Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? how do we get revived
strong meat
- Thread starter forgiven61
- Start date
You hold a tent meeting, hire a hyper spiritual preacher, advertise on YouTube and Facebook (tongue in cheek).
Actually, it would be by His merciful grace.
If my people who are called by My name would humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
— 2 Chronicles 7:14
We need to understand at this point that true revival comes from God. There is absolutely no other source. In every account given, God intervened and revival came in all its various forms. It cannot be gained through programs, meetings or preaching, no matter how able the man. Only by the Holy Spirit blessing the program, manifesting His presence in the meeting and empowering the words of the preacher, will people be revived.
The problem today in the USA is that we as a nation licked God out going all the way back to 1964. We told Him we do not want to pray or read the Bible and for Him to leave us alone.........He has done just that!
We can add, ‘convicting the hearts and minds of the hearers of sin’ Jn 16:8-9.
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Hello Major;
I blue-lighted the part of your post that reminds me of a similar statement made by another teacher/minister during a message.
Brothers and sisters, please hear me out and tell me if you can relate to my thoughts on this.
I was always a doer, a joiner while growing up (a few examples) playing with the kids, sports, music and in the church. The connection with kids helped develop my growth in Christ, sports taught me good teamwork and sportsmanship, music led me from rock to praise and worship in 1974, and attending children's Sunday school and weeknight youth group in the mid-60s. We actually had a graduation from senior high youth group in 1975.
I'll be 66 years old this month and hindsight has set in my older years. Those examples were anointings from God, not human perfect, but truly from God. This is why I remember the impact of my growth as a young Christian. The Great Commission requires our people and social skills be nurtured in all our connections with people. This takes prayer, prayer for others and listening to seasoned ministers.
My mom said a prayer each day before her children went to school and when I played with the kids. There was actual short prayers led by most coaches during our Little League baseball game. There was always prayer and a devotional study before children's and youth gatherings, and worship music (that was backed by Scriptures) in the church.
From what I remember I didn't see the revival programs and events til I was in my late teens up to adulthood. Here's my point. After most of these events I would hear feedback like, "Wow! That was a truly spiritual experience that I started crying," or, "I felt the Holy Spirit fill me during the song" or "what an emotional high I felt". But a week later, the same person who exclaimed their experience wasn't talking about it anymore, or they forgot the event from a week or two ago and there wasn't any seemingly growth in their walk.
What I red-lighted is what I began to experience more and more in my late 20s and 30s. There was a waning of digging deeper Bible studies, meditative prayers, prayer requests and times of silence.
The emotional revivals, gatherings and events became more popular, with colorful pamphlets, souvenir merchandise, more popular than God, so God let the people enjoy their free will. But did bring us closer to Him?
Now I confess, I cannot account for every living Christian who truly had an anointing of the Holy Spirit at these gatherings. And when this comes from God then I give Him all the glory for one more brother and sister coming closer to Jesus. But most of the time I've witnessed the latter.
Something is wrong. We have gotten more and more away from God. Satan is brilliant and is getting a foothold in these times.
See Acts 1:12-26 for a perspective of the first church meeting of it's meaning of true, serious, disciplined worship;
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. - ESV
Getting back to the verb of this topic, strong meat, I feel forgiven talks about revival by the prompting ONLY of the Holy Spirit. This is why the deep digging Bible study, fervent prayer time, prayer for others and just spending time with God alone or with a group in silence. We spend so much time talking to God, it's also important to be silent in His presence seeking to listen (prompting by the Holy Spirit.)
Some revival by Hillsong is not going to do it unless one chooses to remain a nominal, emotionally filled Christian. This has it's own problems because the Christian who feels they can grow and learn on their own without accountability of a teacher, to teach them correctly in prayer, study, prayer for others and listening to what God says, cannot fully respond to Him by our repentance, leading to His forgiveness, redemption and salvation by our personal Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Am I being judgmental? Perhaps. I defend my apologetics by the teaching of John 7:24, Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.' - NLT
In the Great Commission we are introduce them to Christ Jesus, in love, not to condemn people but judge their actions. Our righteous judgments must point to principles of God's teachings righteousness, the goal of our ministry to turn more to Jesus Christ and His teachings.
God bless you all and your families.
bob, you cited the NASB?
my NASB states...
John 7:24 (NASB)
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Which version is that? NLT? or?
Hey crossnote;
Good catch! My mistake and thank you. I meant the New Living Translation.
Yeah, I had to ‘look beneath the surface’ on that one. lol
Exactly…
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food (strong meat). For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food (strong meat) is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
— Hebrews 5:12-14
my whole point is and major touched on it.. my point of thought we don't fully understand revive or revival. i was saved in what was supposed to be one of the greatest revival meetings that was held. in a while this series of services went on for 4 weeks 1st week a different speaker held it .then the next week . .
see i went one night of the first week only because i worked with the evang wife. any way it was a good excuse. the 2nd week i did not go. the wife comes in on a Saturday night, telling me the voted it to go another week . needless say i was not happy i went on Thursday night heard the preacher. Friday i went to work under heavy conviction yet did not like the preacher. long story short i went back Friday night got saved. that has been a good solid 25 years ago. after the nights of meeting ended attendance dropped a couple in the church got divorced latter on. .
this evangelist they had was fire brimstone all the way.. he preached hard we are very good friends to this day. we called it revival but was it?
i been in some barn burning services over the years. the anointing was so thick you would have to be dead not to sense it.
imo 2nd chronicles 7:14 is a good base scripture to bank off for a jump start. when i think of revival i think of Ezekiel the valley of dry bones . they was dead dried out bleached Skelton bones . but when they was prophesied the came to life.. in john Gospel Jesus appeared to the disciples . blew the divine breath of God on them saying receive ye the Holy Ghost .
i love a good high spirited service crying snot blowing good shouting .. but that's not revival Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. the church at Ephesus had left their first Love. .
as a pastor my thoughts was i want a church that is alive. not a funeral home. this sounds morbid 2. things i always wanted to do one have a empty casket up fron by the pulpit with a mirror . as we pass by we see our reflection sometimes . we need to see the real us. ! but we do this through the word of God.
then last have a hearse parked out side the church when services let out. . admittedly the casket would probably turn people away..
i need revival the devil is mounting a heavy battle we all have our own. it is sent to distract and its working
see i went one night of the first week only because i worked with the evang wife. any way it was a good excuse. the 2nd week i did not go. the wife comes in on a Saturday night, telling me the voted it to go another week . needless say i was not happy i went on Thursday night heard the preacher. Friday i went to work under heavy conviction yet did not like the preacher. long story short i went back Friday night got saved. that has been a good solid 25 years ago. after the nights of meeting ended attendance dropped a couple in the church got divorced latter on. .
this evangelist they had was fire brimstone all the way.. he preached hard we are very good friends to this day. we called it revival but was it?
i been in some barn burning services over the years. the anointing was so thick you would have to be dead not to sense it.
imo 2nd chronicles 7:14 is a good base scripture to bank off for a jump start. when i think of revival i think of Ezekiel the valley of dry bones . they was dead dried out bleached Skelton bones . but when they was prophesied the came to life.. in john Gospel Jesus appeared to the disciples . blew the divine breath of God on them saying receive ye the Holy Ghost .
i love a good high spirited service crying snot blowing good shouting .. but that's not revival Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. the church at Ephesus had left their first Love. .
as a pastor my thoughts was i want a church that is alive. not a funeral home. this sounds morbid 2. things i always wanted to do one have a empty casket up fron by the pulpit with a mirror . as we pass by we see our reflection sometimes . we need to see the real us. ! but we do this through the word of God.
then last have a hearse parked out side the church when services let out. . admittedly the casket would probably turn people away..
i need revival the devil is mounting a heavy battle we all have our own. it is sent to distract and its working
if the truth was ever spoken. it was in this post many want to stay on the milk ..
TRUTH
yet TBN proclaims revival all the time. i cant buy into the name it claim it era nor do i see a great end time revival
The Book of Judges seems to lay out a ‘revival cycle’ that often takes place in cultures…
(revival —->affluence—->self reliance—->forgetting God—->bondage—->repentance (crying out to God)—->revival
repeat)
(revival —->affluence—->self reliance—->forgetting God—->bondage—->repentance (crying out to God)—->revival
repeat)
Good decision!
It is my opinion that TBN teaches a FALSE RELIGION for the self-absorbed, self-focused, self-consumed, compromising, worldly Christian impersonators. They are probably creating more massive counterfeit conversions, destroying more people's lives and sending more people to Hell with false teachings than anything else ever has in all of history. MASSES of people going to Hell while they 'think' they are saved, because no one is telling them the truth!
But again........that is only my opinion. Feel free to laugh and ignore!
Matthew 7:22-23..............
"Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
you ever read about the welch revival ? its very interesting