April 1994
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We have just concluded a week of revival meetings
at the church. Hearts were stirred, folks were saved,
and decisions were made. How we praise God for these
times that He allows us to have. Yet, how sad that we
feel the need to confine them to a specific period of
time. Why must we have a "Spring Revival" and a "Fall Revival"? Should we not, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, be able to stay in a continual state of revival? Far too many Christians live as if the Evangelist carried a product called "revival" around in his pocket. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to Psalm 85:6, revival comes from the Lord. This occurs when God's people humble themselves before God, and allow His spirit to work through them. Isaiah 57:15 states that the Lord desires "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." II Chronicles 7:14 echoes this idea: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Thus, revival is a relationship with God that can be obtained and maintained at any time. It is not an ecstatic rush of emotion based upon a particularly exhilarating message from the pulpit. Those types of revivals normally fade away at the first hint of difficulty and opposition. True revival exists in the heart of the believer who has his life pure and forgiven before God, and is endeavoring to serve Him faithfully in the power of the Spirit.
How about you? Can you honestly say that you are living in a state
of revival today? Will it last, or will it soon melt away like the winter's snow? May each of us determine this day that we will have such a relationship with the lord that this church will consistently stay in revival, and that we will thus impact our community and our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your Pastor,
Mark J. Montgomery
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