On Fire

Simplicity of Revival

Revival (a genuine encounter with God) is simple. We can draw closer to God at any time if we will humble ourselves (admit we have done wrong and are transparent) and pray and seek Gods face (with hunger and sincere desire) and turn from our wicked ways (repent). 2 Chron. 7:14

God invites people to enter into a deeper relationship with Him. God wants to be a father to us as His children. He wants to guide us, provide for us, and protect us. He sends his Spirit to live in us to convict, teach, and draw us to Himself.

This is how the Spirit of God revives us:

1. The Spirit convicts you of sin.
   (The Spirit guides you in to the truth and reveals what is hindering you from having a close relationship with God.)
   
2. You confess your sin.
   1 John 1:9 - If you confess your sin, God is faithful and it is right for God to forgive us (because Jesus died to pay the death penalty sentence for everyones sin) and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
   
3. Repent
   You turn from the sin and choose to obey God. Turning back to God and being renewed in your relationship with Him is this simple. The hard part for many is making the choice to love God more than the thing that has turned them away from God.
   
4. You are forgiven by God and cleansed of all unrighteousness.
   
   If you admit you are wrong in the current matter that God is convicting you of, God will cleanse you not only of that sin but will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. When God forgives you, he cleans the slate. He keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:5) and removes your sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Once you are forgiven, you are completely clean before God and can approach God with confidence because you are now made righteous in Christ.
   
5. You are filled with the Spirit
   
   God is concerned with the choices you are making right now; once you confess a sin and repent, God no longer remembers it (keeps a record of it). Once you confess and repent, you are restored to a right relationship with God enjoying full access to His presence and being filled with the Spirit of God... until the next time you choose to sin.
   
6. Be accountable to not return to your sin and be enslaved again.
   
   Once you have returned to a whole hearted relationship, the key is continuing in that relationship and not falling back into sin (selfishness). Many Christians experience times of closeness with God, but then soon fall back into long periods of living for themselves. When God has guided you into the truth and you see a pattern of sin (selfishness) in your life that keeps pulling you away from God, it is critical to ask others to help you keep from returning to that habit.
   
   But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
   
   It is this willingness to humble yourself to admit your struggles to others that marks revival. When we come to the place where we are more concerned about doing whatever it takes to be right with God that we nolonger care that we may look bad to people around us, then we are in the place God can set our lives on fire with His Spirit.
   

Labels: accountability, God, Revival, Spirit-filled

posted by mcolebank @ 12:38 PM