Revival and the Power of the Spirit

Why do we not experience revival? Where is the power of the Spirit? Why is the power no longer manifest as in the days of old? For quite some time now, I would dare to say even for several years I have heard, been asked, and even asked these questions myself. I hope that through this post, these questions might be answered.

To see unadulterated revival and a true moving and manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on us the believer and the church as the collective body must once again humble ourselves and return to our first love, which is the basis of this Christian life.  “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left, thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelations 2:4-5 KJV) . In the preceding verses of this chapter, we can clearly see many of our churches. I genuinely believe these churches want to see revival and a sweeping move of the power of the Holy Spirit, but they have become, so self-indulged with the; work  I  am doing, the patience  I  have, or how much  I  have labored that there has been a forsaking of the old paths. It is no longer about Christ, but about me.  “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16 KJV ). You may ask, but how can we return to our first love? Just as the old song states,  “Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry while on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.”   I must once again realize that there has to be an innate need for Christ and His forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love to make my walk in the Spirit complete. It is only through Him that revival may flow through a flawed and imperfect vessel such as me. I must give myself wholly to His will and purpose, then will the power of the Spirit be manifest and revival can come.

Revival must first start within in me before it can spread to the masses. I must operate in the power of the Holy Ghost, which is Christ revealed in me. In my brokenness, failures, imperfections, and scars if I shall humbly come to Him as David did,  “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of  ALL  his troubles” (Psalms 34:6),  then I will come to the place in which revival can be birthed and the power of the Spirit can and will be made manifest through His church. However, to experience revival means I must first be willing to sacrifice myself and leave my comfort zone. I can no longer stand on the shoreline looking at the deep waters and the current that will have control if I leave the safety of the shore, but I must step out in faith. Not my works and not my ways, but to You and You alone, oh God will I place my trust.  “ Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that  I  could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live: and there shall be a great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh” (Ezekiel 47:5,9 KJV).  Sacrifice can be time-consuming and even painful as we move outside of ourselves and into the realm of God.

In the pursuit of revival, we must avoid the zealous self wanting a proverbial quick fix.  “But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt” (Ezekiel 47:11 KJV).   A hyped, false, and unsustainable show is all that a quick fix will produce. Real revival does not have to advertise in flashing lights to call men. The power of the Holy Spirit, when given liberty, will call and draw all men creating a personal revival within each. This revival will then spread like a pandemic as they reveal to others that which God has done in and through them.

I believe that there is a stirring within the true believer’s bosom to make the bride ready because the bridegroom is coming soon. In this time of stirring, the bride is making preparations. These preparations are ushering in the removal of self to become one with the bridegroom. He saved me from the wretched man that I was, and now in getting out of myself, I can feel the start of a “wedding atmosphere.” In this atmosphere, revival can flow, and the power of the Spirit can be manifest.