Preparing for Revival

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We are praying for an outpouring of God’s Spirit, and also for God to bring forth gifts and ministries in each member of our assembling. We believe God has heard us. There are some steps we have to take to prepare ourselves for works of unprecedented power as they take place in our midst.

(1/30/2005) If God is to use us in a mighty way, we are going to have to learn not to touch the glory, the girls, or the money. We must never point to ourselves or seek personal aggrandizement. We must be totally pure in the realm of morality. We must not covet material wealth. Any one of these three pitfalls can make our testimony worthless.

We always must look to Jesus Christ to take the initiative. We are to do only what He directs us to do, without exception. No matter how great are the needs around us, in the church and in the world, the Lord Jesus must lead the way.

The Holy Spirit gives the gifts and ministries. The Lord Jesus always is to direct their use. It is God the Father who empowers that which Jesus directs.

We are to petition the Lord ceaselessly for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and for ourselves that we may be led into the use of our gifts and ministries.

Our general calling is as a saint, a holy one. Once we are called to be a saint we have no other calling, although we may work diligently at some secular occupation.

Our special calling concerns gifts and ministries. Gifts and ministries are not an interesting appendage we add to our busy church life. Our gifts and ministries define our role in the Body of Christ, the Body of the Christ. We are to look constantly to Christ for the use of our gifts.

Gifts are not given to a local body of believers but to the universal Body of Christ in Heaven and on the earth. They operate everywhere we are. But we have to be walking with Jesus to know where and when to put to work what God has given us.

The Body of Christ cannot come to full maturity apart from the functioning of every part of the Body.

Gifts range from the visible, spectacular working of miracles to the quiet giving of encouragement. None is more highly esteemed than the other in the sight of God. God is interested in our faithfulness, not how visible or dramatic our ministry may be.

We absolutely must assign our gifts, no matter how seemingly insignificant, the highest priority in our thinking and the organizing of our activities. We must covet earnestly what we esteem to be the best gift for us at this time. Prayer will help us with this decision.

The day of the idolized minister is over. We are to be prepared to use our gifts only as the Lord Jesus directs, regardless of any pressure put on us. Then we are to retire into anonymity until the next occasion, as the Lord leads.

All that God has given us in this present life is a talent to be used in the building of the Kingdom of God. If we are industrious with what God has given us, whether a spiritual enablement, or our family, or wealth, or health and strength, God will add to us opportunities for service.

But if we are not diligent in the use of what God has given us, do not employ what we have in Christ’s service, seeking with all our heart to build the Kingdom of God, then our talents shall be removed from us and given to another. We shall be placed in spiritual darkness. This can take place even in the present life.

What a marvellous day we live in. It is the time of the harvest rain. Unprecedented works of power shall take place. The worldwide witness of the coming of the Kingdom of God shall be given. The thrones of glory await those who care enough to seek the Lord.

Don’t miss your one chance in all of eternity to justify the Father’s wisdom in directing the Lord Jesus to purchase you with His blood, to pay the awful price that you might have eternal life.