Here is the question you've probably asked yourself in regard to revival: How do I know it's happening?
J.I. Packer states that four things have characterized spiritual renewal in the Bible and throughout church history. Here is what he says: 1. God comes down. 2. God's Word comes home. 3. God's purity comes through. 4. God's people come alive. Pastor Colin Smith said this in regard to Packer's insight: "As you read Acts chapter 2 — starting with verse 1 — this is exactly the pattern you find. God comes down in verses 1-13. He rushes down in the person of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word comes home in verses 14-37a. Peter preaches Joel 2, Psalm 16, and Psalm 110 to the people, and his sermon cuts them to the heart. God’s purity comes through in verses 37b to 41. They realize how holy God is and how sinful they are, especially for crucifying God’s Son. Finally, God’s people come alive in verses 42-47. Did you catch that? God’s people come alive in verses 42-47. In other words, what we’re witnessing in verses 42-47 is a church that has come alive! That’s why they look like they do. Verses 42-47 are what an alive church looks like! Dead churches don’t do any of the activities mentioned in verses 42-47; you have to come alive first." Friends, let us pray and seek God that we may experience Him more and more in our lives.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About MeI am a Husband to Clarissa, Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, reader of many books, and tweeter at @brad_merchant. Archives
July 2016
|