December 9
Joel 1:1-3:21 | PS 128:1-6 | Prov 29:18 | Rev 1:1-20
Do we have one more revival in us before He comes back? I don't know. But we must be careful not to want it so bad that we point our fingers here and there calling revival prematurely. You can disagree, but I was a bit skeptical at the calling of the events in that Kentucky college revival. It centered on worship, and prayer, but seemed weak on the word, or a specific individual or individuals who seemed called to bring it about. In the aftermath of the horrible events in Israel on October 7th, once again I hear this term, revival, being used, because some seem to be praying more or going back to synagogue. Revival is not an add-on approach. We don't remain who we were and simply add God into our lives. Revival means that something has to die and be seen as dead. CPR is initiated on a dead person, no pulse. If there is a pulse, then CPR is not initiated. If we want to maintain our lives in the world, in the flesh, then what exactly are we seeking to revive. No matter how much excitement is mustered up, repentance and death to our former selves must precede the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is also not a new concept at all. The prophets never warned the people to add God in, they warned them telling them to turn from their ways and come to Him.
Though we don't know the exact timing of the writing of the book of Joel, many place this as one of the oldest prophetic books, as Amos, who was a contemporary of Isaiah, quotes Amos. So writing perhaps at the time of Elijah and Elisha, we see this prophet writing of events which were contemporary to his timing, but spoke forth events which would be conveyed by Peter in his first sermon in Acts 2, and also with much clarity he foretells many of the events spoken forth by Jesus through John in the book of Revelation. He speaks of many of the devastating events recorded in Revelation, along with vivid clarity of the battle of Armageddon. Interestingly, in our reading in Revelation 1, we read one of Jesus' names in Revelation 1:8. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End", says the Lord. "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." It was about Him at the time of the prophets, at the time of Pentecost, and will be about Him during the Tribulation, the Battle of Armageddon, and forever. The focus never changes, Jesus is at the center.
So, we want revival, as we should. This will not happen by adding on or giving a feel good message. Individuals must realize they bring nothing to the table. When Jesus said, “It is finished” on the cross in John 19:30, this is an accounting term meaning, “Paid in Full”. This is not a partial payment in which we bring some and Jesus brings the rest. People need to be rendered dead to self, bankrupt, in order to accept new life in Jesus Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” People need the word of God, and conviction as to who we really are without Him to initiate the process. Are you willing to be candid with the truth with someone today?
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: