Everyone who loves Jesus wants to be part of a move of God. Our hearts long to be involved with something bigger than us, where the power of God is at work, where the Holy Spirit is moving, and as a result lives are changed…forever.
God wants to pour his spirit out upon us. Upon our churches. Upon our families. Upon our cities. But are we ready? Have we pursued him? Have we shown that nothing in this world is more important to us than him?
A study of revivals, starting with the people of Israel all the way through to modern times, reveals two similar things: a lukewarm state of carnality as entered in, followed by repentance and prayer that rekindles the people and ushers in new work of God’s spirit.
While it’s important to connect the message of God’s love and grace with people of modern culture, whenever there is a comingling of worldly values and mindsets there is a diminishing and diluting of the power of God in operation.
It’s not uncommon to find churches today that have superior facilities, successful programs, huge crowds, and dynamic leaders, yet have nothing truly supernatural happening. Even a cursory comparison to the church of Acts shows many of the main features like prayer, miracles, and outpourings of the Holy Spirit completely missing.
It’s also not uncommon today to know a person who claims to be a Christian and smokes pot, or gets drunk, or has sex outside of marriage, or believes homosexuality is acceptable, or regularly views entertainment that is trash, or swears and curses. While this type of person may make to heaven, they are unuseful to God here on earth. Paul tells Timothy,
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20–21)
God is calling us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” To separate ourselves unto him. To allow him to cleanse us and purify us afresh. And as a result we will see a work that God not only promises, but one that he longs to do in us!
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