Our idea of "revival" puts God in a box (pt. 2)
You're on the second part of this topic of how our idea of “revival” puts God in a box. Click here to read part 1.
TDLR:
Our idea of "revival" can put God in a box and limit our understanding of His work.
New movements of God are ways for us to know His heart even better and we must seek to understand them.
Revival dies when we think God has done "enough" and are satisfied with one miraculous event.
We must ask where we fit into God's plans and align our will with His.
How can we understand without faith?
The first revival during Pentecost was where God moved in a new way.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire caused the disciples to speak in foreign tongues, heal the sick, and perform several other supernatural acts. It was unprecedented.
But many people doubt these signs and manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our present day (hmm cessationists 😳).
I also used to think if I couldn't explain a phenomenon or understand it, then it wasn't God. I prized intellectualism over true faith.
But new movements of God are simply ways He has allowed us to know His heart even better.
“The first revival during Pentecost was where God moved in a new way. ”
Mary, when told she would give birth to the Messiah as a virgin, did not dismiss it as impossible, but asked instead "How will this be?".
Are you really thinking, or just a cynic?
Rather than question whether something new is of God, there are easy ways we can test it (1 John 4:1-3 and Matthew 7:15-20).
And beyond that, we must seek to understand these new things. We cannot truly understand something we do not believe in.
“It is the glory of God to conceal things,but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
Ask for the mind of Christ
Jesus has called us friends, not servants. Servants do not know what the master is doing, but friends can know.
We have been given a chance to understand the mysteries of Heaven, only if we pursue them.
Surrendering to God's infinite creativity will allow the Holy Spirit to move through us in new ways never thought possible.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Forget what you know
Revival dies when we think God has done "enough". He does His thing, we have a little fun and wow at it, then we tell Him "okay thanks God you can go now". It's good enough.
“Jesus has called us friends, not servants. Servants do not know what the master is doing, but friends can know.”
It’s good enough to get converts, good enough to increase the size of our churches, good enough to make Christianity slightly more exciting again.
We think God is finished, but in truth, He always wants to do more.
Revival isn’t supposed to end
Jesus said "[He] came that [we] may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10b). Abundance in the original Greek is defined as "superior", or "exceeding all expectation".
God has the ability to exceed our expectations, even when we think we've hit the limit. But when God accomplishes what we deem impossible, it becomes possible.
What was previously unprecedented becomes ordinary.
Another "impossible" event would necessitate a completely new action on God's part.
Will we allow Him to do so, or will we be satisfied with only one miraculous event from God?
“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.”
True revival will never die, never end, and the Holy Spirit will continue to increase our knowledge of God.
We must course-correct
We have a rich heritage and history of God doing something new and changing communities time and time again.
But in this present time, God is waiting for us to be agents of His supernatural plans.
Instead of just sitting around and waiting, ask God "Where do I fit into your plans?".
I want to do impossible things with You. I want to align my will with Yours. I want to be renewed and renew others in what You do through me.
“True revival will never die, never end, and the Holy Spirit will continue to increase our knowledge of God.”
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Reflect:
1. What was your initial belief about the purpose of revival? Has that changed?
2. We can try and ask where we fit into God's plans, but how can we tell whether these plans are true?
3. Have you been the NPC waiting for God to tell you what to do, or have you been too proactive, doing everything without aligning with God's will? How will you course-correct?
