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Revivals are Controversial
The following is taken from Global Revival: Worldwide Outpourings – Forty-Three Visitations of the Holy Spirit and is used by permission. Revivals can be highly controversial. With many saying, “It’s from God” and some believing it’s of the devil! While others will say, “It’s merely mass hysteria.” In Jesus’ day there was much murmuring among the people concerning Himself. Some said, “He is good” others said, “No, on the contrary He deceives the people” (John 7:12). Even Jesus’ own people thought He was “out of His mind” (Mark 3:21). Now, if they said that about Jesus and His ministry, how much more controversial will revivals, awakenings and those that are involved appear? In any revival there will be physical phenomena, bodily movements as the Holy Spirit touches a person in convicting power as well as other supernatural events which affect a person bodily. The devil will try to influence people, Christian and non-Christians as he is an infiltrator and imitator, and the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light inevitably clash. It is wrong to say that everything you see in revival is from God, because it’s not, there will always be opportunists and exhibitionists. The issue is not to focus on the excesses, but to focus on God and to give glory to Him for the great things He has done and is doing. The Pharisees looked for the negative, even when the miraculous was performed before their eyes. They watched Jesus closely to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, just so that they might accuse Him! (Mark 3:1-5). This was not a sign of maturity but of immaturity. They went with the wrong attitude and were so blinded in the process that they were unable to see the wood from the trees. Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues it Provokes covers this in detail so that we can intelligently cooperate with the Holy Spirit during times of revivals and awakenings and not reject His workings due to religious affections, physical phenomena or manifestations and that we may not be caught unaware of the tactics of the enemy. It is also wrong to believe everything negative you are told or read about another (especially during times of revival), because even the apostle Paul was slanderously reported as saying, “Let us do evil that good may come” (Romans 3:8). Yet we all know that after his dramatic conversion he led a morally upright life and strived to keep a clear conscience before God and man. Used by permission from Global Revival: Worldwide Outpourings – Forty-Three Visitations of the Holy Spirit. ‘If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14). Thus says the Lord: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring” (Isaiah 44:3). Recommended Books: The Great Commission Bible and History Related Links: |
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