This was essentially the title of the message in church today. Naturally, none of us really wants to consider ourselves 'backwards' or even 'stuck'. Yet are we really moving forward? What does the Bible indicate are signs of moving forward? What constitutes real growth as opposed to our striving to LOOK like we are growing? What IS 'revival'?
I have felt great sadness many times the past few months. I am trying to identify it,and I think I got a hint last night and today. My sadness has been grief that the outpouring of His Spirit is and has been so often quenched by men (and women) who don't and won't meet up to the character standards called for in the Bible, or even by common sense. Accountability is equated with "control" which is somehow evil. Try raising a child with no 'accountability' - they fight you at every turn, every chance.
Many times, although reluctantly, I have jumped on the 'bandwagon' of some 'forward-looking' Bible teaching movement, only to find myself looking at the wheel marks across my chest and wondering what the heck happened.
From 30 years ago as a new believer, to present day, I have earnestly desired true revival, even volunteered to go first (a promise I've sometimes wondered if I should have made!!). Sure, we know Jesus died for us, great price, yadayada. Sure, we know some have died for their faith in the distant past - some of us even know that this is happening today! Yet somehow it just sails right past us. How? And what about dying to self? Daily even?
We're quick to judge or pick on past 'revival' meetings, but who is to really say that no 'revival' took place? Are we omniscient? Omnipresent? Oh, but brother, you can tell by the fruit on the tree, some say. True. However, are you seeing the whole tree, or just one side. Are you so close to one tree that isn't doing well, that you can't see the proverbial forest of good ones?
My most recent experience with 'revival' is actually hard to define. Do I look at the south side of my own tree, where my original love for Christ has sprung anew? The branch that has been neglected and is wilting? How about over there, the "healings, signs and miracles' branch? Perhaps I should look at the roots - how is my study of the scriptures - my knowledge of them, is it spreading?
On my mind at present is my experience with what was first termed 'revival', then outpouring, that took place last year in Lakeland, Florida. I was taking a Bible school course and so earnestly wanted to just quit and fly off to Florida, because I sensed something was happening. Tears came to my eyes with the presence of God that manifested as I watched those meetings on blurry web media. I was hooked. I watched those meetings after work for nearly 40 days for 4 hours - it was amazing.
I also had the privilege of being somewhat on the inside of the church whose leadership was trying desperately to provide leadership to that outpouring. I was a staff member, and invariably you do hear things, most of which I will never reveal out here in public. The whole Lakeland Incident, I am going to call it, because I probably can't find a description that someone won't jump all over anyhow, was exciting, chaotic and went over the top in igniting people's faith in our home church.
Oh, I really wanted to go down there, but the Lord told me No, not now. It was hard to obey that, why would God want me NOT to go to something He was doing?! Meantime I kept working, and helped by accessing the meetings on the internet, and projecting them at the church on Sunday evenings. A great anointing came for a period of time, but then I felt it was time to stop.
I was blessed by the church paying 1/2 my costs to go to Florida eventually. When I arrived at the tent, I was immediately troubled. I was also excited. Part of that excitement was getting to see many fellow students who had gone on to Internship at this revival, and realizing how very hard they were working.
I was blessed to be part of the ministry team and pray for others. No, I did not see any giant cancers fall off of someone. What I did see was some very desperately ill people. I also saw some very intensely sincere and hungry believers, from all over the world - wow, that was amazing. People of all walks of life, race, etc, coming together in unity to praise their God - a taste of heaven to be sure.
I also saw politics in action behind the scenes. Why must we parry for importance? Why? Why did the TV camera get more attention? Why did the crowd get 'worked' prior to the TV coming on so they'd be all excited? Why must we "help" God? (Please, understand, I am as guilty as any who were there, so many times in my life, this question is a bit abstract). Why does someone have to exert "authority" for the sake of it, changing rules every few days (witness the stupid parking pass fiasco for staff - enough said of that).
Even though I have sought true 'revival' many times, and have worked to attain it, or just waited for it, or just wondered about it, I'm not sure I have seen it yet.
Okay, I guess I have to mention that Todd Bentley left his wife and blah blah blah. But you know, this is one of the things that amazes me at all of this - the politics, the fallen leadership - GOD MOVED ANYHOW! True, there was not 100% healings, true, some was plain faked to mock ANY move of God that didn't fit some pharasaical box, and some thought they were healed or said so because of the pressure of being on TV.
That leads me to another question - why is it necessary to ASK someone if they FEEL something? Repeatedly? Do we pray in faith or do we not? I seldom allow people to pray for me anymore - if they have to ask, and their faith level is dependant upon my answer or what they see, I'm not sure I need that sort of prayer. But I must digress in this post, and move along...
Yes, God moved and moves IN SPITE of our limitations - let's try to stay focussed on that, so that he can in fact revive us, and fill us with his light and life.
