Claiming And Receiving Revival
The Asbury Revival which began in Wilmore, Kentucky February 10 was officially moved to a new location, but not completely shut down. Opposition to the revival was more about the inconveniences of overcrowded highways, bathrooms, restaurants and the like. Any serious disgruntled haters of the Jesus movement have as much a chance of stopping the revival as the Pharisees had trying to prevent Jesus from starting the Christian church. Even when they put the Spirit leader in the grave, he just popped back up again more powerful than ever!
Good News! Many young people in the computer- age “Z” generation are experiencing a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives. That’s amazing, because they face obstacles that many of us older “Baby- boomers” didn’t have to contend with.
In my day parents had tighter controls over their kids, and over what their kids were exposed to. Recreational travel for a kid was “on foot” or on a bicycle until I was old enough to earn money for my own car, plus gas. The nearest that my friends and I got to “dope” ( drugs) was chewing gum and toothpicks soaked in cinnamon. The only weapons we got out the door with were slingshots, cap pistols, and BB guns ( with limited BB’S). Neighbors were more neighborly then. Christians were more genuine, for the most part, and most folks who didn’t attend church still held some kind of respect for God.
Kids of this generation weren’t, as a whole, brought up in the world we grew up in. Members of the Z generation likely won’t conform to the same mold that we Boomers fit into. Yet we respect them for this: many will be permanently affected by having their own life- altering, born again union with Christ. Jesus does that to all of us.
What about the revival we need in Malvern? Personally, I still hunger for and expect a Spiritual revival in my life, my church, and Malvern, Arkansas. It doesn’t have to be earth- shaking, nor involve pew- jumping or chandelier- swinging. Nor does it have to attract thousands to our town. It’s not about the crowds; it’s about you and me and Him.
The extra prayer and fasting I’ve invested towards reaching out to God for revival has already affected to some degree what I’m receiving during church services. No major goosebumps yet, just a few goose- pimples here and there. (“Thank you, Father God and Jesus Christ.”) I trust the same for you, and more.
Will that revival Spirit grow within me and others seeking more of Christ in this town? I believe so. Til it happens, let’s keep “calling those things that be not as though they were” ( Romans 4: 17). Not doubting in our hearts, but having whatsoever we declare ( Mark 11: 23). Walking by faith, not by sight ( 2 Corinthians 5: 7). Looking not at the things which are seen with natural eyes, but at the things which are only seen with spiritual vision: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal ( 2 Corinthians 4: 18).
Because our faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ( Hebrews 11: 1). Faith is the physical place- holder for that which we hope for until it actually arrives. We are just: God justified us by faith ( Romans 3: 28; 5: 1). We, the just, shall live by faith ( Hab 2: 4; Romans 1: 17).
Without faith it is impossible to please God ( Hebrews 11: 6). We in Malvern claiming by faith that revival is coming please our God. A happy God is a God who enjoys giving!