First let me say, that I am not talking in regard to our country. I still believe that II Chronicles 7:14 still applies today. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We should pray for our country and its leaders.
What I am talking about is personal revival. Do you have to wait for it to sweep over you? Is it in God's hands only or do we have any say in it? Do we have to have enough people praying for it for us to experience it personally? I am sure all of us have asked ourselves these questions at some time or another. I am going to attempt to answer them from scripture and my own personal experiences.
I do think today that one of the main problems is mixing up or combining the Old and New Testament. Jesus said you can't put new wine in old wineskins or they will burst. The Old Covenant (Testament) message was really one of repent and turn back to me. I really believe that this serves as a better comparison between the nation Israel and America today. I believe God deals with nations like
America today different than he deals with individuals. In other words, you could be serving the Lord with all you heart and still be blessed as well as your family and your church and the nation be going down the tubes. Obviously you will be affected by the woes of the nation as an American.
So back to the original question-does revival as an individual depend on others or not? First, let me define what I mean by personal revival. I am talking about the Great Commission in its fullness-the Book of Acts. I am talking about walking in divine healing and health; getting strength and power and revelation from the Baptism in the Holy Spirit; being set free from all addictions; and knowing Jesus intimately and growing in his Word; then sharing these with others so they can experience them too. The answer is yes.
You can bottle revival. What is true of your community, your
denomination, your church, even your family, does not have to be true of you. In the New Testament, Jesus gave two final commands. He said to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to
fulfill the Great Commission (Acts 1:8/Mark 16:15-20/Matthew 28:18-20).
I believe that the church in America is mainly skimming the surface. Some are winning the lost-few are discipling or getting people baptized in the Holy Spirit. As far as getting people free from addictions and healed, that is almost non-existent and we have turned to the medical and psychology fields for these. I think the problem is mainly one of ignorance and fear and it is also true when people aren’t digging deep enough to get the Biblical truth and results they will default to man’s methods every time. Ninety-eight percent of people don't witness- that’s why there is so little harvest. When people are newly born again and spirit filled, many times, we just kind of throw them out there to struggle and to survive and grow-well you see the problem. Jesus said make disciples not converts. This is critical!
I thought about this recently and realized a truth. Many of you know, if you have read my testimony that I prayed and asked God eight years ago, to do whatever he had to change me except take my life. He allowed me to go through 7 years of hell because it was the only way for me to be changed. I went from a carnal (natural thinking and functioning), sinful, yet sincere man to a man who gets multiple revelations each day, walks in and understands divine healing, is free from all addictions, and is growing in the area of discipleship. I am not saying these things to brag.
I was the biggest wimp who ever lived and couldn't get a cold or a hangnail healed. Now when I stand on the Word for healing it works every time. As I said this didn’t happen overnight. It was a grueling process of learning. So what was the key? Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Matthew 6:33-I had to learn to seek God with all my heart. When I didn't do that, I didn't find and experience God, when I did I found him and had an intimate relationship with him. I believe that I am
experiencing some of what Paul, James, Peter, and the apostles experienced. Maybe it’s only 5% now, but that’s better than the 0% that I had before, and I am growing each and every day. Again I am not perfect, no even close, but I am determined to get this right. My motto will become my reality: “If Jesus could do it, I can do it.” (John 14:12) I am saying these things to try to be an encouragement to you. If I can do it, you can do it, too. This is not some pipe dream, it is real, I know because I’m l living it. I learned from other teachers and the Holy Spirit helped open up the word of God
to me.
You can bottle personal revival and it is reproducible every day. God is the manufacturer and the owner and we are the franchisees that are accountable to him and are responsible for bottling and distribution-that is sharing it with others.
This is now working effectively in my life. In about two months, I will be getting the opportunity to put this to the test in the lives of others and bear fruit. My church has given me the green light to teach on four Sunday nights in January. I am grateful for this opportunity and the support of my pastor and church elders. I get a second chance at ministry and not only to do it right but to do it like they did in the Book of Acts.
So to recap, first, you get it by seeking God with all your heart and settling for nothing less. My motto during the last two years of my trial was “Book of Acts or Bust.” Don’t give up-Don’t quit-it will happen! Then you begin to take baby steps and start growing in it, and finally you just keep doing it faithfully each day.
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
(Colossians 2:6-10)
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