Apr182008
Seeking Renewal and Revival
Filed under Reflections by Paul at 3:02 pm on Apr 18 2008
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The current sermon series at Calvary Assembly of God is called “Revive Me Again” and is focused on revival. You can listen to it here.
Revival is something that we all need. There is no doubt about that! I wonder though if sometimes Christians think of revival as something that will magically happen to us; perhaps if we ask God enough times or sing loud enough maybe he’ll decide to hear us. I wonder if sometimes we put the full responsibility of revival on God and think all we have to do is sit back and wait for God to do it.
I’m not so sure if that is a good way to think about and expect revival. Please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t mean that God isn’t the one responsible for revival - we can’t revive ourselves! What I do mean is that we have a responsibility as well. This has been at the core of Pastor Coon’s sermons - there are things that WE need to do in order that revival would come. In this series, he is focusing on 4 things that we need to do: pray, read Scripture, tithe, and witness.
If we truly are seeking revival for ourselves and for the church worldwide than we need get active. Consider the following Scriptures:
How do these verses speak to our role in seeking revival?
This idea is also core to spiritual formation. We cannot transform ourselves (just as we cannot revive ourselves), however that does not mean that we simply sit back and wait to someday be changed. There are things that we do to “prepare”, things that we do that bring us to a place where God can do His part - revival and transformation!
So what are you doing to seek revival, renewal, and transformation? The four things that Pastor Coon mentions are a good start. Can you go deeper in prayer? Can you dig into Scripture more - meditating, studying, and memorizing it? Can you give more (financially as well as with time and energy)? Can you commit to sharing the Gospel with those around you (in word AND in deed)?
We need revival. We need transformation. And God wants to do these things in us, but he doesn’t do them until we do our part.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
