But let us take heart, for
Paul strove to bring the Corinthians up to the
spiritual standard, and the Lord counseled the
Laodiceans to buy of Him "gold tried in the
fire…and white raiment…and to anoint eyes with
eye-salve" that she might see (Rev.
3:18). So let no one despair of
revival in Christian congregations.
Be
Obedient.
Possibility of revival must
be changed into probability and certainty by
obedience. It is by faith, which
obeys God...that we link on to God's
willingness. Revival, like
salvation, is always available to all who obey
God. By repentance and faith, that
works by love, these blessings are certain of
manifestation.
Revivals in our churches
are all of grace, but like salvation, these must
be received. And obedience of faith
is the hand that received the
blessing. As a sinner, by faith,
must link on to the promises of God for
salvation, so the Lord's people must by faith
(which works by love) obey God by stepping out
upon His promises.
Opposition
Likely
The world, the flesh, and
the devil will oppose revival. As
Canaanites resisted Israel's entrance into the
Promised Land, so Satan and his emissaries will
resist efforts to promote revival.
When Satan roars and threatens a revolution when
a revival has been prayed and worked for and
expected, many who go by what they see and hear,
will cry "Halt!"
The revivals under Finney
often came after hostile
demonstrations. The flesh will fight
against execution; the world against conviction,
and many fainthearted ones will melt away
possibly like Gideon's soldiers. But
God will see through to victory any minister
whose faith remains. "This is the
victory that overcomes the world,
even our faith" (1 John
5:4).
We have need
of patience, after we have done the will of God,
that we may inherit the promise.
Remember Elijah's flight after his
obedience...and be warned against Satan and his
bag of tricks. Having obeyed God, we
must stand in full armor and give ourselves to
all prayer in the conflict. Had
Luther been less determined to go before the
Diet at Worms we would have heard no more about
him. The danger of fainting in a day
of adversity is great, and proves faith is
small.
