The trouble with us is that the passion for variety puts God on a list with other things. This is the making of a divided heart. This also gives birth to idolatry…other things taking the place of God.
The cure for idolatry is the restored vision of God.
We shall not have Revival unless we start walking this particular road and pay the price that accompanies it. It starts at the personal level and is by no means for the faint-hearted.
The way is simply described by our Lord in II Chronicles 7:14 and this is confirmed for us throughout Scripture as we seek His face for the gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Very soon on this journey we find that the way is actually ‘simply profound’ as the Lord starts searching our hearts, our motives our prayers, lifestyle and service unto Him.
It is then when, as He presses home His claims upon our lives and we persevere in our prayers seeking Him and His gracious visitation, we start paying the price for Revival. This is continuous ‘paying’ which none can speak of unless they are walking this road. In fact it becomes such an experience with our Lord, we really do not want to speak much about it.
The price? Simply ‘everything’ – a complete and continuous ‘sell-out’ to our Lord!
This is doubtless why so many do not pursue the road to Revival. There are of course other reasons, of which indifference is one.
Self complacency is the cause of many a lost blessing. We are so satisfied with our doctrines, Church, activities, missions and outreach programmes, finances, church facilities, size of our congregation (and possibly other matters too), that we find no need for Revival.
The sad truth is that there are vast discrepancies between the Church we read of in the first few chapters of Acts and the Church today! And when we consider the different Church Epistles and the standard upheld for the Church of Christ, we have to bow in shame at our gross deficiencies.
The same applies when we read the great and precious promises of our Lord and recognize that we have failed miserably in appropriating them for ourselves.
Truly, in the light of Calvary and the Great Commission, is it not sad, if not tragic to survey the lack of fruitfulness, zeal, holiness and divine fire in the Church of our Lord purchased by His precious blood?
We seem to forget the ‘Revival life’ is the divine pattern and standard for the Church. We ignore that Revival is not an ‘optional’ but an ‘imperative’ to the Church. It is not an ‘add-on’ to the Gospel, but is the true Gospel in the fulness and power of the Holy Ghost.
Indeed we have our convenient reliance on the sovereignty of God and that He will send Revival when He so decides. But we forget that in His sovereignty He laid down the standard for His Church, gave His promises as to Revival and instructed the Church to live accordingly. We do selective application of the Word we read and are content with the average rather than that which excels to the glory of our God.
The truth is that our hearts are unmoved – by the state of the Church and the world around us. It’s a world waiting in its ignorance and darkness for a Church ablaze for God. When this happens the unsaved will also say as Moses said: ‘I shall turn aside and see this great sight’.
May the Lord raise up those who will arise in prayer and prevail with ‘Jacob-like’ wrestlings until the floodgates of heaven open to pour out blessings for which there is not room enough to receive.
Yours for Revival
E Vosloo (Rev)
“…the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days…’
Daniel 10:13
There can be many reasons why revival tarries. We will not deal with them all, but list a few possible reasons:
» Lack of fervent, prevailing prayer. Isaiah 66:8
» Sin of any kind. Isaiah 59:1, 2
» Unbelief. Matthew 9:29
» Sovereignty of God. Acts 1:7
» People are not prepared. II Chronicles 29:5
» The Heavenlies are not prepared. Ephesians 6:12
In the pursuit of Revival, the seeking is in a sense more important than the obtaining. The seeking prepares us to receive Revival and to be able to retain Revival. Many times the works of God have come to an end, or have been hindered by the onslaught of the devil and his demons, and because God’s people have not been equipped / prepared to ‘handle’ these attacks, the works grinds to a halt.
When you and I set out to seek Revival we must understand that the devil moves in his reinforcements. He knows that in Revival his strongholds that he has been building in communities, will come tumbling down. He has no intention to give up such ground, hence the reinforcements and the more intense the battle becomes.
This aspect of seeking Revival is all too often neglected and the extent to which Satan has entrenched himself is under-estimated, and all too often remains undetected. As a result he is never challenged, and his strongholds are never broken down and destroyed. We are even in the danger of accepting these strongholds as normal. How scary!
God can therefore delay the sending of Revival until we arise and take our stand
in Christ’s victory and enforce it over Satan and his demons. Not only must we take the victory but we also need to take back the authority Satan has usurped, because of our failure to challenge him and pull down his strongholds.
We will find that most of the strongholds which we will need to pull down, are in the minds of the people, (II Corinthians 10:4-5) such as prejudices, religious attitudes etc.
This is a vital part of preparing for Revival, for the Lord uses this to train and equip us, as well as to defeat the devil and prepared hearts and minds of the people, to receive Revival. We will then be equipped to counter his attacks on the works of God, when Revival comes.
This I strongly believe is one of the great neglected areas in the seeking of God for Revival and could be why Revival tarries.
My prayer is that you and I will arise, put on the whole armour of God, (Ephesians 6:10-18), enter into the strongman’s house and spoil his goods (Luke 11:21-22). This we can do as we stand in the victory that Jesus secured for us on the cross, and enforce it over Satan and his demons, tearing down his strongholds and take back the authority we have relinquished to him.
Let us learn from our blessed Saviour, Who had to withstand, as the Son of Man, the devil for 40 days with prayer and fasting before He left. Let us now follow our Master’s example and arise in VICTORY.
“…and having done all, to stand” Ephesians 6:13
Please note we also now on FaceBook…. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Johannesburg-South-Africa/South-African-Association-of-Revival/136637879713039?ref=sgm
We ask for prayer for Trevor N Vosloo one of our founders who has just been, at the last moment, been invited to speak at the Conference on Revival to be held in Dallas Texas between the 19 October to the 22 October. This event has been organised by SermonIndex.net. For more details on the conference please visit http://dallasrevival.eventbrite.com/ Please pray that God will move in this conference by His Spirit and set hearts ablaze for Him. Please pray also for Trevor that God will anoint him for service there.
“And they glorified God, saying…..that God has visited His people”. (Luke 7:16)
In the past we have said much about what Revival is and what it is not. The verse above gives us a crisp summary of the true evidence of Revival namely that people around us would testify that God has visited His people. This would certainly be accompanied by fear and awe at the great and mighty work of God.
Revival is therefore none other than God working in an unhindered way in and through His people. It is firstly the Church which is brought to repentance for its own lukewarmness, fruitlessness, powerlessness and distinct lack of the glory of God. When God, so to speak, has invaded His Church in Revival, He goes forth from there to invade society, the places and practices of sin, attacking and destroying the strongholds of Satan in the community.
It is not the great preacher, large crowds or spectacular gifts bestowed on God’s people. Nor is it merely Evangelism or even Deeper Life, Sanctification or the Fulness of the Spirit. Wonderful as these may be, they are all superseded by the almighty working of the Sovereign Holy Spirit Who comes upon God’s people once again as a mighty rushing wind (which cannot be imitated) or as a glorious river of life sweeping through our Church and community, carrying before it as so much debris, the effects of sin and Satan’s work and maybe even some of our own cherished but unscriptural preconceived thoughts or pet doctrines.
Revival is not an objective in itself. This is a critical consideration. If it should be, we would be focused on an experience but the real objective is and will always and only be the glory of our Lord and a reward on Calvary. Therefore Revival is a means by which these can be obtained and not an ultimate objective in itself.
We can discount any thought of experiencing Revival unless we pursue it daily and therefore daily arrange our personal lives as well as our Christian activities in terms of this strategy. The road to Revival is one which is not for the faint-hearted and first we embark on it we cannot and dare not give up until we have received Revival.
This means that we must be absolutely persuaded that it is not an option but an imperative. This springs from a knowledge of our own weakness and the impotence of the Church at large. No wonder the thought is not a very popular one. Furthermore we have to grasp that Revival is not an add-on to the Gospel but in truth it is the Gospel in its glorious fullness and majestic power.
The Bible is saturated with the thought, message, promise and in fact the demand for Revival. It is an amazing thing that most preachers must go to the Old Testament for material on Revival whereas the entire New Testament breathes Revival. The standard God sets for His Church, the commands He gives us and the promises He holds out to us all require the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for their fulfillment or compliance.
God has no other way to deal with the sinner than through Calvary and He has made no exception for His Church. All of God’s people must walk that road. Where Calvary is honoured, there the Spirit works and there shall be no Revival without Calvary having its rightful place in our personal lives and in our ministry.
“I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT …”
(Genesis 32:26)
1) Upon reading all of Scripture and particularly different Church Epistles we must come to the conclusion that God has glorious plans for His Church to be executed, realized in practice in this life. If we consider the demands placed upon God’s people and therefore upon the Church, we must agree that these are so high they can only be honoured in circumstances of Revival. The standard held out for His Church is a Revival standard and the exceeding great and precious promises really pre-suppose Revival conditions for their practical realization in this life.
2) God’s entire Word is replete with the most glorious
3) To prevail in Revival praying means that we shall refuse to limit the rich provisions made in Christ crucified. We are complete in Him and therefore in Him we are also filled with the Godhead and reach full spiritual maturity. (Colossians 2:10). The rich blessings of the Lord to be poured out upon us have all been purchased on the cross of Calvary and if we commence to limit His promises, we also limit the ‘purchasing power’ of Calvary’s Sacrifice and the blessed blood with which we have been redeemed. Christ was made a curse for us so that the blessing of Abraham may come upon us and that we may receive the gift of the Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:13, 14). The work on Calvary was without a doubt the greatest work that God had ever done. Shall we limit this great work by our lack of faith and therefore lack of prayer?
4) In the light of what we have already said we should refuse to continue in this life and particularly in the service of our Lord without experiencing the Revival so dearly purchased, divinely designed and amply described in the Word of God. It is time that we, like Moses plead with the Lord not to take us any further unless the full manifestation of His presence goes with us, for Revival is certainly the glorious manifestation of God amongst His people. Or are we still content with our own programs, preachers, limited moments of success and preconceived ideas as to the absolute necessity as well as the glorious possibility of Revival?
6) In the process I shall humbly and consistently refuse any hindrance in my life that would stand between me, my Church and Revival. To pray for Revival means to be hard on myself in absolute honesty and humble obedience before the Lord. No sin, untoward practice or relationship and no doubt or prayerlessness can be tolerated. There is a wholeheartedness that is required which will be evidenced particularly in the way I conduct my own life in the light of the Word and demands of the Lord.
7) If the above are fully applicable to me and in my daily living then I can come to the point where I humbly but tenaciously refuse to let go of my Lord. I would refuse as desperately as Jacob did when he was clinging to Him over at the Brook Jabbok. This is a case of prevailing with God and therefore refusing to turn away from the Throne of Grace without having received Revival. God did not say to us: ‘Seek ye Me in vain’ (Isaiah 45:19) but in stead we see the liberal and repeated promises of the Lord Jesus Christ that whatsoever we ask in His Name He will give. True Revival praying is refusing to be denied by God. This means coming with boldness to the Throne of Grace as we are invited to do in Hebrews 4:16.
It is distinctly refusing to let Satan have his way in my
9) It is refusing to have God’s work destroyed by the devil but rather ensuring that we destroy the works of the devil. The Lord Jesus Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8) and in John 20:21 Jesus said that ‘as the Father sent Me so send I you’. We are His representatives and must enter into the fullness of the victory obtained by Christ and in the process achieve the purpose for which He came into the world. Therefore there is given to us the divine authority, not only to bind the devil but to destroy his works, works that are particularly entrenched in the minds of people. Our work is to destroy the strongholds of the devil in the imaginations and thoughts of people and bringing these unto subjection and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. See II Corinthians 10:4, 5 and compare with this also Jeremiah 1:10.
Finally let us strengthen ourselves as we consider James 5:16 etc, remembering that Elijah was just an ordinary man but by prayer based on the Word of God he both closed and opened heaven. Heavens are already closed relative to divine Revival blessings upon us and it is for us to prevail in prayer and open heavens so that the heaven can give its rain and ‘the earth bring forth its fruit’
Yours for revival,
Eddie Vosloo
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:1-2
The word “Revival” over the past few years has become a real buzz word in the Christian community. When we started to seek revival in 1997 we sounded like a lone voice in the wilderness. Today revival seems to be on many peoples lips. The upside is that many more people today are aware of revival than ever before. There is however, a downside. Many who are using this term are often using it incorrectly and all too often for personal gain. As a result it has produced some misconceptions about revival. These misconceptions about revival cause much confusion and can result in many missing the blessing altogether.
We wish in this newsletter to highlight 3 such misconceptions and give a biblical answer to them. We do believe many are caught up in these out of ignorance, so this is not an attack on anybody or organization but merely an attempt to bring clarity.
The first misconception is that revival will happen somewhere out there in the church of God at large. People are encouraged to confess the sins of the church at large (it has it’s place) and cry for God to revive His Church at large. This is good and necessary, however, the Word of God teaches us to take responsibility for the local Church we part of. Consider Jesus letters to the 7 Churches in Revelation. He never instructed them to take responsibility for the Church at large in Asia but rather for their own local church. We can do something about our own Church. Jesus as revealed in those Scriptures in Revelation, is seen as the one who walks among the candle sticks, by implication looking at churches individually rather than corporately. While we fail to deal with that which is in our own church and concentrate on the church at large, are we not hypocrites? Are we not missing out on that which God is wanting to do in our own church?
Will you not today start taking responsibility before God for your own Church? Will you not today humble yourself and cry before God for the state of your church? Go through each department in the church, pray through the church membership role, confess and plead for God to pour out His Spirit there. Dare ask and trust God to revive your Church. Once He has done that then we can then pray for other churches.
The second misconception about revival which abounds is as a result of the first misconception already dealt with. That is simply that all Churches must unite so that we might have revival. They say we must be of one accord. We are for unity among churches but that is not the condition for revival. Many hold this view because revival must happen out there somewhere and have not realized it must start in their own church. It is interesting to note that those who call for unity are often those who have compromised on holiness and on truth and want you to forget those differences. The Word of God is clear: It tells us in Timothy to withdraw ourselves from those who preach another Gospel, not unite. Some even say when they gather together it is necessary for all to pray the same prayer at the same time as a sign of unity. That borders on the occult and is in danger of becoming a mantra. It is also important to note those who push for unity often also have another agenda, that of promoting their own ministry. Unity among churches is a by- product of revival not a requirement for revival. Those in the upper room, seeking the outpouring of the Spirit as promised by the Lord, their hearts were united. This unity was not orchestrated by man but by the Spirit of God. Yes unity among those who have set their hearts on revival and are praying together for it, is a necessity. Disunity implies sin and sin hinders prayer.
Will you not find some-one in your church today who you can unite with you in prayer for revival in your own local church?
The 3rd misconception we want to touch on is that revival is seen as an add-on. It is seen as a nice-to-have but not as an imperative. Many feel that they have managed without revival and can by hook or crook still get by without it. AW Tozer in one of his books states that if the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from churches 95% of all its activities would continue unaffected. We have all the methods, programs and schedules to continue but not the results that count.
The church is designed for it, Christ promised it, the great commission necessitates it and the cross purchased it. Revival is part and parcel of our very salvation. It is the Gospel in full operation. It is the normal Christian life. We get so used to, and comfortable with, abnormal Christian life that we see our own state as normal and Revival as the abnormal state. Many as a result plug it into the Church schedule somewhere. If, as we believe, that revival is purchased for us on the cross, then it is our birthright. Then revival is legally ours in Christ. Then all we need to do is remove all that hinders that which is legally ours from becoming experientially ours. What hinders ? Unbelief, unbelief and again we say unbelief- hence disobedience.
When one sees revival as an imperative and as an integral part of your very salvation, then as you set your heart on finding it, you are well on your way to experiencing revival.
Consider the following:
The Cross – Demands Revival
Charles Finney rightly said that a Christian is more guilty if he or she is not revived than a sinner is for not being saved. The Christian has the light. Now: Walk in it!
May God quicken our hearts and open our understanding.
Yours for revival,
Trevor N Vosloo
IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND’
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Every Christian must, and does, make a very life defining choice when he/she decide how they see God: Whether they see Him as a MEANS or as an END. The answer to this question will determine one’s conduct, worship, reverence and devotional life. The most revealing and defining thing about a Christian is our idea of God, because we live our lives as we believe God to be.
Revival starts when God’s people start to seek HIM for who He is. Yes, often the pursuit of revival begins with the need for revival, (the healing of our land), but while it remains need orientated we still see God as a MEANS and not as the END. The need must and aught to turn to a want, a heart desire for GOD HIMSELF and not for what He can do for me. For after all is He not worth it? “ Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing.” (Rev.5:12) For is it not also written that He is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (END)? He is the Door, the Way, the END, He is everything. When we get to this place in our pursuit of revival, we begin to understand what the Psalmist said, that when God revives His people, they will again rejoice in HIM (END). In revival we see the glory of God and see that He is Worthy and no longer will be considered a MEANS to man’s self centeredness.
Will you not with me humble yourself anew before God, repent and confess how we have sought Him and considered Him as a MEANS to our own selfish desires. Then ask God, trusting Him, to place within us a true desire and hunger for Him. Trust Him to sanctify this desire and to intensify it.
Revival God’s Ordained Way (Method)
Today many Churches and mission groups seek better and different kinds of methods to obtain Church Growth, do evangelism more effectively, Church planting and the like. All such doubtless are honestly wanting to fulfill Gods Great Commission and glorify God. Unfortunately, all too often such methods are so humanistic, with one such method even suggesting that you should interview sinners and design Church around their desires! God in His Word has laid down the method, which He has not withdrawn or changed His mind about over all the ages. It is the method of revival.
‘IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND’
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Maybe we would not all agree fully with Charles Finney about such a harsh statement that he made. However, if one is honest for a moment, we need to agree it does contain some powerful elements of truth. We need to just take a look at our unsaved family members and friends to see how they rebel against the grace of God, and we will see what Charles Finney was getting at.
I recently returned from a short missionary trip to Malawi. During that time we saw hundreds respond to the Gospel invitation. Yet, not being ungrateful or without praise to God, I felt disturbed about those responding, worrying how many were genuine responses, and how many would remain in the Lord.
It is in light of these two factors that I started asking questions and seeking the Lord for answers. The Lord immediately started to answer and show me some very critical things which have a direct impact on revival which I wish to share with you.
Part of what happens in the genuine pursuit of revival, as well as when the Lord in response pours out His Holy Spirit in revival, is that God takes us back to His Word and to our own doctrine (understanding of it). The Holy Spirit sanctifies our doctrinal understandings, renews and revives forgotten or neglected doctrine which now suddenly becomes alive, real and again relevant. In our pursuit of Revival at Gospel Outreach we have seen God do this for us again and again. The result has been that we have found our spirits renewed our ministry more effective and we found that we started walking where the Saints of old had trodden.
Others, as I too was instructed to do but could not, play certain triggers in evangelism. The triggers of guilt, loneliness, anxiety and regrets, thereby presenting Jesus as the one to meet your emotional needs. Hence many respond to this new and “improved” Gospel package but have never got to the point of brokenness over their own lost state, hence no godly sorrow, no repentance. This all because they do not know the Bad News that they are sinners, condemned already, unclean abiding under the wrath of a holy and righteous God, and that their righteousness is as filthy rags. As a result these new “Christians” cannot live the victorious Christian life and feel it is only possible if they try harder. So they try dig deeper. They have not seen their own insufficiency. As a result they do not see the full sufficiency of Jesus but continue in the flesh and in defeat.
It is interesting to note that John the Baptist, he who prepared the way for the Lord, never came preaching peace, joy, happiness, blessing and health if you make room for Jesus. He came preaching repentance and the need to forsake sin and flee the wrath of God so that there could be room for Jesus and result of that is peace and joy. We have it back to front.
In light of the above I would humbly suggest that we aught to humble ourselves afresh under the mighty hand of God and take a new look at the Bad News. See again our sad state outside of Jesus, our own insufficiency, realize anew that our best deeds are as filthy rags before the Lord and that without Him we can do nothing. This would lead us to cast ourselves once more upon the Lord and His full sufficiency. This is the humbling of ourselves before the Lord which His Word instructs us to do. We become broken over our own state before the Lord. When I see myself as a sinner condemned, unclean, Jesus will never look more beautiful than at that moment.
Prayer: Lord open my eyes that I may see myself as Thou seest and knowest me to be and remove all false ideas and concepts which I have about myself.
Brokenness is only obtained by pursuit.