February 18, 2016 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Need I Say More Series #1

Revival is on the mind of many Christians. In fact, there is a series of events coming to Los Angeles that focuses on the regeneration of the Azusa Street Revival of the early 20th Century. I have read about many revivals and no two are the same, but they indeed have common ingredients for their initial start-up and continuance.

I am sure no such revival can come again to L.A. like the Azusa Street Revival. Why, because the constituency organizing the events need to exhibit the following attributes. Without certain characteristics revival cannot take place. Furthermore, pride is something that historically every revival’s leadership did not have. That is why today’s religious leadership cannot produce a revival. Their pride will get in the way of the Holy Spirit unless they acquire or avoid the following qualities.

1. Foolishness—Not only did Jesus but also many scriptures state that we need to be ‘fools for Christ’ i.e. what the world considers foolish God considers His will. Too often today, people rather be acceptable in the preaching of the Gospel—they want to be measured by the world’s standards not God’s.

2. Criticism—If one has thin skin and works to avoid criticism on a personal and scholarly level then you will never attain to the best God has to offer. The media is not our friend and neither is the religious elite—so often they are the enemies of Christ.

3. Reputation—So many leaders are doing what the world does on marketing and branding themselves. Jesus on the other hand “did not make himself of any reputation” the Bible says. He did not want people to look to Him but to God and He was the Son of God. If He did this what should we be doing?

4. Money—Money can get in the way of any revival. Once you look to money to do more and/or the need for money to do it, then the end of the revival will soon be coming. Money only gets in the way of God’s presence.

5. New patterns—One need not look to resurrect the past in order to have a future. Every revival is unique and different. Whatever God did in the past He will of course build upon that, but what He now wills to do is to be new with an unbelievable sense of wonder. Quit looking over one’s shoulder!

6. Hunger—How bad do you want a revival of God’s presence, miracles, healings and deliverance. Without a hunger for God that consumes everything one does, revival will never take place.

7. Unity—This is the most critical ingredient for a revival. Unity must take place and it does not depend on numbers or quantity. A few in unity will do more that many people agreeing on a particular subject or behavior. Without unity, ‘being one in one place’ revival will not begin.

8. Humility—The error: “I am important—see what I have done.” God always used no-bodies to begin a revival. Revivals never began with leaders or important people. God is looking to receive all the glory. He does not need you or me; He stands alone and is all-powerful. It is the weak and non-important people God uses—not the somebodies!

9. Resistant—If God sends a revival He needs to know that we will with-stand the urges to conform to many of the norms that now exist within the Christian church. Want revival, we must embrace the change when it comes—it is just that simple.

10. Persecution—No revival existed without persecution at some level or hatred toward God. If you cannot or do not want persecution then you will never be part of any great revival or the miraculous that only God gives.

Come Lord Jesus, come!

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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