Revival January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackbackHaving been exposed to pentecostalism and what I will charitably describe as some “abuses therrof”, I will be honest when I hear the term revival, especially the word revival meeting(s), I run for cover. Like a friend of mine who paints picture stories vividly with his writing style, I vividly picture the end of the service singing twenty choruses of ‘just as I am’, and the “revivalist’ calling every one to the altar if they committed any sin since they last met .
Pictures come to mind of the” man with the charts” up front with his teloscopic pointer telling us how this seven dispensations deal worked and how we were going to be left behind unless we came to his altar call, we could lose our salvation like our car keys, and what to do if we were left behind. They had anticipated dates that Jesus would return to snatch them away from the trials and tribulations all the sinners who didn’t respond to the altar call were going to face.
But as I have matured in the Lord I have come to understand that to run from the word revival is a knee jerk reaction, going to the polar opposite because some have drifted from the truth into a “type” or “another” gospel. I know what revival is NOT. It is not a circus act, it is not standing at the mike doing a confessional to man, it is not pressuring or scaring “the devil out of” people ; just to to produce numbers at the end of the day of ‘how many you saved’ at your service. Notably in that list of number tallyied, I never noticed a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers to follow up with them if they didn’t come back the next week, so that the church could follow up with and potentially shepherd them.
The Word does speak of us being revived though and I think we are commanded as such in that matter. Revival is a renewed interest after a period of indifference or decline. Revival is getting back on the path, getting the goal in view again and pursuing Him through His word and prayer with a new passion . Scripture commands us to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and search the scripture and to study God’s Word and to spend time with Him in prayer. In our busy, distracted daily lives, it is very easy to get off track and lose sight of our goal. How many marriages suffer from the same things?
So just as with marriage, where there has to be a concerted, self concious effort to renew interest, or apologize, or just get back in tune with each other after a period of indifference, to revive and renew it, we must be even more diligent to do the same self concious checks on how our relationship is with our God.
One of the key elements in our walk with God and in our marriage is honesty with both onesself and the other and a trust in them. We seek revival and renewing in our relationships so they are balanced and not marked by mountains and valleys. While mountains and valleys occur the steady plateau of the daily life is where we should be at on a regular basis. That only comes about by being dedicated to the relationship you have.
One would not be honest with themselves, God or their spouse if they said there were not times we were not as close we should be. The key is doing something about it once we notice the signs so as to maintain a healthy balanced relationship. Reviving the relationship and then maintaining it, keeping the eye on the goal, so as not to need continual revival. The Word becoming laborous to read? Not looking forward to worship? Not able to find time to commune with God in conversation? These are warning signs that you may have your eye off the goal and that you need to get back on tract.
While we have all seen abuses of different types of precepts that are biblical, we must always use care not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Lets make a concious effort to maintain our relationships so they do not need reviving; but also be concious enough of where our relationships are at all times to notice when they are not where they should be.
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