| contact] |
 |
That which stirs God to act – Obedience If we were to ask for one word to describe man’s quest for a heaven-sent revival, it would be obedience. This word is all-inclusive and includes humility, repentance, and reconciliation, which are demanded by a God of holiness. “Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23 Obedience implies the submission to authority and control; a readiness to conform to another’s desire and will. Gods Word teaches us that to know and experience God’s blessing and have access to His throne in prayer requires a determination on our part to be totally His, in full submission to His will, unconditionally, without reservation or demands. There is no room for procrastination. God makes the rules. Not us! If we were totally obedient to God there would be no need to pray for revival, it would already be here. Charles Finney described revival as; “Revival is the renewal of the first love of Christians, resulting in the awakening and conversion of sinners to God.” Stephen Olford said of revival; Revival is Christ Himself, seen, felt, heard, living, active, moving in and through His Body on earth.” Other definitions: “Revival is a community saturated with God.” “Revival is the Church falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Each speaks of a corporate revival. However, it is you and I as individual Believers that make up ‘The Body’ and ‘The Church of Jesus Christ.’ I am convicted that Revival begins with the heart of you and me. Revival comes when we begin individually and corporately to experience what we already know is true biblically, concerning the presence of Christ, in us! The first step in our preparedness and a condition of revival is a brokenness of heart. We are told to “Break up the fallow ground.” Hosea 10:12; this refers to the hard, unproductive and resistant soil of our hearts. This soil needs to be cleared of weeds and cultivated ready for the new seed to establish its roots, and feed from the cultivated soil. Breaking it up refers to the need of repentance. Although brokenness is not revival, it is a necessary step toward it. God responds to brokenness and submission to His will. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 The prepared heart becomes the praying heart that communes with God and prevails with Him to send the fire from Heaven. Revival is God centred and never man centred. It is the sovereign work of God. Full obedience is God’s first and primary requirement as we pray. The two cannot be separated. Prayer without obedience is like a tyre without air. They are both necessary! One will not prevail without the other. Blessings Pat |
||