Wednesday, 25 March 2009

• yeah... it hurts

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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
  
  

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