Isaiah 5:11-12
Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink. Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts. But they do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation of His hands.
I love the picture above for this mornings posting. It's a symbol of how we try to fix our own lives. We are a broken mess, yet we keep trying to hold the pieces all together. We keep running around in our own strength, applying one more rubber band to the teapot to keep it intact. Never mind that the teapot can no longer hold water for the tea. Never mind that it's a mere "form" of what it was originally created to look like. In our minds, we think that if we can put enough rubber bands on it, no one will notice. We are in need of being healed from our rubber band addiction.
If you have followed this blog for any length of time, then you may have noticed that over the past few months, my postings have been filled with references of revival/ renewal. What do I mean by these words, revival/renewal? I mean a visitation of God's Spirit in our meetings and, more importantly, in our lives.
You may be asking, "Isn't God in every meeting?" To some degree the answer would be yes. But if you look at church history, there were seasons and times where the presence of God seem to be kicked up a notch. The word that was taught seemed to have a greater effect upon all the people. There seemed to be a greater validation of the Word of God through power encounters the people experienced. Some might say that I'm chasing after a feeling or a blessing. That I want God to come and do some "tricks" for us so that people will believe in Him. The answer to such is emphatically "NO!" I am hungry for nothing more than the presence of God.
Church is not going to save us. Sitting in a meeting makes you no more spiritual that sitting in McDonald's makes you a hamburger. We need to be touched and awakened to the reality of who God is and what He desires of us.
In the case of Vineyard ReCovery, we are a community of believers who understand the death and destruction of addiction. We know all to well what happens if we play at the church thing. People die. More than that, people die in their sin without ever knowing the truth of Jesus and the life He offered to save them out of their darkness. But at this point in time, I have been experiencing an urgency in praying for a visitation by God. I do so knowing full well that such a visitation begins with me. It begins in my own personal life.
I fear that the church has done a huge wrong to people by preaching that "all you need to do is come and be saved." Be saved and attend church and all is well. Maybe throw in some time working in the nursery, singing in the choir, or serving as an usher....but don't worry, you're saved". What happened to growing in character? What happened to being led by the Spirit? What happened to having a hunger for the presence of God that extends beyond 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday's? Please, don't get me wrong..I'm grateful for everyone who attends church, but there is so much more God wants to do for you than to mark a check off by your name because you sat in a pew for a few hours. We all need an awakening.
Revival/renewal is a time where God will uncover us all. I usually refer to it as a time when God will come into your bedroom and empty out your underwear drawer. By that, I mean that He wants to uncover attitudes, thoughts, behaviors and mindsets that we have allowed into our lives that govern us in spite of the leading of God's Holy Spirit. Bitterness.....jealousy......anger....unforgiveness.....pride.....and the list goes on and on. Do you really thing that God is pleased when we harbor such in our hearts? What about the sexual sin? Oh yeah, the church is eat up with this one. Men secretly harboring porn.......adultery.....men and women having relations outside the covering of marriage.
Maybe we need to be born again/again! You know the most wonderful part of God coming in Renewal/ Revival? He does so because of the love He has for His creation. It pains Him to see us embrace addiction and the darkness that comes from being separated from Him. Such a time as a visitation from Him, opens our eyes and hearts to the true state we are living in. It awakens us to the truth of how much we need Him. And it turns our attention to the promise that is offered to all.....eternal life in relationship with Him.
If anything I have written this morning stirs your heart....
Then please, join me in praying for a fresh visitation by God.
Pray for Revival/ Renewal....
And be willing to say, "Let it begin with me."
God on you...
mb
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