A few words on the revival…

 

Dr Roberts Liardon* has just spent four days with us, sharing us some heavy and mostly unheard stuff on the revival. Here is a short summary of what we learned.

Revival can stem out of two ‘things’. The first one is a supernatural and sovereign move of GOD and the second one is when men and women decide to believe GOD and to aggressively implement what they read in the Scriptures. In the first case, GOD suddenly breathes on a city or a church. Everything starts in heaven and thousands are converted as it was the case in Acts 2 and Azusa Street, with the birth of Pentecostalism. Christians usually tend to spend their time praying for this kind of move, even though it is very rare. Instead of waiting for something that depends solely on the LORD’s goodwill, they should rather focus on the second trigger of revival. Instead, when a people totally changes their way of thinking and doing things (i.e. repentance - Ac 3:20, 2Chr 7:14) and begins to use the Word of GOD in a bold manner, they break through spiritually. This was the case in Ephesus (Ac 18-20) and it can also be the case in any of our churches, if only we are willing to pay the price.

The Ephesian revival started with a seed planted by Apollos. He was an eloquent man, bold, fervent in spirit, teachable and competent in the Scriptures. He knew how to deliver his message in a way that was received by many. Through his ministry, twelve people got born again: they were Paul’s first disciples, the remnant that would soon become a majority. Before using them, Paul made sure they were baptized in water and in the Holy Ghost. Then, he began to water the seed which Apollos had planted. He taught day and night in the synagogue for three good months, disputing the Jews and persuading the crowds. Faced with their stubbornness and unbelief, he left the synagogue (see Jesus at Nazareth) for the school of Tyrannus and there, he went on teaching daily for two more years before the first fruits of the revival could be seen! 2 years and 3 months of total commitment: the price to pay for the Ephesian revival.

Most of the time, when we hear the accounts of signs and wonders taking place during revivals, we often wish to witness such phenomenon. Many of us actually pray for this. However, revival has a price that many are probably not as willing to pay. Indeed, are we really ready to change our lifestyle and come to church every day, twice a day, for as long as it takes – weeks, months, years-, so that our church, neighbourhood, city or family would experience a true Pentecost? Are we even ready to kneel down in prayer day and night, spending a good deal of our day in the Scriptures, until tongues of fire come down from heaven and set us ablaze afresh – revive us once again? Those are some of the questions that we were asked…

I will stop here today: there is enough food for thought. I will conclude this article next week. Have a wonderblessed® week!

 

Roberts Liardon, Author, Public speaker, spiritual leader, church Historian

The descent to hell or descent to paradise?

 

Ex 14:8, “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.”

Today’s exhortation or encouragement will be relatively short. The children of Israel had not done anything wrong; and yet, the king of Egypt and his troops went after them, thanks to GOD... After everything that they had already endured, they would not even have the ‘chance’ to die in the fields or their beds. They could only choose between drowning or dying by the sword. It looked like a descent to hell, but it was actually a 'descent' to paradise.

Joseph did nothing wrong. There was nobody as blameless and loyal as him in those days. He had a pure heart. Nonetheless, he also descended to hell after falling victim of betrayal and a miscarriage of justice, again thanks to GOD...

The sun set in Abraham’s life the day that GOD asked him to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a sacrifice: that was his descent to hell. How could he hurt this child after waiting so long for him? As they travelled, a little part of him was dying at the thought of what was going to take place: he was descending to hell and, all the way down, demons were having a blast.

On the day of crucifixion, people looked Jesus descend to hell. Even He Himself could not believe that the Father whom He loved and had faithfully served could forsake Him and turn His face away. Outside of GOD, there was no light, everything was dark: it was hell! At least, that is what it seemed… The devil gathered his henchmen and opened a bottle of champagne. Nobody could understand that He was actually en route to glory. He was not descending to hell; He was ‘descending’ to paradise. Indeed, this descent, fully orchestrated by GOD, enabled Him to receive the Name above all that can be named in the Creation.

The descent to hell of the children of Israel was in fact a march towards the Promised Land, Freedom and glory: it was a ‘descent’ to paradise.

Joseph’s descent to hell was part of his ascension towards the throne of Egypt. It was a ‘descent’ to glory and elevation, a ‘descent’ to paradise.

Abraham was more than satisfied. He was happy. He had nothing else to ask to the LORD. Indeed, before having children, GOD had promised him a great reward to which he had replied: “What will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” Or, as the GNB puts it, "What good will your reward do me, since I have no children? My only heir is Eliezer of Damascus. You have given me no children, and one of my slaves will inherit my property." (Gen 15:2-3) In other words, what reward can surpass the joy of fatherhood? Sarah had finally given him a son who filled his heart with joy. Moreover, Abraham was rich and had many years ahead of him; so what more could he have asked for? He had everything; at least, so he thought. He did not know that GOD could still bless him even more. His descent to hell was in fact a ‘descent’ to paradise. When he thought he had hit the bottom of the pit, GOD told him: "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Gen 22.16-18). Wow!

We cry for help too quickly. We are too quick to call any trial as diabolical. However, every testing is not necessarily a punishment and very often, Satan is not guilty. Most of the time, it is GOD who, out of love, makes us go through fire. The descent to hell is frequently just a 'descent' to paradise. Humility and abasement go before glory and elevation. Are you passing through the waters right now? They will not overflow you. Are you walking through the fire, you will not be burned. You will not die; you will live and will speak of the LORD’s wondrous deeds: GOD is Good!

Looking for grace? Answer the call…

 

Dear readers, I am sorry I did not post anything last week. I had a long trip to plan and not a minute for myself. I am now back to my usual routine .

I came across this somewhere: “When grace speaks, laws are irrelevant, merit is needless, connections become useless and protocols suspended.” David is the perfect illustration. The Law forbade lay people from eating the shewbread: yet, he ate it and also shared with some of his soldiers with GOD’s approval.

He did not go to military school and could hardly walk with the then armour’s gear; and yet, that did not stop him from defeating Goliath.

He was a shepherd. He had no relative or friend at court and yet, he found himself in the palace. If he had wanted to use his connections, it could have been to enlarge his father’s flock or open a school for aspiring harpists. But GOD had another and better plan. The forgotten and underestimated son of his father became the king of Israel and the most heroic soldier of the land. Grace and favour were speaking in his life.

It is not difficult to live under permanently open heavens; heavens which do not withhold the morning dew for you. You just have to answer the LORD’s call, like David. Unfortunately, when He calls, many are those who try to run away, like Jonah. When He calls, many are those who hesitate and give Him all the reasons why they should not be sent, like Moses. When He calls, many are those who obey with great sadness, like Jeremiah. And yet, the LORD’s calling is supposed to be a source of great joy, comfort and encouragement. Indeed,

Mar 10:46-50, “And they came to Jericho. And as He with His disciples and a large crowd went out of Jericho, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, was sitting by the side of the highway, begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!... 49 And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort; rise up, He is calling you. And casting away his garment, he rose up and came to Jesus.”

Be of good comfort; rise up, He is calling you. The GNB reads: "Cheer up! Get up, he is calling you." When Jesus calls, it is to encourage, comfort and give us something to rejoice about. Why is it then that our first reaction to His call is often negative? Why do we not often throw everything else away, like Bartimeus, to run after Him? Bartimeus reacted as if he had just been spending his time waiting for Jesus to call him. And we often react as if we spend our lives wishing that He would never point His calling finger at us.

Jesus does not only call us to full time ministry. He does not only call us to give us difficult messages to deliver. He calls us every morning to live for Him. He calls us every morning to be HIM in our sphere of action and influence. He calls us to go from glory to glory and victory to victory. He invites us to read the Holy Scriptures and believe what they say about Him. He invites us to obey His Word. He calls us every morning to follow Him and not to sit where He is not. If we do this, if we abide in His presence, GOD’s grace and favour will not cease to speak in our lives. Have a great week in HIM and GOD bless you.