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
