Are we looking outward in or inward out? To put it another way. Should not revival be a fruit of our remaining or abiding in Christ? Should not this thing we call revival be tbe fruit of our union with Christ?

Are we becoming so absorbed with an external move of God we are losing sight if tbe inward reality of Christ working within us? Are we losing sight of intimate fellowship with Jesus?

In my readings of tbe New Testament I never see where God promises external revival. What I do see is an exhortation to run hard after Jesus. To set our hearts and minds on things above. To be in his presence. To seek intimacy with him.

In John 17 Jesus defines eternal life not as revival but in knowing God. And knowing his Son Jesus. This knowing is an experiential intimate heart knowledge. Not a head full of theology.

I do not see that God exhorts us to pray for external revival. But exhorts more to intimacy with God. He also exhorts more to get revelation from him. To know God better.

If we focus more on intimacy with Jesus we would be less disappointed with not seeing revival and more enraptured with dwelling upon the beauty of Jesus. Then out of that we may see an external move of God.

My thoughts.

Bearmaster.

I just saw a quote by Tozer that says rarely can you get people to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. This is what I am trying to convey. Should not our attraction be Jesus himself and nit revival?

Bearmaster.

Amen brothers Greg, Frank, & Bear, when I first started reading and seeking for genuine revival the Holy Spirit began to touch many deep idols in my heart; the root of sin I believe is selfishness and pride. I find it hard to explain this working of the Holy Spirit in me, other then by quoting: "OH Wretched man that I am, who shall save me from the bondage of this death!" Jesus came to save me from sin, not in sin. I need to be saved from me, myself and I EVERYDAY. I NEED a clean heart and a STEADFAST spirit. To be immoveable in Christ! Mature in Christ and not wavering by every wind of doctrine and the trickery of men. Not overcome by the evil one, but being more than a conquer through Him who loves me.

The cross is rarely preached and the bible clearly states that it brings an offence whenever it is preached. Jesus was wounded in the house of His friends and He came to His own and they did not receive Him.

Many of the "revivals" that are advertised on church Billboards, etc., are born in the soul and not by the Spirit of the Lord. We must deny ourselves and lose our soulish life to gain His spiritual Life. Again, the cross brings death to self being on the throne and puts Christ in His rightful blood bought place: as Lord and God. Not I, but Christ in me! Not my righteousness derived from the law, but His righteousness. Not my will, but His will.

OH Dear Lord Jesus please break me and bring me to the end of myself! “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

-Kenneth

Yes Ken, I see what Tozer is refering to.

We have to repent of all known sin if we are to seek to worship God in spirit and in truth, but the heart is deceitful above all and desperatly wicked. There are many hidden sins and self life that lie in the depth of our hearts that only the Spirit of God can reveal over time as we continue to seek Him in prayer.

I believe as Tozer does that the spirit has left the church in America. The last move of the Spirit was in the 70S and that was not fully pure or widespread as anational move of God.
Shorty after, God had to depart for mercy'sake. There are two things the Holy Spirit will do if sin exists in the camp, leave or strike. He will depart or we will have many Ananiases, and Sapphiras on our hand.

So basically if we are to see Revival again we will have to begin from scratch.
We must pray, repent of all known sin, continue to seek God , repent of any sin he reveals that we were not aware of and make restitutions for wrongs.

This can go on for years in an average size church until it is safe enough for the Spirit to come without having to strike people dead left and right.

From there a revival can spread and become a national event.

_________________
Fifi

Dear UntoBabes:

LOL, I think I like UntoBabes much better then "Booboo" LOL. :) Also, I love the verses which inspired the name, it is one of my favorites:

"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."

Another veres I like, which is similiar:

"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

One more:

"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"

-Kenneth :)

Brother ken,

Please do me a favor. Please do not call those things you see advertised on church billboards revivals. We know better than that.
These are not revivals, brother. I don't care if the whole world names them that. Let us not confuse matters here.

The brother who posted the question in the beginning was refering to real moves of God.He was saying that we can be consumed with real moves of the Spirit of God that they can be an idol which I disagree with.

some people have the tendancy to box things. In their mind it must be "this" or "that". iT can not be both.

In his mind, if we have a consuming desire to see God move we can not have a consuming desire for Christ.

That is a bunch of none sense. For this brother have many times posted things about the word of God and the persecuted church and no one has accused him of idolizing the word of God or the persecuted church over Jesus.

_________________
Fifi

Dear UntoBabes:

Please read my post carefully: I said "revival". Which means they are “quote” calling them “revival”, but they are not. I do not know how you did not get this from my post. :/ How could you say that what I was describing in my post was the wrong type of revival, as I attempted to be open and also compare between genuine biblical Christ-Centered revival and the "revival" on billboards?

Please call me Kenneth. That’s how I have been signing my name at the end of my post. :)

Kenneth,

I understand what you said.

Do you believe that a desperate and overwhelming desire to see genuine revival can compete with the love of Christ.

_________________
Fifi

Wow, sounds like spontaneous combustion ready to burst into flames of believers here. Thank you, Lord

As Eliza Doolittle once sang:
“Words, words, words, I’m so sick of words...don’t talk of love lasting through time, if you’re on fire....show me.....” :-)

Jesus Christ said: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, GO ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)

Encouraging myself also...a sister in Christ