REVIVAL BEGINS WITH ME

Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue….”

The spoken word carries tremendous power. It has the power to create and edify, or the power to tear down and destroy. Consider the following: In conversation, omission, could be termed an old-fashioned sin, but God calls all sin, sin. We all recognise the term, “to be economical with the truth.” In reality, this statement defines a liar. Let us measure it against God’s clear standards and not against man’s attempt to cover up a fault. Men attempt to hide behind unspoken words to cover their pride, to “save face.” A statement can be true, but not the whole truth. Standards are lowered, men “move the goal posts” and the sin of omission, which is actually a lie, takes root in their lives. When we entertain (allow) a lie in our lives, the devil, as “father of all lies” (John 8:44) will exercise his right to pay us a visit as he visits his child, the lie!

Of course, there are times when we need to be discreet about certain matters, but there is a big difference between that and neglecting to be open and declare the whole truth.

With Satan and us the truth can be presented in such a way that it appears clean, but it is a lie. An extreme example is the following: A man threw his child out of the bedroom window, (true, but not the truth.) “What! Disgraceful!”….you may say, but the truth is that he threw the child out, hopefully to safety to save him from the burning building ravaged by fire!

Two, or more, people discussing another by omission is dishonouring to the Body of Christ. Matthew 18:16, “…in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established,” works on the negative as well as the positive. Omission creates a false witness, a living lie.

The Holy Spirit will always teach me kingdom principles and He will never diverge from that. There is no hiding from God, no place to run to that He cannot see, (Jonah.) Thank the Lord His Holy Spirit is ever challenging me and guiding me as I respond to His direction. He is the Spirit of truth, all truth, and only ever witnesses to truth. No grey areas, no compromise, no moving of “goal posts” to accommodate my fleshly selfishness.

With all we have learnt we should have been in revival mode for years. Instead of praying for it, it is time to get real with God. The Holy Spirit will always challenge me on my motive, my heart condition and keeping right relationships with people. My first relationship to keep on track is mine with Him. Is this not revival when He visits me?….or do I turn a deaf ear to His loving challenges? “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God,” 1 Peter 4:17. It is time to stop looking at others in the Body of Christ and judging them. In my closet is where I have to do with my Maker, and allow Him to judge me. He is the only righteous Judge. When I judge others I am guilty of bringing disunity in the Body of Christ which produces a malfunction in the Body and myself. When we love others we must love “in word and DEED,” our words and our deeds must be married together.

So many are praying for revival for a harvest of souls. When the Body of Christ gets in right relationship with the Head, Jesus Christ, this is revival and the harvest of souls will follow. Our bench mark is JESUS CHRIST, the highest standard for our lives. God has winked at our ignorance and been long suffering. Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” The long suffering of God is part of His nature of love, but when does the long-suffering of God come to an end? His long-suffering with grace and mercy towards me is to draw me away from the characteristics that belong to my old nature, in order to allow the Indwelling Christ, His beloved Son, to manifest His divine nature through me. The old life with all it’s selfish nature should fall away as I surrender to the new life of Christ within me. NO SURRENDER MEANS NO CHANGE! In Christ we are a new creation, we surrendered the right to ourselves when we bowed the knee at the foot of the cross, and invited Him in to our heart to rule and reign. His long-suffering is to draw me to Himself, for His royal, divine exchange. If I willfully continue in my own selfish way, God will eventually resist me and judge me. 1 Peter 5:5 “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” God loves me with His everlasting love and wants the best for me, my part is to yield to Him, He will orchestrate the divine exchange.

In a world that is forever demanding their rights, the only right that we have, as Believers, is to eat from the Tree of Life. Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.” God has done His part, Calvary bridged the gulf between man and God. Will I allow revival to begin in my heart, daily responding to the promptings of the blessed Holy Spirit? Will I allow the Lord to work with me that I may joyfully respond to Him, “Not my will, but Yours be done, Lord!” This is the glory of God manifest in an earthen vessel.

IT’S TIME!
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FOOTNOTE