God Blog
God Blog

Approaching God One Thought At A Time

As long as we are content to live without revival, we will.     
- Leonard Ravenhill

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Who Needs Revival?

Few believers feel they've already arrived when it comes to experiencing the fullness of God. In fact, the nearer we draw to the Lord, the greater our desire to see all the resource of Heaven unleashed on our weary and embattled world.

For those willing, God reveals panoramic vistas filled with throngs of humanity enslaved by temptation and sin. Other times, like increasing the magnification on a Divine microscope, the Holy Spirit pinpoints our need to grow in sanctification. Know it or not, the truth is we all desperately need revival, if not reformation.


By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

- Acts 5:11 MSG


An honest and insightful overview of the history of mankind reveals millennia of entitlement in the face of want, greed in the face of poverty and injustice in the face oppression. Add to this the temptation, sin, and violence billions of are drowning in and the need for Divine intervention becomes obvious.

Seen in this light, asking the question, "who needs revival" is like asking a colony of lepers, "who needs healing" or the blind, "who needs sight?" Perhaps a better question is why is there still such suffering on a planetary scale? Scripture suggest the primary reason is a cosmic war raging in eternity that likely began before the creation of our Universe. A war caused by the original sin of an Adversarial arch angel who incited a rebellion in Heaven that has overflowed to engulf the entire Earth.

Given such temporal and eternal realities, asking "who needs revival" could also be seen as asking occupied France during WWII, "who needs military assistance and freedom?" The answer is everyone! Sinners need revival that they might see their way to freedom from the "god of this world" who has "blinded the eyes of men" and "taken them captive to do his will." The Church needs revival to be converted and empowered to the point of obeying Christ's command to "make disciples of every nation" including formerly Christian ones!

Simply put, revival's a "win, win" scenario for everyone. Yet, if everyone needs revival then why don't we have it? The answer to this all important question may be the same as why even Christian prayer so often goes unanswered. The Lord's half brother James explains:

"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?" James 4:1-5

The bottom line of why "revival tarries" is because the unregenerate don't want it and the regenerate don't want it enough to seek it diligently. A sad yet historic fact in this regard God seems to only respond to desperate prayer, and modern Christianity is anything but desperate. As if to make the point, a couple of decades ago the Spirit repeatedly moved a well known Christian recording artist to implore the Church to wake up, see the need and rise to the challenge of our times. Here are the lyrics and Youtube links to two of many such song:


Asleep In The Light by Keith Green
(Click here for Youtube video)
 
Do you see, do you see, all the people sinking down?
Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown?
 How can you be so numb, not to care if they come,
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.

Oh Bless me Lord, bless me Lord, you know it's all I ever hear.
No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs.
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in.
Oh, can't you see it's such sin?

He brings people to your door, and you turn them away,
as you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace"
and all Heaven just weeps.
Jesus came to your door, you've left Him out on the streets.

Open up, open up, and give yourself away.
You've seen the need, you hear the cry, so how can you delay.
God's calling and you're the one, but like Jonah you run.
He's told you to speak, but you keep holding it in.
Oh, can't you see it's such sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark, that the church can't fight,
cause it's asleep in the light!
How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed?
Jesus rose from the grave, and you,
you can't even get out of bed.
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed!

How can you be so numb, not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
Don't close your eyes, don't pretend the job's done.
Come away, come away, come away with Me, My love...
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, My love...



A Billion Starving People by Keith Green
(Click here for Youtube video)
 
I find it hard to turn away, a billion starving people.
But what can one do, I've heard you say
you can't save someone's life.
I want to save a life today,
I want to get someone close with my Father.
Feed them the bread of life today,
I want to help them get stronger, help them last longer.
And give them a chance to see Jesus.

I find it hard to just ignore,
the murdered unborn children.
Yes times have changed, but still God warns,
"you shall not take a life."
I want to save a life today,
I want to keep one alive for my Father.
Who will avenge the blood!
Of weak and helpless ones someday.
Whose lives are spilled out like water, lambs in the slaughter.
And each one is handmade by Jesus.

I find it hard to turn away, a billion starving people.
A billion starving people...



Other Keith Green Music Videos


Wise Enough?

It seems we have somewhat of a quantum dilemma. On the one hand, if the Bible's inspired by God and is His authoritative word to humanity, and there's a growing mountain of compelling scientific and prophetic evidence that it is, then by definition genuine Christians are the wisest people on Earth. One the other, this raises a serious question. If the church is wise enough to believe in God, why is it and the world Christ commissioned it to save, so full of rebellion and sin?

With all the spiritual and worldly resources God's provided His people to meet the needs of humanity, why are billions suffering so terribly? Two millennia after Pentecost's outpouring, providing believers access to all the fruit and gifts of the Spirit, why is modern Christianity faltering at best? Why is living faith, prayer and Bible study on the decrease and temptation, worldliness and immorality on the increase?

Is it possible that the wisest people on the planet aren't wise enough to rise to the challenge of the glaring spiritual and physical need all around them? Could it be that our cunning Adversary and the deceitfulness of sin have conspired to deceive God's anointed into believing that seeking God and the salvation of our families, friends and neighbors are worth less than our best effort? Does the lack of due diligence on the part of Christians suggest we aren't truly convinced of such looming Biblical realities as God's justice and judgment, not to mention the eternal ramifications of Heaven and Hell?

Is it faith or presumption that inspires record setting levels of apathy and sin inside and outside of the church? Have we forgotten Christ's admonitions to the seven churches and/or church ages in the Book of Revelation? Could we, like Laodecia, be convinced we are spiritually and physically "rich, wealthy and in need of nothing" without considering and heeding Christ dire description of our actually being "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked..." Like Jesus' parable of the Five Foolish Virgins, might we have failed to notice that while we've been sleeping our oil's been running out and our lamps flickering against the encroaching darkness?

Hopefully Christians will become wise enough to admit the truth when we hear it and respond appropriately before it's too late. But many will ask how? Only an unprecedented global revival can bridge the gap between God's inexhaustible resource and the full extend of humanity's need. What is needed are brave hearts willing to storm the gates of Heaven on behalf of 6,500,000,000 souls currently at risk. We need courageous souls refusing to take "no" for an answer as they preserver in deep and serious repentance, powerful and lengthy intercession and if necessary willing to do the hard work of wrestling with God for the blessing He desires to give. The question is how many prophetic Christians will continue to ask, seek and knock until that the 21st Century experiences it's own Pentecost with a global yield of about a million upper rooms?

Jesus bemoaned the lack of vision in his day by pointing out that laborers in the harvest were few even though the fields were ripe for harvest. Let us ask God for eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to comprehend the crises and opportunity before us. Let's research and learn from great revivals of the past and present, employing their methods and strategies to entice an outpouring of God's Spirit. We should set our minds to understand the strengths and weaknesses of those experiencing prior moves of God being wise enough to chew the meat and spit out the bones.

By all means when it comes to receiving the resources need to fully engage and overcome the Enemy, let us be like the impertinent woman of whom Jesus spoke, giving God "no rest day or night." May Jesus be able to happily say of our generation as He could of his own, that "the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force..."

Truth be told, should all the gifts of the Spirit and particularly that of miraculous healing be fully restored, 21st century believers would hardly recognize themselves. The impact and cascading effect of the Kingdom of God colliding full force into modern life would be remarkable. Such spiritual synergy would have the potential to challenge and transform Churchianity in ways few have fully thought through.

Imagine for a moment having the power to routinely and miraculously heal the sick. Having witnessed illness and disease, pain and even the specter of death conquered by the Spirit of life, would we or those so touched ever be the same? Tasting and participating with “the power of the age to come” would we continue to use our blessed hands as means to personal pleasure and gain or as vehicles of the power and presence of God? Would we risk such virtue and anointing by dabbling in besetting sins or doubtful habits every again? Would such holy hands be lifted in praise and worship or continue to hang down in weakness and doubt?

And what of our eyes? Would we set our affections on things of earth or eternity? Would we continue to avert our gaze or engage the encompassing need around us? Would we spend hundreds if not thousands of hours before the TV or pouring over the word of God? What of our minds? Would we value and seek the wisdom from below or above? Would we finally comprehend Scripture’s context and content or remain mired in faulty narratives and ambiguity? What ongoing and escalating answers to prayer would clear consciences produce?

What might fully holy hearts accomplish? Imagine being filled with fullness rather than longing. Feasting on hope rather than sorrow, faith rather than fear, love rather than anger. How much sweeter the fruit of the Spirit than that of the flesh, glory than lust! How holy rather than idle our conversation. Blessing rather than cursing, instructing rather than deceiving, encouraging rather than devouring. With the arrival and arising of such faith, command might well replace complaint.

The short list above hardly does justice to the real time ramifications of heaven touching earth, and vice versa. Yet acquiring even just some of these blessings, for ourselves and others, would literally make an eternity of difference. What would such Divine gifts be worth? What degree of diligence would be justified in their pursuit? Much? More? Everything?
Let us study to show ourselves approved, learning to know God's will and diligently seek His face until it's recognized in our lives. Let us learn the art of intercession, praying without ceasing for a return of the power of God so vital in carrying out the Great Commission entrusted to the Church.


Update 2022

For my part I've spent 40 years strategically seeking and serving God with a single focus:

1. Is Modern Christianity and/or Churchianity working?
2. If not, why?

As a Charismatic minister, with better than average understanding of Biblical truth, the journey led me to the following inconvenient truths

1. 1/3 of my doctrine was accurate.
2. 1/3 of my doctrine was in error.
3. 1/3 of the Bible's most crucial points were either undervalued or missing altogether.

Furthermore, I've found this sad equation is far more often the rule rather than the exception.

With this in mind I've sent over a decade developing a topical Biblical commentary entitled, Quantum Christianity, showcased on my site GodBlog.net.

This was all long before 2020...

If there was ever an acceptable time to confuse Christianity with a pleasure cruise, rather than a Battleship, those days are past.

As Paul warned: “And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8 AMP

It should be abundantly clear things changed substantially in 2020. Nationally and globally, the world has never scene the like of even the following short list:

1. Covid-19 and variants, of questionable origin, mandates promoting and/or requiring untested and dangerous MRNA “vaccines” and “boosters” with negative efficacy and even deadly side effects revealing unprecedented control of healthcare and politics by the collusion of pharmaceutical companies and bureaucrats. To the point of threatening the removal of medical licenses of physicians prescribing safe and reliable treatments proven effective against respiratory and other illness. Example: In 2015 Ivermectin won the only Nobel Prize award for treatments of infectious diseases since six decades prior. Also report by Fortune Magazine (not right wing magazine) reveals that a simple home remedy of saline solution used for "Twice Daily Nose Flushing Can Reduce Covid Hospitalization and Death Researchers Find" by 85%. This study was conducted Fall 2020, and could have helped prevent 3/4 of Covid deaths.

  • Sample Daniel Horowitz: "Twice Daily Nose Flushing Can Reduce Covid Hospitalization and Death Researchers Find" by 85%
  • Sample Link: Steve Deace **9/15/22 Circumvent Medical Cartels with Dr. Harvey Risch** Simple straight talk from preeminent honored immunologist and cofounder of The Wellness Company TWC.health
  • Sample Link: **Ivermectin Nobel prize** In 2015, the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, in its only award for treatments of infectious diseases since six decades prior, honored the discovery of ivermectin (IVM), a multifaceted drug deployed against some of the world’s most devastating tropical diseases. Since March 2020, when IVM was first used against a new global scourge, COVID-19, more than 20 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have tracked such inpatient and outpatient treatments. Six of seven meta-analyses of IVM treatment RCTs reporting in 2021 found notable reductions in COVID-19 fatalities, with a mean 31% relative risk of mortality vs. controls. During mass IVM treatments in Peru, excess deaths fell by a mean of 74% over 30 days in its ten states with the most extensive treatments.
  • Sample Link: Daniel Horowitz: **The Risk of Cancer from Both the Shots and Perpetual Mask Wearing with Guest: Dr. Colleen Huber | 6/3/22** “Clot shots. Poisoning of Americans (World) beyond belief, as they prepare to stick babies as young ad 6 months old. HOW IS THIS NOT THE ISSUE OF OUR TIME? That it perpetuates the virus, destroys the immune system, and causes every ailment known to man… And yet to this day, it’s like it doesn’t exist. It’s a complete lockout…” “If you don’t get it you have your career destroyed. If you do get it you have your body destroyed. And then everything they plan on doing there on down with it. And everything it represents, with biomedical state, track/trace, transhumanism... Dr. Colleen Huber: Neither Safe Nor Effective: The Evidence Against the COVID Vaccines (Cancer Researcher/Get eBook).

2. Economic and institutional, social and quarantine lockdowns crippling businesses and institutions, education and families, from the elderly to children.

3. Individual mandates, social distancing and mask and "vaccine requirements restricting interaction, breathing and health.
  • Sample Link: Steve Deace: **A Clarion Call Go On The Offensive** Interview with Dr. Peter McCullough
  • Sample Link: Steve Deace: **8/24/22 The jobs/Dr. Ryan Cole**Excellent interview with Dr. Ryan Cole who has treated over 500,000 Covid patients and has impeccable credentials explaining the clot shots are extremely dangerous and genetically mutating.

4. BLM and Antifa’s spreading of widespread rioting and looting, violence and lawlessness in the name of blatantly FALSE narratives such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and systemic police brutality. Both undermining the foundations of society by “calling good evil and evil good.” All the while elevating career felons like George Floyd to sainthood status while ignoring the plague of black on black violence and murder, particularly within liberally controlled inner cities like the Obama’s Chicago.

5. Campaigns of disinformation and destruction by the emerging Iron Triangle of liberal governments, legacy media and global corporations influencing and poisoning the hearts and minds of billions.
  • Sample Link: **Crimes or Cover Up** Glen Beck Exposing The Worlds Most Dangerous Lie: History of C19 conspiracy with dates and facts.

6. Wokism’s ridiculous and dangerous plandemic of social engineering’s impact on lower and higher education, spread by the super carriers mentioned above.

7. The impact of Transgenderism’s incoherent and devilish reversal of truth and goodness on genuine science and health care, parenting and morality, teens and children.

8. Political attack on democracy, particularly in the U.S. by election fraud, boarder crossing and registration tampering.

9. Worldwide manipulation and control of all the above, as well as governments and economies, national budgets and banking, healthcare and communication, goods and services… by global elites implementing a Great Reset thus instituting a New World Order.

10. Conservatives and Christians fail to appropriately respond:
Such atrocities, and more, have been researched and documented, warned against and explained in detail by reliable professionals in related fields. For just a few examples see sample links above.



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