CONDITIONS FOR REVIVAL ~ Part (II)

[Apost.Prophetic Cassandra Lai]

CONDITIONS FOR REVIVAL ~ Part (II)

                 The Ark was returned to the keeping of Kirjath-jearim. "And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearin, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord"  (1 Samuel 7:2 ).

          The fact that it seemed a long time to wait, and the fact that all the people of God lamented after the Lord, is one of the negative encouragements. They had come to the end of themselves : they were in despair.

          Look around our own country today. Christians know well that many years have passed since any great demonstration of the power of God. The time is long, and the people are lamenting.

          I say again, it is encouraging. The fact that little prayer groups of saints are lamenting after better things and praying in the agony of despair for revival is surely an encouragement. The tide has turned.

         Satan never persuades folks to pray for a revival. The prayer itself is born in the will of God. God wants to revive us. And, knowing His will, despairing of ourselves, we are thrown back upon God. "  O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years ..... " (Habakkuk 3:2).

         It is at that stage we come across the intervention of God by the mouth of His servant. It seems as if God said : " I want to give you revival even more than you desire to have it; but you must pay a price. " So it is with us. " And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 7:3).

        "If ...... "  God's blessing is conditional upon our wholehearted desire. " If you really want revival, here are My conditions."

         "Put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you." Today we no longer worship idols of wood and stone, but just as much as ever before, we sin against the Lord by enshrining in our hearts idols of our own making. Strange gods - the gods of the outside world. no matter what it may be. If we fall away from wholehearted service to God, we generally put something else there. Who or what is the usurper in your heart ? Sin, greed, anything ? Any strange god has got to go.

The dearest idol I have known,

      Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,

 And worship only Thee.

             Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth is called the "Abomination of the Zidonians." Its worship was the worship fo the flesh. God's people must get rid of all that taint.

                                          The Church must First Repent by J.Edwin Orr.

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Conditions For Revival ~ Part (i) & (ii)