There can be no doubt a revival is desperately needed. God's people are scattered over every high hill, each convinced their understanding, their doctrines, their church is the right one. Instead of the world standing amazed at the love Christians had for one another, they mock us as hypocrites, as we are content to have head knowledge of truth rather than THE TRUTH living inside us, bringing forth much fruit.
The current political mess simply has exacerbated and revealed our deep lack, as hatred and vitriol have masked themselves as vigilance for the truth. But guys, we are not of this world, and are called to set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Yet, sadly, despite this, we as His people have done more to keep the lost at arms length than to lovingly draw them to Christ.
I fully realize these are hard words to receive, but nevertheless they are true. And yet, despite the fact our shallowness and lack of fruit is apparent to those in the world, God is not finished with His church. He has promised to revive us, to fill us, to change us, and yes, even to cause us to obey Him! Glory.
He tells us in Ezekiel 36 that He will do this for us, but that we are to know it is not for our sakes He is doing this. It is to keep His Holy name from being mocked by the world, a mocking WE have brought on. A final harvest is coming and we are to be a part of this amazing end gathering. For many, real repentance will only come after God restores them and brings them into an abiding relationship.
But what must happen for such a thing to occur? How can the world that has long mocked us all of a sudden hunger for God? God tells us the answer.
"The heathen shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified IN YOU before their very eyes."
Ezekiel 36
We have been led to believe that our sanctification 'process' is a slow grind, barely perceptible. We have been wrong. Our God is about to roll up His sleeves and show us what He capable of doing in our lives, in our hearts, in our fruit bearing, in what we consider to be treasure.
Our master is soon to return and He is not coming back for a bride steeped in religion, in pride, in worldliness, in division, in political turmoil, in self love. He is coming back for a bride who has totally surrendered herself to His will, for it is there that safety is found. It is there that the joy of our salvation is found to be bubbling up inside us. It is there that the peace of God gives us an assurance that will amaze the world, causing them to want what we possess... not what we profess.
These shakings we are now experiencing are not signs satan is winning. Far from it. They are Heavenly alarm clocks meant to awaken us to who we serve and to who we are... and to who we no longer are. Be patient, dear ones, for God is going to work a work in our day, that if our eyes did not see it, we would never believe it possible.
Yes, things may look dark, but these things must come to pass. Trust your God, draw near to Him, believe His promises, and you will soon find yourself lifted above the trials, even as they increase. God is fully able to keep us from falling. All He asks of us is that we want His presence, and long to please Him, even when, in the past, we have disappointed Him again and again.
Can God deliver us from all evil, even the evil that resides within our own hearts? Absolutely! And that, dear brothers and sisters, is what will make this revival.... this LAST revival, even greater than the outpouring in the book of Acts.
blessings,
Gideon