The Apostle Paul tells us in Second Timothy 3:1–5 (NLT) that we will experience difficult times in the last days. People will only love themselves and their money. They will scoff at God, act religiously, and reject the power that could make them godly.
We are seeing Paul’s words fulfilled in the church today. An “it’s all about me” attitude has invaded the Body of Christ. Instead of Christians asking God what they can do for Him, they are more concerned about what He can do for them.
Believers must rid themselves of that mentality if the words of the prophet Joel are to be fulfilled: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people” (Joel 2:28 NLT). God’s children must understand it is not about them! Our purpose is to fulfill the assignments our Heavenly Father has for us.
I believe the Lord is ready to pour out His Spirit on all flesh like never before. It will bring about the greatest revival the world has ever seen.
But revival starts with you! It begins with your longing for it. Instead, Christians are concerned about natural things like what church is the most exciting? Which place has the best programs? Who sings the latest music? People are judging by the natural instead of the supernatural. The right question to ask is which church is on fire for God!
A Vision to Go!
With the start of a new year, many people set goals for themselves or have dreams they want to accomplish. The Body of Christ’s primary goal should be going into all the world! Revival starts with going to your lost neighbors. You may have neighbors that could die and go to hell tomorrow. Have they heard about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?
When you focus on the lost, revival will spread to your neighbors, your city, your state, and your nation. It will take two things for revival to start: 1) a passion for seeing it and 2) persevering prayer.
1. Revival Starts With Passion
God is passionate for the lost. He wants the sick healed and the oppressed set free. What is your passion? Do you remember how excited you felt when you first became born again? You probably thought it was the most awesome thing in the world. And you enthusiastically told people about Jesus. Do you still have the same eagerness? A Christian without passion is like a river without water.
If you feel as though you have lost your passion for God, ask Him to ignite a fire in you. It is never too late to stir yourself up and let the fire of God burn in you again. However, if you do not keep the fire burning, you risk becoming so apathetic to the things of God, you won’t even miss them!
I love Mexican and barbeque food. I could eat them every other day. Because I eat them regularly, I crave both frequently. But what if I lived in a place where these foods were not available! My cravings would eventually leave, and I would no longer miss them. The longer you go without something, the less you desire it.
Sadly, this is happening in the Church today. Many have let the fire and anointing of God in their lives wane, and they no longer crave it. It is time to refire and get back to your first love, so you can complete the assignments God has for you.
A Christian without passion is like a river without water.Lynette Hagin
Dry Bones, Live!
The prophet Ezekiel was a man of God confronted with a congregation of people who were discouraged, displaced, and spiritually dead. They desperately needed revival. The Lord took Ezekiel to a mountaintop, and he had a vision. The Holy Spirit carried him to a valley filled with dry bones that were scattered everywhere on the ground. They represented the people of Israel. The Lord told Ezekiel to tell the dry bones that they would live again. When he did as the Lord commanded, the bones came together as skeletons. Muscles and skin formed over the bones, and the breath of life came into them. (See Ezekiel 37:1–14.)
You may have become weary, discouraged, and disappointed. Perhaps you experienced something that didn’t turn out the way you hoped. With God’s grace, you can forget the past and tell the dry bones in your life to live again!
2. Revival Starts With Prayer
Prayer is vital for revival to happen. I believe because we have not dedicated ourselves to prayer, the Church has not advanced as quickly as it should. E.M. Bounds said, “The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock in Heaven by which Christ carries on His great work upon [the] earth.”*
Throughout Church history, all great moves of God have happened when people became so hungry for God to move that they continually gave themselves to prayer.
When you love someone, it is natural to want to stay in constant communication. Yet many Christians neglect talking daily with their Heavenly Father through prayer. Then they wonder why the world or their lives are in such bad shape. If you want to see situations change, if you want revival to come, it’s time to commit yourself to prayer and place the things of God above everything else.
It’s Your Move!
The Lord is waiting for you to take your place and complete your assignments. God wants to use you! Instead of being consumed with your desires, develop a passion for the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20). Don’t allow yourself to lose sight of the job God has for you to do. And that is to win the lost, lay hands on the sick, and cast out devils.
There has never been a time more perverse than today. You have a great opportunity to tell your world that Jesus died on the cross for them. People are looking for answers, and you have them. Reignite your passion today, and let revival begin with you!
Author
Lynette Hagin
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2 Comments on “Revival Begins With You”
Thank you !
A great piece, thank you.