The one thing that stands in the way of Revival is sin.
Revivals come from the Holy Spirit. Sin grieves the Holy
Spirit. Sin quenches the Holy Spirit. Sin resists
the Holy Spirit.
Revivals start when people repent and confess
their sins. Judgment must begin in the House of God. Be
faithful in small matters. If you are not faithful in financial
matters, God will not entrust you with Spiritual matters.
If we do not experience a genuine Revival from the
Holy Spirit, then a satanic Revival will fill the vacuum.
What a disgrace when a Christian is despondent,
whining and complaining! God wants to come down in Revival much more
than we want Him to come down.
John the Baptist was described by our Lord Jesus
as the greatest man born of woman. John the Baptist was “A
voice of one, calling in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for Him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain
and hill made low. The crooked road shall become straight, the rough
places smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.”
Luke 3:4-6
We must make a highway of Holiness for the Glory
of God. We must prepare the way for the Lord. Make
straight paths for Him. Fill in the valleys. Some
Christians are just up and down, up and down. No stability.
We need to fill in those low places and we need to flatten the mountains.
All those high and proud things in our lives must be brought low.
You must learn to bend before God or He will break you.
The angels sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy is
the Lord.” Not: Love, Love, Love! God
is Holy. His Spirit is the Holy Spirit. We need to
fear God. We need to hate the world.
Be filled with the Triune God so that you won’t
be filled with the world.
We need Revival badly, but we will only get it God’s
way.
Many of our theological seminaries teach
academics, but don’t care how their students live. We will be
doomed and damned forever if we swallow the lie that pastors can be produced from
theological seminaries that teach academic head knowledge, but without changing the lives
of their students. If we do not produce holy pastors then the
congregations are doomed. We desperately need Revival, but we will only
get it God’s way.
The Revival at KwaSizabantu began with Bible study
where we determined to take God’s Word at face value, and accept what it teaches
– without argument, without seeking to justify ourselves. We
started with the Book of Acts.
When you want Revival, study those verses in the
Bible you don’t like. Don’t just go back over your favourite
verses. Be willing to sacrifice. God’s thoughts
are not our thoughts. God’s ways are not our ways.
God’s Word must not be just on our lips, but
God’s Words must revolutionize and Reform every aspect of our lives.
When I recognised that I was the greatest sinner
of our group, then the Revival began.
If you are still trying to please man, then you
cannot be a servant of God.
The Apostle John wrote: “He
who sins is of the devil. Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the
devil.”
The Apostle Peter could say: “Silver and Gold
have I none, but such as I have I give unto you.” Today the church
can no longer say that. We have lots of silver and gold, but now we
cannot say: “Rise up and walk!”
The Revival in our mission began after we had
cleared the dung out of the cowshed, then the Lord began to clear the dung out of our own
hearts. Get rid of the dung in your life. Personal
Revival starts with you. Don’t blame your husband or wife!
Put God first. Don’t make an idol out of your
children. Obey God’s Word. Don’t be too
proud to bow before God or you will go to hell with your pride!
Pride is the greatest obstacle to Revival.
God expects obedience to His Word. Humble yourself before
God. Die to self. Lose your life for Christ’s
sake and you will find it.
(The above is just a summary of Rev. Erlo Stegen’s
100 minute presentation at the Reformation and Revival Conference. For
the full message on audio CD, contact The Reformation Society, P O BOX 74, Newlands, 7725,
Cape Town, South Africa. Email: info@reformationSA.org
or visit www.ReformationSA.org)
Sent
by:Dr. Peter Hammond, Frontline Fellowship
P
O Box 74
Newlands
7725
Cape
Town
South
Africa
Tel:
021 689-4480
admin@frontline.org.za
www.frontline.org.za
