Do we need a revival in our churches? Do we need one in our lives as church members, pastors and administrators? After all, our churches are collectives of people worshiping and working together. For me, the answer is yes.
Of course, a revival is a stirring of our collective heart for God. A refocusing of our lives to His vision and retuning our ears to hear His voice that enables us to be who and do what God wants. It's not attempting to earn salvation. Paul the Apostle makes clear in his letters that salvation by works is not possible. And the Bible is clear that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our obedience is a sign of love and a symbol of loyalty to the Almighty God of Heaven. Our greatest work is to believe in Jesus (see John 6:29) and His indwelling Spirit, Who, as we submit our lives to Him, brings us into conformity to His every wish.
What stands in the way? The usual suspect — self. In all honesty, when I look at myself, I see that my greatest struggle is to die to self. Maybe you can relate to this experience. To fulfill the basic requirement of Jesus to be a true disciple is the hardest task. To live in a state of self denial is facilitated by choice — choosing to serve self or to serve God.
"The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment" (Testimonies vol. 3, 106-107). Wow. I am grateful that the author doesn't say it is an impossibility. In fact, Jesus said in Luke 18:27, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
God promises that if we seek Him with our whole heart (self-denial) that He will revive us. But after revival, what next? We must follow as He, the Divine Potter, remolds us and leads us into a personal reformation, a personal change. Revival without reformation, or change, is incomplete. The two go together like hand in glove.
Without reformation, we may enter a round of feelings or sentimentality that stirs us up, but gets no lasting change. And God wants to change us and fit us to live with Him forever.
As I started this year of 2008, I remembered a New Year's resolution that I made while a teenager. Talking with a small group of my friends, I told them that my resolution was not to make any resolutions! At the time, I thought it was quite humorous, but also realized that like many other people, I made resolutions that I failed to keep. My way out of that dilemma was not to make any.
Fortunately, our being revived and being reformed in spirit is not our work, but God's. It is the Holy Spirit who will lead us daily to the throne of God who Himself will transform our hearts, minds, our very souls.
I want the Holy Spirit to lead us in the Pacific Union into a holy revival and reformation — changing me, changing us where we need it. What could happen in our churches as revival fires spread from heart to heart and from church to church? What will we look like during the reformation that God desires to bring? Only God knows for sure. But I want to see what He does with our willing, submitted hearts. Don't you?
