Revival.
It is sought after...promoted...and hyped.
It seems to be THE prize at the end of the rainbow!
But...here is an AMAZING truth that the Church seems to IGNORE about REVIVAL:
Something that NEEDS to be REVIVED is either DEAD or NEAR DEATH!
At the VERY LEAST...something that needs REVIVING is in an UNCONSCIOUS state of EXISTENCE!
The IRONY of it all?
Ministries which promote the "positive-only" gospel...promising the sheep (and even the goats) every possible "good thing"...are the most FLUENT in the use of the term REVIVAL!
It is actually quite easy to see:
In the OVERWHELMING desire to HYPE their SERVICES, MEETINGS, and CONFERENCES...the FALSE TEACHERS have no TRUE understanding of the PURPOSE of REVIVAL...and the CONDITIONS that NECESSITATE the NEED for revival.
If REVIVAL is necessary...something has gone TERRIBLY wrong!
And...in most cases...LIFE and DEATH now weigh in the balance!
So...what will DEFINE revival?
REVIVAL will never be defined by the EXCITEMENT experienced in a series of services...but it will be marked by a REPENTANT Church which exits its buildings while bearing a CROSS.
Matthew 10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
Matthew 16:24 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
In Matthew 16, Jesus has just spoken of His coming death on the cross. In response, Peter rebuked him...and Jesus turns to Peter with even sharper rebuke.
What was happening with this exchange between Jesus and Peter?
Peter and the other disciples were still expecting Jesus to establish His Kingdom in the very near future...with thoughts of Jesus leading His followers in victorious battle over those who were oppressing the people.
At this point, the disciples were looking for WEALTH and RICHES and PROMINENCE...all as a result of following Jesus.
This erroneous mindset was evident in many encounters between Jesus and His followers.
After Jesus rebuked Peter...He spoke the words quoted above.
And...with those words...Jesus made it CLEAR what was expected of those who gave their lives in service to Him...to God:
True followers of Christ would be DESPISED...REJECTED...HATED...RIDICULED...PERSECUTED...SHAMED...
...and CRUCIFIED unto DEATH!
Today...the Church has lost the meaning of the CROSS.
When Jesus spoke those words to Peter as the other disciples stood in witness, everyone present knew EXACTLY what those words meant...whether they chose to ACCEPT the meaning or not!
The CROSS was the most DESPISED form of DEATH...reserved for the most VILE of all humanity. Those who died there were REJECTED by man.
Death on the CROSS was a SHAMEFUL and DESPICABLE death.
Thus...we come to today...as we see the Church in "blessing" and "favor" mode.
Just as with Peter so long ago, the Church is now busy REBUKING Jesus for saying the path to GLORY must go through the CROSS!
And...just like Peter...the Church wants all the GOOD THINGS which they claim are "promised by God"...all the while IGNORING the clear declaration of Jesus:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Today, the Church exists as the PRODIGAL SON...demanding their inheritance now.
The Church is OBLIVIOUS to the fact that it no longer dwells in the PRESENCE of GOD...as it declares the SLOP of the PIG PEN to be NUGGETS of GOLD.
And...with every "prophetic declaration of blessings and favor"...the Church settles in to enjoy the LEFTOVERS which come from the table of the PAGANS.
Unlike the PRODIGAL SON of Scripture, the Church is CONTENT in the PIG PEN...and any return to the FATHER'S HOUSE is thwarted by the DELUSION that they are eating STEAK in the PALACE of GOD...all while "feasting" on RANCID MEAT!
Oh...be sure...the CROSS remains present...but only as a SYMBOLIC representation of what CHRIST endured...all as the Church is busy IGNORING the fact that Jesus said that ANYONE who follows Him will be EASILY RECOGNIZABLE by the MARKS of the CROSS on their shoulders and back!
But...all too often...the CROSS has been LAID DOWN...as the POT OF GOLD they found along the way to GOLGOTHA was enough to make them FORSAKE the CROSS in exchange for those EARTHLY RICHES.
You see...no one gets to CALVARY empty handed.
As one carries their CROSS...willing to DIE for the cause of Christ...many simply carry 30 PIECES OF SILVER...wrongly believing their WALLET is PROOF that Jesus was with them along the way!
Sadly...the Church now seems to be filled with the spirit of JUDAS more than the Spirit of Christ.
Oh...do not misunderstand me...and be sure of this:
The Church today LOVES the CROSS...as long as they do not have to CARRY it!
In the "modern era," the Church is full of proclamations and declarations of "favor and blessings" to those who serve the Lord.
So...let's review a list of those who faithfully served the Lord...and their path of "favor and blessings."
1. Stephen: He was a Disciple of Christ. He was the first Christian martyr noted in Scripture, as he was stoned to death outside the city of Jerusalem. (History records that approximately 2000 Christians were martyred during this same uprising of persecution due to the allegiance to Stephen...and to Jesus.) He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
2. James: He was a Disciple of Christ. James was beheaded about A.D. 44. (Timon and Parmenas were martyred during this same period.) He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
3. Philip: He was a Disciple of Christ. Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and crucified in A.D. 54. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
4. Matthew: He was a Disciple of Christ. Matthew was slain with a halberd in A.D. 60. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
5. James the Less: He was a Disciple of Christ. James was beaten and stoned, having his skull beaten with a club until his skull was crushed with his brains bashed out. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
6. Matthias: He was a Disciple of Christ. Matthias was stoned and beheaded. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
7. Andrew: He was a Disciple of Christ...and the brother of Peter. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross which bears his name. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
8. Mark: He was a Disciple of Christ...reportedly converted to Christ under the ministry of Peter. He is the author of The Gospel according to Mark. Mark was dragged to pieces. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
9. Peter: He was a Disciple of Christ. Peter was crucified upside down...reportedly at his own request, as he said he was UNWORTHY to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
10. Paul: He was a Disciple of Christ...being converted on the road to Damascus, as Jesus appeared to him (he was known as Saul at this time), calling him to become an Apostle in spreading the Gospel. Paul suffered many persecutions, finally being beheaded at Rome. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
11. Jude: He was a Disciple of Christ. Also known as Thaddeus, he was the brother of James. Jude was crucified in A.D. 72. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
12. Bartholomew: He was a Disciple of Christ. Bartholomew was beaten at length before being crucified. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
13. Thomas: He was a Disciple of Christ. Also known as Didymus, Thomas was thrust thru with a spear. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
14. Luke: He was a Disciple of Christ. He wrote the Gospel which bears his name. Luke was hanged by the neck from a tree. He was FAITHFUL..."favored and blessed."
All of these were FAITHFUL in their service to Jesus Christ...as they spread the Gospel under severe persecution.
Yet...their FAITHFULNESS did not equate to the "favor and blessings" as defined by most in the Church today.
Far from finding...and living in..."promises of wealth and earthly riches," these loyal and FAITHFUL followers of Jesus Christ were recipients of HATRED and PERSECUTION and MARTYRDOM.
May the Church of today find TRUTH...the truth which REDEFINES "favor and blessings" in a BIBLICALLY HISTORICAL manner.
"Favor and blessings" of Christ will bring TRIALS and PERSECUTION followed by an ETERNAL REWARD...not FAME and FORTUNE and an EARTHLY REWARD.
Yes...the Church needs REVIVAL...but that REVIVAL will awaken us to the TRUE call of Christ:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
If we are ALIVE in Christ...we are called to LIVE for Him...even if we must DIE for Him.
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