Not only is it necessary for us to discern the seasons of revival, we must
also learn how to discern God's appointed servants of revival. What kind
of people does God use to bring a genuine move of the Spirit? Some
would lead us to believe that revivals come somewhat randomly through
anyone who happens to be available. Don't you believe it. God is not
going to haphazardly entrust the next move of the Holy Spirit to a bunch
of careless and uncooperative people! The conditions and principles
of revival don't just conveniently change for the whims and
preferences of each new generation. God brings revival only
through those who humbly cooperate with His eternal values. If we
want to be prepared for the coming revival, we must learn how to
cooperate with God on His terms.

Absalom, the son of King David, was once presumed to be God's
chosen vessel simply because he was attractive and charming.
However, like a beautiful flower, he soon faded away and proved
not to be what he first appeared (2 Sam. 14:25, James 1:9-11).
God's revivalists are not selected on the basis of beauty and ability,
but rather brokenness and humility! The Father has always
preferred the humble for His revival purposes. Rarely have God's
revivalists been found among the polished and esteemed
churchmen of their day. Therefore, it would be a serious mistake
for us to expect to find the next move of God on some glamorous
stage bathed in glitter and bright lights. The birthplace of revival is
usually discovered in despised and lowly mangers, not elegant mansions!

Nevertheless, many Christians still refuse to accept this vital
spiritual lesson. Like the religious leaders in Jesus time, they
presume to find the glory of God carried by a beautiful white
stallion, not a homely little donkey! (Matt. 21:5). Most of Israel
missed the day of their visitation merely because they were
looking for the promised visitation of God in the wrong places.
While they were busy searching for some regal king or political
savior, Jesus was walking among them as a common carpenter
(Isa. 53:2). God's revival methods have never changed, it still
pleases Him to come through humble and lowly servants. How
many of us are in danger of missing the day of our own visitation,
simply because we are still thinking like mere carnal men? If we
like it or not God prefers the company of broken and lowly people.
God is no respecter of persons, but He is definitely a respecter of
CHILDLIKE FAITH and HUMILITY (Acts 10:34). As the old Puritan,
Robert Leighton, once said, "God's choice acquaintances are
humble men."

Where Can We Expect to Find Revival?

When the Father first chose Israel out of all the nations of the
world, it was not because Israel was superior in size and strength,
but because they were weak and small (Deut. 7:6-7). The Father
promises revival not to the strong and self-reliant but to the
HUMBLE! "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is
of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isa. 57:15). God is
looking for a people who are lowly and broken. The scriptures are
quite clear about this. "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for
man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh
on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). "For that which is highly esteemed
among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).

Again in 1Cor. 1:27-29, Paul plainly tells us where we should look
to find God's chosen instruments of revival: "But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak
things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things
of this world and the despised things and the things that are not,
to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
The most powerful revivals throughout the history of the Church
have always been nurtured by obscure and unlikely people. The
kingdom of God has the greatest impact when carried in the hands
of the HUMBLE.

Mary & God's Revival Grace

The Bible is full of examples of God giving abundant grace to the
humble for His revival purposes. Yet the most striking example of
them all is found in the gospel account of Mary, the mother of
Jesus. Mary typifies the kind of hidden and obscure people that
God delights to use in bringing revival. God, in His perfect wisdom,
chose an unknown virgin to be the channel for His ultimate visitation.

Though this was very difficult for Mary to comprehend at first, she
soon grasped the wisdom of God's decision. She boldly testifies to
this fact in Luke 1:46-53: "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the
Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has regarded
the LOWLY and HUMBLE state of His bondslave. From now on all
generations will call me blessed, for the mighty One has done
great things for me, holy is His name. His mercy extends to those
who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed
mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who with
CONTEMPT and PRIDE hold themselves above others in the
intellectual insight and moral understanding of their heart. He has
brought down the mighty from their thrones but has lifted up the
HUMBLE. He has FILLED and SATISFIED the HUNGRY with good
things but has sent the RICH away EMPTY-HANDED without a
gift." The strong and self-reliant are disqualified as the candidates
for true revival. They are full of their own success, talents and
intelligence. They are quite confident that they can handle
whatever comes their way. Therefore they are sent away empty
and dry because there is no vacuum within their lives for the glory
of Jesus to fill.

Obscurity & Revival

Lowly and humble people don't usually come from prestigious
places. Mary was certainly no exception. Luke 1:26 reveals that
Mary lived on the wrong side of the tracks in the infamous city of
Nazareth of Galilee. This city had a terrible reputation for being
one of the most irreligious places in all of Israel. It was considered
to be a ghetto or slum among most Israelites. Thus the saying:
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). This
expression seems to accurately reflect the general attitude that
most people had about Nazareth at this time. Nazareth was the
last place you would expect to find one of God's special
instruments of revival...

Revival History is the History of Humility & Brokenness

All the great revivals of the past have been birthed in much the
same way. The First Great Awakening was powerfully birthed in
the open fields of England, as Whitefield and Wesley preached to
the lowly coal miners. The Second Great Awakening started in a
simple country church and went on to have its most powerful
effects among the common frontier people who gathered in the
woods of Kentucky. Of the Third Great Awakening, J. Edwin Orr
wrote, "It was no man's monument." This Awakening could not be
traced to the influence of any one particular evangelist or
organization. The revival was miraculously born in the hungry
hearts of thousands of humble and praying people.

The Welsh revival of 1904 began in a small young people's
meeting, under the direction of an unknown and half-educated
twenty-six year old coal miner named Evan Roberts. The Azusa
Street revival was born in a simple cottage prayer meeting. As the
revival grew, the meetings were moved to an old run down church
building that had once served as a livery stable. The revival
flourished from 1906-1909 under William J. Seymour, a humble
one-eyed black preacher from Texas. The history of revival will
forever be associated with extended seasons of deep brokenness
and humility.

Are You Willing to Embrace the Burden of Revival?

As I said before, the question is no longer if revival will come, but
rather through whom will revival come? Where are the humble and
broken people who will allow God to birth a mighty visitation
through them? Where are the ones who are willing to empty
themselves of their own agendas and plans in order to become
pregnant with God's vision for revival? Will YOU allow Jesus to
break you and use you in the coming revival? Invite the Holy Spirit
even now to fill you with that kind of all-consuming vision and
calling. Yield to the Spirit and give Him permission to ache, weep
and pray through you! Humble yourself and repent of ANYTHING
that would hinder or quench the Spirit of revival! Ask the Lord to
let you feel what He feels about the state of the Church and the
world. This is the season and time for us to fast, weep and pray
for a true visitation of God. In fact, it could be our last opportunity
to cooperate with God's revival purposes. Most believers never get
more than one chance in a lifetime to be involved in a true move
of God. Will you humble yourself and pray, or must the Lord look
elsewhere to find a willing and humble virgin? "Ask the LORD for
rain in the time of the latter rain" (Zech 10:1).

~SOURCE:

www.watchword.org

_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon