NOTE: This is the last installment in the series of posts on Endtime Revival.
The Outpouring. The Awakening. The Endtime Revival. The Final Great Harvest. There have been many different names and terms used to describe what is about to be released in the earth. However, sound doctrine is what will sustain revival. Think about this: Revival is not something that will "just happen". The day of Pentecost came about through extended times of prayer by those who were waiting in that Upper Room--they weren't just standing or sitting around doing nothing. The key for them as it will be for us is to endure all the distractions that the enemy will throw at us to keep us from focusing on the task at hand. That task is the harvest of souls. You see, this outpouring is to bring in the lost. It is not just about a "refreshing"; it is to set the captives free from the bondage of sin. At Pentecost, the church grew - multiplied - at a rapid pace. Expect to see that - and much more - in these last days. This will be the greatest harvest of souls in the history of this planet, and we get to be a part of it...isn't that exciting?
Let us focus on sound doctrine for a minute. I strongly feel that this is and will be the greatest component of that which is to come. The early church was established upon the foundation of the Apostles' doctrine as taught to them personally by Jesus Christ and further explained by the Holy Ghost, through Whom the epistles were written. Throughout the early days of the church, they were in one accord, both in fellowship and doctrine. Whenever there was false doctrine, as taught by the Judaizers for example, the Apostles warned believers not to listen to them or even fellowship with them. They and the doctrine that they preached were accursed. Paul's letters urged the church to be of the same mind and to speak the same thing. Once the oneness of fellowship and doctrine ceased, the glory departed; denominations and other man-made organizations took the place of the one true Church.
Think about this as we consider all the other "moves of God" over the past generations: why did they fizzle and die out? Azusa Street. Toronto. Lakeland. The reasons are many: doctrinal issues that brought division, sin amongst the leadership, including pride being a major factor, just to name three. However, the main reason, I believe, is doctrine. Sound, Holy Spirit-based doctrine. Not man-made flakiness. We cannot have unity if our teaching is varied; that only brings confusion. In order for us to all speak the same thing, we all have to listen to the One who is speaking. Spirit and Truth is what will sustain the latter day Revival. Whenever the Truth of the Word is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit lends His agreement with the demonstration of Power. His power comes to bring permanent change. There is no change if the source of the power is counterfeit. That which is of this realm-the realm of sin and death-cannot bring change. Only that which is from Heaven, that which will bring Light and Life, can change the hearts of sinful man. Otherwise it is just an empty show.
The Holy Ghost has been sent to dwell with us for a reason. Listen to what He has to say because He brings the Father's Will which is the Mind of Christ for every situation. Every area, every region and every nation. What does He want to do in your part of the world? Is that where you are supposed to be? Did He send you there, or are you one of those that just "went"? The center of God's Perfect Will is always the best place to be. If He sent you, He will give you the instructions as to what to do, and He will finance the work. If you don't know how, ask. His Wisdom is readily available. It is not His Will that you are ignorant either of the enemy's plans to stop what He wants to do through you, or what He wants you to do specifically. These things are very important.
Another thing: Let's put an end to flakiness and promoting false manifestations such as gold dust and female angels. These are NOT OF GOD! If it cannot be found in scripture or has no scriptural basis...reject it! The Spirit and the Word agree. The Holy Spirit WILL NOT manifest anything that has no basis in scripture! Let us begin to fine tune our hearing; pray in the Holy Ghost and listen with the ears of our spirit. Earnestly contend--fight--for the faith. The epistles of 2 Peter and Jude should be enough of a warning to us.
We cannot afford to be ignorant of what the Will of the Lord is for such a critical time in the history of our planet. Pray for the Revival of Truth.
NOTE: This is part 4 of a series of posts dealing with the coming Endtime Revival and the Apostasy that, I believe, will be concurrent with it.The next posting should be the conclusion of this series.
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Beginning with a passage from the Gospel of Mark:
- Mark 4:26-32
The best way to define revival is the Great Harvest. The signs and wonders that accompany revival is not for the believer; it's for the lost, those who "sense-ruled" and are without the Spirit. The believer should already know this; it will not be a "new" thing, but rather a confirmation of what God has already said in His Word that would come. The Spirit-filled believer already knows that he/she is born of the Spirit of Christ by the inner witness. Wrong, intellect-based doctrine has not fully explained to the vast majority of Christians the reality of who they are. This causes them to depend on the "validity" of outward, visible signs to prove that something is "of God". The only problem is, the devil does "signs and wonders" also.
The only way to truly know the difference is by the Holy Spirit--the One sent to Teach, Anoint and Help us to grow up into the image on the inside of us. On the inside--in our spirit--we look just like Jesus, the restoration of what Adam looked like before the fall.
True, endtime revival is not just a service or a week of services. It is the reaping of the precious fruit of the earth, the Harvest that the Husbandman has been waiting for ever since the precious Seed was sown in the earth over 2000 years ago. The Seed was sown in order to produce seed and to yield fruit after its own kind.
The Sower sows the Word. Ever since the Word (Jesus) was made manifest in the flesh, the Gospel (Good News) of the Word has been preached. The Gospel in a nutshell is this: The Word has been made manifest to make us free. Once it has been sown into our spirit, the process of transforming the soul so that it will fall in line with the leading of the spirit has begun. We cannot be totally free outside of the Will of God. Increasing in the knowledge of Christ in us and operating in that Truth is what sets us free despite all of the circumstances around us. True freedom begins from within, but the source of that freedom is not ourselves, but from Jesus Christ himself. New Age teaching proclaims otherwise.
True revival will not break forth in, or with, confusion. The true foundation of who we are in Him must be revealed first. God is not the author of confusion. Counterfeit manifestations are not what true revival is all about. The early church had an understanding of who they were and did until the enemy came to veil the truth that has been hid for generations unto generations until now. What many will think is a "new" revelation is not. It is the same truth that the enemy has resisted since the beginning of the church age and has desperately tried to hide through religious tradition and false, intellect-based teaching.
- James 5:7-8
So, what part do we have to play in all this? First and foremost, we need to pray. Pray first for our fellow believers. The enemy wants to bring deception to those in the body of Christ to follow after "preachers" that satan has placed in the body who have great influence. There is already a counterfeit church in place and many are already falling away. Pray for restoration. Let these prayers be directed by the Holy Spirit. True intercession is birthed in the spirit. We may not always know how to pray, but let this passage of scripture be our guide:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
- Romans 8:26-27
Let us be like Elijah who earnestly, fervently prayed and achieved the desired result.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain : and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. - James 5:16-18
Lastly, and more importantly let us pray for the lost. While we're at it, let's pray for Wisdom as to when and how to be a proper witness to them of the Love of Jesus that has been deposited in us. Without the manifestation of His Love for them, they won't be set free. Light is breaking forth. The Father's Will is being performed in the earth, and there's absolutely nothing that the forces of darkness can do to stop it.
