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Revival… what comes to mind when you think about that word?

 

Webster’s dictionary has a few different meanings:

re⋅viv⋅al – noun

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

2.      an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.

Many of us think of both of those when we hear the word revival, I know I do.  However, recently God has put something on my heart that I wanted to share with everyone. See we think of revival and we think the above, we think about all the fun fluffy emotions. The jumping and singing and shouting for victory. But what’s something that we often forget? What’s something that I’ve personally forgotten from time to time.

The beginning of revival…

The thing that starts it all… what is it?

It’s something that we all fear and never desire to go through. Yet it’s what happened when we first became saved. Think back… what was it that pushed you over? What was it that you saw in your life that made you go “oh snap, Lord I need you”

The answer… you saw your sin and Holy Ghost dealt with you on it.

I know I know, you’re thinking to yourself… “oh duh! Of course that happens at revival too. People who don’t know Christ should come to realize they need Him to be free from sin.” [at least… I hope you know that] While it’s true the sinner comes to see things, in revival God often opens the eyes and “chastens” the saint too.

Look in the Book of Hebrews with me. I know I know some of you are thinking “D! How could you suggest that those of us who have been saved could possibly fall in sin again…” well I’m sorry but it is scripture that suggest it. The book of Hebrews is a book written to BELIEVERS. All through out it the writer warns believers to stand strong in their faith and not to compromise and stray. It is in the midst of this that we find the aspect of revival that I want to point out…

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
        "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE             DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT    WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
        ⁶FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE     DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY   SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

                                                        ~Hebrews 12:5-6

 

It is the discipline of the Saints that I want to point out. Now most of you know me. You know that I am not some doom and gloom guy. However, recently God has birthed in my heart a passion for true Holiness. I am not talking about the list of do’s and don’ts but rather the life style of Holiness. 

The only way to reach this holiness however is through the discipline that comes through the Spirit of God. Why does it hurt? Why does it seem to hurt more when we are saints than when we were sinners?

I believe it is pride.  We forget that we are flesh and the flesh is sinful and for God to just give us a simple nudge saying, “Hey you have this little area here that you really need to give over to me.”

Well… our pride steps up saying “What? God, surely not, I’ve been this way my entire life! This is just… family tradition. It’s just apart of whom I am, just a personality trait.”

Yet God, being the loving God that He is, still pokes and prods and it hurts because our prideful flesh keeps trying to say “no God, you’re wrong. This is ok. It’s no big deal doesn’t even affect me.” Some get angry and get offended that God would want to bring correction. Yet…

Well let’s allow scripture say this next part…

Further more, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

                                        ~Hebrews 12:9

Why? Why do we respect earthly man’s judgment more so than God’s?  It makes no sense. Yet scripture mandates that when God brings correction that we should fall under it.

We are so quick to shout amen when we see a sinner repent. We are so quick to shout amen when we see other saint’s repent. [In some cases we are quick to gossip even more after we see both repent…] Yet are you quick to say, “amen, I need to repent.”

Let us not forget, it is not something God does out of enjoyment. He’s not up there laughing away with the angels saying “haha look how messed up they are!” No! Rather scripture says that it is to our benefit!

but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

                                        ~Hebrews 12:10

But even knowing all that… it’s still hard isn’t it? It’s hard to “man up” and admit that we are wrong. Yet again… I turn to scripture…

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

                                        ~Hebrews 12:11

No… it’s not a fun process. It is very painful. Yet… if we wish to see revival, if I wish to see revival; then I must submit to his discipline as he sees fit. WE as a people must be willing to submit to his discipline. So that we can see the revival… so that we can see the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” that our generation, our church,  city, our country, our world... so desperately needs.

Know that I do not say this out of a haughty and proud heart. As if I were on some level above all bring judgment on all. Yet know that I am with you. Walking day by day; in His grace. I walk, I fall, I struggle, I stand, I walk.

Day by Day, moment by moment.

Peace and love,
D

Why do people say things that they shouldn't?

It's a simple question. I get so tired of people saying things like "You don't need Theology all you need is Jesus" or  other phrases making theological studies sound like it's not worth ur time. This really gets on my nerves.

This upsets me for a few reasons. First off there's the fact that if study'n theology isn't important than people might as well stop reading their Bibles. Why?  Theology literally means "Study of God" If u're reading ur Bible and are learning more about who Christ is then you are involved in theology.

Next is the fact that it's unbiblical to dismiss the study God. For you to dismiss the study of proper theology is to literally hurt the body. 

John 4:24 (New International Version)

24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
That truth part invovles ur study and knowledge of God. The study of theology while it shouldnt' be the wedge between brother and sister of Christ. IT IS however something that should enhance your worship.
My study of proper biblical theology has enhanced my worship greaty because i have i greater understanding of who he is and the work of his grace.

so please stop dog'n theology.

welp i'm nearing the end of Ergo Proxy.



I started the last disc today. it's been really pretty intense so far. It's one of those series that really makes you think. Even the supposed stupid episodes that just look like the writer was goofing off, makes you think a bit and really help to shed some light as to the mystery of the Proxy.

So earlier i was walking back from Mr. Joe's (lil place across the street from the church) and i was thinking about the phrase "struggling with God."  I asked myself... Does man really struggle with God. or does man struggle with himself about God?

I say this because how do you strugle with the creator of the universe? I believe that when man says he struggles with God it's actually himself he struggles with. 

Let me back up.

Every living person seeks God. Of course the final question is if they seek Him to the end or if they settle for something less. Even the self proclaimed athiest have a god. They just don't view thier god in the same way others do. To them god may be science, or perhaps just the simple act of living. Something or someone drives everyman or woman, that is thier god it is thier reason for being.

When people are faced with the Gospel of Christ they often say to people, i'm struggeling with God. But rather i believe they struggle with themselves. Man is naturally wired to pass th blame off onto someone else. True as we age we gain certain values that causes us to accept the guilt of our actions. However at the core we still are wired to passt he blame.

A small child drops and breaks it's mother's favorite tea cup that had been passed down from family member to family member. Immediately the child's reaction is to run away and hide. When approached a child will deny knowledge of any such deed. This is how we are hardwired

So when faced with the Gospel about how man is sinful and that we will one day pay for our sins we will often pass that blame. Ignore it. Claim it to be false. Yet inside we feel the conviction we know it's true. We struggle to accept the fact that we've fallen short. (Romans 3:23)

The other concept that man struggles with is how can someone willingly take the blame for them.  After man has accepted and seen the fact that they are sinful they stuggle with the idea that Christ had died for them so that they don't have to suffer the punishment of sin. (Romans 6:23) (John 3:16-17) We are prideful and that is what man struggles with on the inside is his pride. 

Even people who are saved will at times struggle with themselves. The reality that Christ died for them. Even when we were sinners when we were imperfect and unworthy of his love he came and died for us. (Romans 5:8)  Yet the simple fact is this. That if we confess with our mouth and truely believe in our hearts that that Christ died for us and rose again... then we will be saved. (Romans 10:8-10)