If we want revival, we must face up to some truths. What does revival require of us? What is hindering us from being revived by God?
Revival requires devotion: people and leaders wholeheartedly devoted to the living God and revival. Pure, sincere devotion goes beyond reading your Bible and attending church, among other good things; true devotion does not allow for us to just “go through the motions” of living a good Christian lifestyle. We must set our sights on God and be immovable in our devotion, hungry for the Spirit of God to move in such magnitude and unimaginable power and glory!
One of the major reasons Christians are “half-dead” and need revival is because they are worshipping a false Jesus. That could be a commercialized Jesus, a humanistic Jesus, a very religious Jesus, a “snuggle Jesus,” or a “personal Jesus.” Many Christians turn to a Jesus that makes them comfortable and suits their needs and beliefs. We need to know the real Jesus because only His power, presence, and glory can revive us now!
If we’re going to have a true outbreak of the power and presence of God, we better be ready for the atmosphere of Heaven…it is loud, glorified, powerful.
Steve Gray
Further Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 11:1-4
1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Revelation 1:12-16 (entire Chapter 1 is encouraged reading)
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Questions:
In what ways might I be “going through the motions” in my relationship with God?
Have I ever turned to the commercialized Jesus, humanistic Jesus, religious Jesus, snuggle Jesus, or personal Jesus?
How do we personally or as a society try to change Jesus to suit our needs and beliefs?
Who is Jesus?
Show Notes
7:18 [Revival] starts with devotion.
10:05 If we could find the real Jesus…we’d know when He showed up or we’d know when He didn’t show up. We’d know when it’s Him; we’d know when it’s not Him.
1:41 We do the ultimate idolatry. We create a Jesus in our own image. Of course he likes everything we like. Of course he’s comfortable with us! Of course he never corrects us! Because he’s just like us—the one we invented.
17:05[The half-dead] are not opposed to God—they’re just not alive to God. They’ve lost that devotion and the fire in their bones.
17:18Revival comes to set us on fire so the world can watch us burn.
18:56If we’re going to have a true outbreak of the power and presence of God, we better be ready for the atmosphere of Heaven…it is loud, glorified, powerful.
23:57I want Jesus to be Jesus. We don’t want to tell Him who to be. Let Him come in power. Let Him come with blazing eyes, the sword of the Word of God, oh my! I want to see the real Jesus come into our churches, our lives, our homes, our children, our marriages, our nation, and our world.
