(Coronavirus 2019 aka COVID 19) |
The Covid-19 coronavirus has caused fear among many of us here in the United States of America, and around the world. The veracity by which the virus infects and kills it's victims, is both altogether alarming and questionable, leading many to doubt it’s verity. As we move further away from its genesis, and closer to the end of the year, even now, the never ending pressure and emotional violence of 2020 continue to haunt us. This year, the year of our Lord, 2020 is one that we all wish we could simply erase from memory, or perhaps at the least, start again; yet, as we know, this is not possible, we must only face it, overcome it, and move on. So, how do we do this? How do we face the challenges of such a formidable foe and come out on top? Simple, we have Faith.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, He is calling His people to Repentance, Revival, and a Return to He who created the whole world. These are more than just simple words, they are a call to action, if we are to be who the Lord has called us to be, these are the steps we must take. The word revival has been used to describe many different concepts, programs, and events. To many, the word revival conjures up thoughts of special occasions and services, celebrated with the presence of special speakers and guest musicians; however, true revival is so much more. Revival is a burning and yearning within us that drives us to seek out the face of God, a desire to hear the voice of the Creator and to act according to His will. Revival is like that feeling of completeness you felt when you knew, I mean when you grasped and comprehended that something amazing had just occurred in your life, and it could only come from God. Repentance, Revival, and Returning to God, our first love, is similar to the experience we had the first time the Holy Ghost overshadowed us, filling us up from the inside out, causing our lips to stammer, a fire that cannot be quenched. What is revival? It is a shout of Joy, with words we cannot explain, a growling and a shout from the deepest parts of our soul, a renewal of Faith in the Mighty God we serve.
II Chronicles 7:14-15
If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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... mine eyes shall be open... mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made...
Ezekiel 37:27-28
My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people...
Jeremiah 32:38-41
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them...
(The Holy Bible) |
The Bible is full of the promises of God, these three listed above are just a few of the many verses in which God speaks to us, letting us know that if we do our part, if we turn to Him through, Faith, Repentance, and living a life that is pleasing to Him, He would then turn to His face to us, and move mightily within our lives, but what is a life pleasing to God? In order to live a life pleasing to God, we must give ourselves to Him, in other words, we must become living sacrifices to Him who gave if Himself so that we may live. As described in Romans 12:1, we must live a life of Godliness and Holiness, a life in which we give Christ Jesus the praise and worship He deserves, a life in which we keep the things of God Holy while also rendering to caesar what is his, by not conforming to the world, and by focusing on the things of God, we please Him; thereby, we rest in the knowledge that God is on our side. This my friend is Revival, it's a change that begins within us; yet, it is not a momentary or temporary change, it's a permanent change, a lifestyle change, it's a "from this point going forward" change in which we dedicate more time to prayer, more time to reading the Word, and more of our personal time becomes God's time.
In the year 2020, the financial situation of the nations have been grim at best, and this is reflected in the finances of many of us, the followers of Christ as well; however, if we are truly seeking revival, we must find it here in our own pocket books as well. Financial Revival, returning to God the gifts of our first fruits as He as given to us, and yes, I am as guilty as the next person in this area; however, we must Revive this part of our lives as well if we are to see the mighty moves of God that we are seeking. Listen, God knows times are tough, but He has already promised us in advance that if we give to Him a portion of our first fruits, He will return it all and so much more, so much so that there shall not be room enough to contain it. (Malachi 3:10) The Renewing of our mind, soul, and spirit, it all begins within us, if we who claim to be the children of God would begin to show the world what it truly means to be a follower of Christ, perhaps it would then be not so hard to present the truth of the Gospel to those who are lost; however, clearly we do not.
By our love for one another, the world shall know that we are the disciples of the almighty God, this is
what we are told in John 13:34&35; yet, throughout the year 2020, love seems to be waning if it was present at all. Hate filled speech, terrorism, mass destruction of property, theft, riots, and racism are the themes constantly repeated in the mass media of today, clearly there a problem here, and it is a lack of empathy, sympathy, and most of all, love. The year 2020 has revealed to us the disconnect that lies between those who say they love God, and those who’s actions display that they are truly the children of God: but how do we decipher the difference? It really is simple, they will know us because of our love, one for another. This my friends is why we need revival, more than just in word, but in deed, in actions, and finally, the greatest of these is LOVE.
(John 13:34-35) |
what we are told in John 13:34&35; yet, throughout the year 2020, love seems to be waning if it was present at all. Hate filled speech, terrorism, mass destruction of property, theft, riots, and racism are the themes constantly repeated in the mass media of today, clearly there a problem here, and it is a lack of empathy, sympathy, and most of all, love. The year 2020 has revealed to us the disconnect that lies between those who say they love God, and those who’s actions display that they are truly the children of God: but how do we decipher the difference? It really is simple, they will know us because of our love, one for another. This my friends is why we need revival, more than just in word, but in deed, in actions, and finally, the greatest of these is LOVE.
In the book of Mark, we find Jesus of Nazareth in conversation with a scribe attempting to catch Him in a twist by asking Him “what is the greatest commandment of all?;” however, Jesus being well aware of his hidden intent, effortlessly rebutted his inquiry with a rather deft and homely response, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart.” Although Jesus’ reply was short, it was direct and to the point. The knowledge and wisdom that Jesus imparted on that day, still impacts us today, we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our minds, and all of our souls, this Biblical principle expands all millennia, both Testaments, and all of time itself.
Love is truly the key, when we love Christ Jesus, we will honor Him, praise Him, and worship Him as our Lord and Savior, and everything else simply falls into place from here. To love and honor God is to place Him above all other priorities in our lives, to do this, we must first love His temple, our own bodies which He created from the very earth on which we dwell. Love for ourselves becomes easier when we realize that we are not only the Temple of God, but that we are created in the very image of God, He who Created the universe and all therein. Our next step should becomes effortless when we consider the instructions laid out before us in Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:37-40, and Deuteronomy chapter 6, amongst other places, that we are to love others as we love ourselves, as we love His Temple, we must love those around us, as we were created to have communion with Him, and with others.
Now, you may be wondering to yourself, “how did we get here, and what does this have to do with Revival?” Well, that is a great question, and here is the answer, when we love God, we love ourselves, and when we love ourselves, we love others, and when we love others, we do not wish them any ill-will, nor do we wish them any harm. Now, if we find the afore mentioned statement to be true, then we can’t help but share the Love of Christ with those around us, it is the natural flow of love, we give it away, but before we can give it away, we must revive it within ourselves, we must have Revival.
God is calling us to revival right now in 2020, 2021 and beyond, a true spiritual awakening in which we check our egos at the door. Please understand, now is not the time to chase after self gratification or selfish desires, we must instead cast those things aside in an effort to draw closer to Him, the One True Living God. Drawing closer to Christ Jesus will heal sicknesses, destroy perversion, and defeat the hedonistic ideologies of this world: leaving only the purity of God's love and the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. This all sounds pretty good doesn’t it; however, to achieve this, we must decide within ourselves, that this is not only what we want, it is what we need. After this, we must press in, push forward, and call upon Jesus Christ, asking Him to give us the strength we need to make it happen with the knowlege that only we can begin the Revival process: God will not move if it is not of our own desire for Him to do so.
And so, here we are again, speaking of Revival, which according to one definition is the restoration to life or consciousness, vigor, or strength, but what does it mean to you? Do you even care? If so, are you ready for Revival? God is calling
for Revival; but it isn't for Him, it's for us. God has given us His word to live by, His many promises to look forward to, and the Holy Spirit to guide us; yet, it is up to us to do our part. Once again, let the revival begin from the inside out, and then our families, neighborhoods, cities, and states, it is not tooo late, if we begin right now. We all know that 2020 has been a very difficult year to endure, but!, we have made it to the end. As we take this time to reflect, let us ,make an effort to reach the world with our own personal revival, let it spread from nation to nation until all the world knows the Depth of God's Love, and the Redemptive Power of the Blood of the Lamb.
for Revival; but it isn't for Him, it's for us. God has given us His word to live by, His many promises to look forward to, and the Holy Spirit to guide us; yet, it is up to us to do our part. Once again, let the revival begin from the inside out, and then our families, neighborhoods, cities, and states, it is not tooo late, if we begin right now. We all know that 2020 has been a very difficult year to endure, but!, we have made it to the end. As we take this time to reflect, let us ,make an effort to reach the world with our own personal revival, let it spread from nation to nation until all the world knows the Depth of God's Love, and the Redemptive Power of the Blood of the Lamb.
II Corinthians 6:16-18
...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ...touch not the unclean thing... I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters...
Hebrews 8:10-12
...this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts... I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. ...all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins... I remember no more...
The time is now for Revival... Amen...