REVIVAL OR REFILLING

Understanding of any matter is what ensures an establishment in that area. 

There are certain things we are permitted to be children in, but in the matter of understanding we must be men.

“Brethren be not children in understanding; howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Understanding is the ability to grasp the meaning of something and know how it works. It is the link between wisdom and knowledge. Without proper understanding, wisdom and knowledge cannot be maximized.

It was the understanding of times and seasons that set the sons of Issachar apart. (1 Chronicles 12:22)

Understanding the will of God is what will enable us truly redeem the time in these evil days. (Eph.5:14-17)

We have gotten to a point where we must walk in full understanding of God’s agenda and desire for the church.

Present happenings in the nations has to an extent woken the church from her lukewarm state. Local assemblies and people are now waking up to fast and pray to the Lord to intervene in the chaos and insecurity in our nation. The truth is that, presently the church needs a revival, but we must also understand another great truth – REVIVAL WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF GOD FOR HIS CHURCH.

The early church never had a need for revival, there is no record of a time where the church gathered to pray for revival. They never had a “WE NEED REVIVAL MENTALITY”, and till we come to this depth of understanding, we cannot hold forth till the end.

Interestingly, the word revival is not used in the whole of the New Testament. Revival is from the word revive and it means;

·         Make to live again or have a new life

·         Be brought back to life consciousness or strength

• Restore from a depressed, inactive or unused state.

Looking at these definitions, the early church and the church founded by Jesus was never in a dead, inactive or depressed state, nor was it ever meant to come to such a state, where it loses interest in God.

Now, the nation of Israel in the Old Testament or we can say the church in the Old Testament, constantly had to pray for a revival, because they were always falling away and serving other gods. They kept on going in circles, sin (turn away from God - then repent (rise up again) – after a while go back to their dead state (sin and disobey God). But this is not the New Testament order.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal us, he hath smitten and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will revive us up and we shall live in his sight.” Hosea 6:1-2

Yes, they needed a revival because they had turned from God. But after the revival, what happened? They still turned away again.

We need a revival right now, but we must not walk with that mentality. This mentality cannot raise a strong church that will usher in the second coming of our Lord.

In our churches, after a period of fasting and prayers, maybe for even 30 days, what happens next? Most people go back to their normal lifestyle and after a while, are waiting for another “revival meeting”. No! A period of intense prayers and fasting should bring us into a new order and level and the fire and lifestyle should be maintained.

God expects us to follow through with every dealing. Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. If we are walking in this abundant life, there will be no need for revival. If our focus is to increase and grow in that life there will be no death.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

If we focus on Him, it will be from glory to glory. Not from glory to shame, or from life to death then life again, no, not a circle of rising and falling. But from glory to glory. From glory to glory is a product of what we are beholding, what we are focused on. Revival only comes in, when death comes in, where there is a shift of focus.

Even in the old testament our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were on an ever increasing path after they entered into covenant. They never diminished.

Let’s see the early church more closely;

“And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

In Acts 2, this word was fulfilled. After the outpouring of the Spirit, and they were filled with power, there was a progression and increase. Peter preached a sermon that got three thousand people saved, after this, about five thousand got saved and daily men were added to the church. In the midst of persecution in Acts 4 and onward, they did not relent but kept advancing. It was a progression. Until we arise with this progression and advancement mentality, we cannot do much. They kept asking for more of God.

“And now Lord, behold their threatening and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word By stretching forth thine hand to heal that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:29-31

They had a refilling mentality. Instead of scattering, they came together to cry for more of God. From Jerusalem, the Apostles became men who made world impact. They progressed in the knowledge of God and the manifestation of the Spirit. There was never a time they said Lord, revive us again.

But the present church is behaving like the Israelites of old, up today, down tomorrow, go our own way today, return to God and then still fall away. We must change our mentality and pattern. We should walk with a REFILLING MENTALITY not a REVIVAL MENTALITY. This is applicable at all levels and in every sphere of life.

It is children that keep falling, that is why they are not given much responsibility. The church Jesus is coming for is not a baby church. It is a church that is matured and full-grown. Our pursuit and interest for God must be on the increase. We must completely embrace a refilling mentality.

As a child, inconsistencies are permitted, but one must not stay on the ground. There is even a tag that a growing responsible child will resist. God’s desire is that they will grow up and sin not. He does not talk of young men sinning and falling but of strength and knowledge of God. See 1 John 2:1, 12-14. Anything not steadily growing will ultimately fall. We must brace up and move up.

“That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive”. Eph.4:14

Having done all things to stand, we must stand therefore. For the world is waiting for us. “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Rom.8:19