival." Yup, probably. When people pray through the religious idolatry that has separated them from an awareness of the presence of God, they are amazed to find how powerful the presence of God is and how unusual their responses to it are. God’s presence is lethal. God warned Moses that seeing Him would be fatal. The Old Testament high priest risked death every time he entered the Holy of Holies. In the new covenant believers are allowed to be the sanctuary of God. The Holy Spirit dwells within them. When a sleeping saint arises, he or she is amazed at the spiritual world to which he or she has been oblivious. Electrical wires are covered with insulation that makes it possible to hold the wire without being shocked, even though hundreds of volts might be surging through it. Religion is like that insulation. A very thin layer of it insulates people from the power of God. Out of touch with spiritual reality, they call their non-response to God "dignity." It is not. It is stinking, prideful, religious slumber. They claim they are conservative by nature. They are not. Poke their finger into a light socket and they will find out just how conservative they are. Revival awakens people to the reality of God’s presence. This affects their minds, emotions, will and bodies. That is what is meant by loving God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). When religious insulation is stripped away and the power of God touches the whole person, it is not surprising that unusual human responses to this power occur. One cannot read the Bible or the history of revival without recognizing that powerful human responses regularly characterize periods of renewal. They are legitimate, they should be affirmed, but they are not the purpose of revival, not its end. 3. Phase three: Reaching out for God Revival is not complete until it has passed through this phase. The mood and tone, the terrain and landscape of this phase are different. Phase three is ministry for God. Let me contrast phases two and three to make the point:
Some revival testimonies indicate that when people come to the altar, are prayed for and fall down (and/or quiver, shake, quake, weep, shout, etc.), that they have received a fresh anointing and are manifesting the presence of God. This is a serious mistake. In the Old Testament a king or priest was made ready for his ministry through the anointing. Oil was poured over his head to signify his ministry. In the New Testament this imagery is used of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:18 indicates that the Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus, that He was anointed for miraculous ministry. This anointing was not to make Him dance, run, jump, shout or fall down. It was to do miracles. Acts 10:38 says God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and He went about doing miracles. I affirm the validity of the encounters people have in phase two, but it is a mistake to equate an experience with the Spirit with an anointing of the Spirit. The Biblical Word manifestation has a precise meaning. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Paul outlines the manifestation of the Spirit. These manifestations are all miraculous ministries. Human responses to the Spirit, such as running, falling, etc., are not manifestations of the Spirit. Human responses are a manifestation of humanity-the way humanity responds to an encounter with the power of God. Human responses to God’s power should not be confused with the manifestations Paul is discussing. Strong words of caution are in order here. It is easy to stagnate in phase two, turn the revival into a blessing cult, exchange the anointing and spiritual manifestations for human responses, and abort the plan of God for revival. I affirm and plead for people to pray (phase one), receive and respond (phase two), but to continue into phase three. True Pentecostal revival embraces both phases one and two, but it always focuses on phase three. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a phase three doctrine. We will receive power to be witnesses and do the work of the ministry. We work hard in phase one, we celebrate joyfully in phase two, but we anticipate the power of phase three so we can reach this world for Christ. (Taken from Pentecostal Evangel magazine, August 2001)
Why has God called us?Dr. Mrs. Lilian Stanley When somebody invites us, there is reason behind it and we know why we are going there. But many Christians lead an aimless life not knowing why God has called them, though the Scriptures make it plain. Here are five reasons why God has called us. 1. Called for Sanctification (1 Cor 1:2) Ministries, Missions, Churches, Associations and Groups are multiplying. But is holiness increasing proportionately? Today’s need is HOLINESS, more than anything else. Writing to the Corinthian Christians, Paul says that we are CALLED to be saints (KJV). That’s the number one reason why we are called. One of our missionaries in Maharashtra went to open an account in the bank. The clerk wanted to fill up a column in the form about his job. Being a non-christian, he did not understand the term, "missionary." He scratched his head for a minute and then wrote, "saint." What a lesson it is for us. The world expects us to be saints. That’s why we are called. When asked, "Who is a saint?", a Sunday class child replied, "Saints are dead Christians!" Are we dead Christians or living saints? "God did not CALL us to uncleanness but to holiness. Therefore he who rejects this, does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit" (1 Thess 4:7,8). There is dual emphasis, "not to...but to." Every day if we are not striving to leave a little bit of our uncleanness and become a little bit more holy then we are rebuffing God. Is our heart craving for a saintly life like the dear pants for water brooks? Are we training our eyes daily to move away from unclean sights to clean vision or do we gorge on profane TV scenes that stain our hearts? Job had a knack of restraining his eyes. He made a covenant with his eyes not to look at other women lustily. He challenges his friends, "If my heart walked after my eyes... If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbour’s door..." (Job 31:1,7,9). One sexual sin can trap you in an ugly downward spiral. But a strong will becomes stronger after winning over a temptation. Our ears should be trained to turn away from dirty conversation and songs. If we are using our mouth to curse, swear and lash out then there is holiness leakage. Little white lies have become ubiquitous and have not been challenged as sin. We have mastered skilful techniques of speaking the truth yet giving a different impression, to shut the mouth of our conscience. It’s time to unlearn all that and learn to say yea for yea and nay for nay. Walk the clean path. Do clean things. Think clean thoughts. Make a covenant with the members of your body and clean up your life. Holiness is the plumbline in the building of our lives and the Kingdom of God, without which the entire structure is bound to collapse. Peter exhorts us to be holy in "ALL" our conduct because He who CALLED us is holy (1 Pet 1:15). 2. Called for Service (1 Pet 2:9) We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people that we may proclaim the praise of Him who CALLED us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt 4:19). How many of us will accept this invitation if the reward is only a training to win souls? A no profit invitation? No material benefits, no health benefits, no security benefits? The dozen disciples registered for this crash course and subjected themselves to the training to catch men and women. When did you last win a soul? Why are you tongue-tied? We need to open up our mouths to talk to others about Christ, if we care for souls. One day, as I sat in the Dental OPD, I started talking to the lady sitting by my side. She asked me if she could come to my house. I felt trapped. I told her that I had an appointment with the doctor and it would take time. She said she would wait. I had no choice but to take her home. What she told me shook me up. She was planning to commit suicide. She grasped my every word like a lifeline, accepted Christ as her Saviour, bought a Bible and left. If I had not talked to her... If I had refused to bring her home... We should go out of the way to bring souls into the Kingdom of God. Ask... Seek... Knock. First ask. Let it be your daily prayer that the Lord of the harvest should lead you to needy souls that day. Then seek. It is not enough to pray and wait for souls to come to you. You must go out seeking souls. At home somebody may come, to whom you can share. In your work spot or jaunt you may meet someone to whom you can talk to. You can also regularly go to a hospital or slum or village with a companion. If we seek, we shall no doubt find. Most of us don’t take the initiative. Then knock. Hearts are waiting to be knocked. If you just speak a kind word they are ready to open up. One day I was waiting for the bus. A lady was standing by me and the Holy Spirit was nudging me to talk to her. But I said, "Lord, look at her big kumkum bindi and eyes full of muscara. You think she will accept you? No way." By the time, the bus came and I got into it through the front door. She walked to the back door and I was relieved. I thought it was not the will of God for me to talk to her. But finding no seat she walked to the front and sat beside me. I knew the Lord would not let me off the hook all that easily. As I started talking to her a miracle started to happen. Tears bubbled out of her eyes. She said, "God only has sent you." Yes I believe that. God sends us to catch these fish which otherwise would perish. She was weeping within her heart and just ready to open up if someone knocked. Try knocking. Broken hearts abound, waiting for someone to apply some balm and bind. I am thankful to God for being born in India where I don’t need to go in search of needy place. Everywhere is mission field. After a slump Christianity is making a remarkable comeback all over the world. Be a part of it. 3. Called for Suffering (1 Pet 2:20-23) "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For this you were CALLED, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His Steps." Suffering is not just part of life. It is the very purpose for which we are called. We have to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. There is no disciple of Christ who has no cross. Paul did not encourage the new believers saying all will be well if they came to Christ. Rather, he exhorted them saying, "we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Adversity does more to help people grow up than easy victories. It tests to see just how tough your faith is. It stalks into life on rubber shoes. It will be the most unexpected shock. Trials and temptations will only keep increasing in life. When a wave breaks over on you, be sure another bigger wave is rolling on towards you. If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out how will you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Brace yourself. A giant wave is coming at you. We are copycats of Jesus. Let’s copy Him in suffering. Listen to what David Wilkerson has to say on suffering: "We must accept that it is part of our calling. It is the kind of materialistic preaching that has ill prepared an entire generation of Christians to endure any kind of pain. They have not learnt to be content with such things as they have, to be abased and not always abounding." I call promises like, "In the world you shall have tribulation" as God’s awful promises. Suffering is a blessing nobody wants. There are four benefits of suffering as per 1 Pet 5:10. "May the God of all grace who CALLED us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." Every Christian desires to be mature and perfect. But there is no way to that except suffering. Suffering rounds our corners and polishes us. Do you know what a painful process polishing is? It is sand-paper experience. Then it establishes us. Establish means, place beyond dispute. Fantastic! Before suffering, our position is in dispute. Once we come out of it victoriously we are indisputably placed in the Kingdom of God. Hip-hip-hurray to suffering! Suffering strengthens us by making our nerves steel. By driving David from cave to cave Satan made him a strong, wise and experienced king. What a fool Satan is to put us through suffering to defeat his own purposes. And what fools we are to say no to suffering. Finally, suffering settles us. No more wavering. Our roots have gone too far and too deep for anything to affect us. It brings us to the point of bold confession, I will never, never walk out on God though I may be crucified upside down." Love-birds don’t get depressed in a cage. When life builds bars around you swing on them and sing. Instead of weeping, "Why me?’ ask God, "How can I help others because of my experience with suffering?" Then your suffering has done its job. But take heart. I have bounced around in the world quite a bit and let me encourage you. Suffering is just a slice of life, not the entire pizza! 4. Called for Serenity (1 Cor 7:15) "... But God has called us to peace." The, "BUT" shows how much we have to strive to preserve peace. If one person is uncooperative the other should pray, beg, go to a counselor, bear up and do all that is possible to that end. Sometimes all efforts fail. That’s why the Bible says. "If it is possible as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom 12:18). From our side whatever is possible to keep relationship from developing irreparable breaches, should be done. We should walk the second, third and fourth mile too. "Pursue peace with all people" says the author of Hebrews (12:14). Anger, the enemy of peace is a natural emotion which becomes a sin when given vent to. Most of us have mean flashes that come out in moments of stress. Therefore do not talk when you are angry. You hold on to peace by being quiet. Instead of fighting if we keep quiet what happens? "The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace" (Ex 14:14). We fight our own battles and thus tie the Lord’s hands from helping us. There is a myth that happy couples don’t fight. But no marriage is conflict free. In these last days even within christian families there is a lot of verbal, physical and emotional abuse. A pastor congratulated the guest speaker’s wife for her husband’s powerful sermon. She responded, "On the pulpit it’s glory. At home it’s another story." If you can recognize destructive patterns in your own marriage, you can, with some effort and God’s grace, reverse them. Satan is playing havoc deceiving husbands and wives by his lies that it is ok if it happens within the four walls of the bedroom. That it’s ok to get angry if the spouse irritates you. They curse, swear and threaten, not realizing that every time they spill out lacerating words, they are committing a grievous sin called, "outbursts of wrath" that can keep them out of the Kingdom of God (Gal 5:20,21). The Word ‘practice’ in v 21 suggests that such people regularly blow up and say things calculated to hurt and say, "It’s ok. I am not at fault." Getting angry is a choice. Never say, "He/She made me angry." Say, "I became angry." That’s putting responsibility where it belongs. In every conflict it is important for you both to see your own responsibility. Then you can easily put your marriage back on solid ground. Beloved, family life is where you experience perfect love. Love between husband and wife, parents and children. Hearts are craving for love and understanding. Do not deprive your spouse or parent or children this wonderful gift called love which is free, free, free yet not available so easily. Why not give it generously, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over and maintain peace? Wake up! 5. Called for Supper (Rev 19:9) We are CALLED to the marriage supper of the Lamb! Some imagine heaven to be a boring place with a worship service going on endlessly and themselves standing like a pillar! Rev 3:12 used to scare me. We are mistaken. It’s going to be a jaw-dropping experience, and endlessly fascinating festival in kaleidoscopic colours. If Ahasuerus can throw a banquet for 6 months, our God can do it for 6 centuries and more. We attended an Oriya wedding and enjoyed it thoroughly. The bride was brought to the altar with people dancing and singing around her. There was a lavish lunch. It was night when we returned to the groom’s place. The couple followed a dancing team on the street. There were fireworks, laughter, fun, chatter, excitement and a grand dinner. I thought of the diet-free marriage supper of the Lamb and felt homesick for heaven. "These will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are CALLED, chosen and faithful" (Rev 17:14). Three requisites are mentioned here. Those who are with Him are called. Calling is His responsibility. They are chosen. That again is God’s job. They are faithful. That’s our duty. We have to be faithful. My husband and his brother had a pet dog called Rani when they were children. When they brought in a pup their mother flatly refused to have both and asked them to decide between either. Both the boys wept bitterly and finally decided for the pup. Now the unpleasant job of disposing off Rani was their lot. They took her to a deserted well, 5 km away from their home, tied a big stone around her neck, drowned her and came home crying all the way. Around midnight there were scratching noises on the door. The family got up and opened the door fearfully. It was Rani, belly swollen with water, hopefully looking up at them with longing eyes. Can there be a better example of faithfulness? "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" said the ancient saint (Job 13:15). Be faithful till your life is done and I’ll surely meet you at the wedding supper. The calling of God is no ordinary call. It is a high calling (Phil 3:14). So press forward. "I press toward the goal for the prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus." (KJV) Many who started well have fallen by the wayside. There will be lot of hurdles but with all our might we should push and press forward without looking back. We should not tire easily as we trek this upward call. In a moment of crisis do not sit down and weep. Pick up and move. It is a holy calling (2 Tim 1:9). So trust in His grace. "He has saved us and called us with a Holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus." The holy calling is unattainable by works. We do not deserve this invitation, neither is it possible for us to attain the standard of holiness God demands. We simply have to trust in His grace. It is a heavenly calling (Heb 3:1). So fix your thoughts on Jesus. "Therefore holy brothers, partakers of the Heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus." It is no earthly calling to follow someone here. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus and honour His invitation. May be you are trembling thinking, "I am still struggling with my secret sin, how can I go on this call for sanctification? I am so shy. I shake like a leaf before talking to anybody, leave alone talking about Christ. How can I lead others to Christ? I cannot stand the slightest pain, how can I go through suffering? Before I know what’s happening, I am screaming at my children and spouse. The thought of quitting bombards me all the time. Will I be counted faithful? Will I sit in the marriage supper of the Lamb? Don’t worry. Paul who completed his odyssey unscathed gives us a word of encouragement. "Now may the God of peace HIMSELF sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who CALLS you is faithful, who also will do it! Can I make it? Yeah!
Re-DiscoveringSexual Purity Few areas in our Christian pilgrimage require more care and attention than the matter of our sexual lives. This exercise is intended to provide practical instruction on how to walk in sexual purity and victory. WE suggest our readers set aside a concentrated period of time to process and internalize these application questions and their corresponding scripture references. Note: An asterisk next to the question indicates our recommendation for the reader to seek the assistance of a qualified Biblical counselor or pastor regarding this area.
1. How do I know if I am struggling with lust? Men
WoMen
2. Have I taken the necessary steps to thoroughly deal with the sin of sexual impurity... With God? (Psalm 51)
With my family?
With my local church?
With others?
3. Am I being intentional about maintaining a sexually pure lifestyle... Through cultivating my relationship with the Lord?
Through cultivating my relationship with my spouse?
Through cultivating godly relationships with others?
Through establishing "guard rails" of protection?
4. Are my mate and I enjoying sexual freedom in marriage?
(Taken from: ‘The Spirit of Revival’ magazine, November 2002)
Soulwinners’ Column Sweet Jesus to Sugarcane Fields!Mrs. Mangalarani Rajkumar Even the memory of those days brings a song to my heart. The days when I was at the prime of youth... flying in fantasies! It was the time when I had enthroned Jesus in my heart in response to Eccl 12:1 which reads, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth!" My spirit was effervescing inside to fizz around the fragrance of Jesus’ love. It found its right abode in a nearby youth prayer cell of Blessing Youth Mission. We prayed together and proceeded to reach out to the souls. Awaiting was our mission field in a colony of sugarcane field workers in Kattuthottam village about 15 km away from Thanjavur. Our safari was on a bullock cart with joy-filled hearts. I had a flair for action songs. That drew the children of that village to Jesus. As the rays of the Sun of Righteousness entered the village through the Gospel songs, Gospel messages, and Christmas plays, the darkness had to give way till it ended in its exit from the entire village. Years rolled away! I came and settled in Coimbatore after my marriage. Here also with the help of my husband my ministry among children continues. After a long gap, one day I went to Thanjavur. A lad with a bright smile approached me with a question: "Aunty! can you recognize me?" While my mind was browsing the memory files, he continued, "Aunty! I am Francis. I am one among many at Kattuthottam village who came to Jesus because of you. My whole family has joined Jesus family. Now I am the leader of a prayer cell at my college campus!" Tears swelling on my eyelids, I fell down at God’s feet, passing on to Him everything due to Him... Praise, honour and glory. My feet are still in search of new sugarcane fields stuffed with sundry souls.
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