One major reason why we don’t have revival is that we’re unwilling to become disciples and count the cost of revival.
Become A Disciple
In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus instructed the people in how to follow him, saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
We’re not getting revival because we don’t have disciples. People refuse to hate their fathers and mothers because they are confused by what this scripture means. It seems to contradict what Jesus, the Bible, and the Kingdom teach about love.
Religious people tend to avoid crossing lines and flock only to people like themselves. Why? Because they are uninterested in the message of consecration and holiness, and therefore cannot live out what true discipleship requires. In a revival, God picks people out and marks them as distinct leaders. He makes them different; they can no longer blend in and may be disliked by others.
” A true move of God picks people out of where they are and makes them different.”
Count The Cost
In Luke 14:33, Jesus says, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Do you want to be a disciple, a revivalist, or the person on fire who steps out of the crowd with a message from God? If so, Jesus says you have to give up everything. That’s the cost of revival. To become true disciples, we need an outpouring of something different—something out of which disciples are made.
However, the problem is that we all have people in our lives who give us reasons to hold onto our lives just the way they are—reasons to NOT give up everything. But God is not asking us to literally hate our family or friends. Instead, He is saying we must hate what they’re saying. Things like “you are fine the way you are” or “just keep going.” That attitude and way of living prevents revival.
World-changers give up everything. They pick up their cross, and get consumed by the fire of God. It’s the cost of revival. We have to stop fitting in and must change for God—or else we cannot be disciples and will not bring revival.
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Quetions:
Are you ready to give up everything?
What are you holding onto that is preventing you from running after revival?
Will you do what it takes to become a disciple?
What behaviors and attitudes do you have that prefer the status quo over Godly transformation?
