The Church in the first century made a powerful impact upon the world as the early Christians spread the gospel across cultural, racial and national boundaries. By the time the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, he could declare, "All over the world this gospel is producing fruit and growing…" (Colossians 1:6).
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said in our day. Although there are notable exceptions, too much of the Church is making little, if any, impact in the world. Instead, the reverse is often the case—the world is impacting the Church. Much of the Church is apathetic, complacent, materialistic and tolerant of sin. The need for repentance and revival is all too apparent.
A few weeks ago, some of the Herald of His Coming staff had the privilege of attending the "Heart-Cry For Revival" Conference. Over the next few months, we hope, as the Lord enables, to share some of the messages of the conference with you in Herald of His Coming. In this issue, beginning on page one, we include a portion of a powerful message delivered by Sammy Tippet. Lois also focuses on the conference in her article on page nine.
One of the ways in which the Lord used the conference in my life was to heighten my expectation for revival in the Church. The Lord wants to and is certainly able to move mightily in His people and through His people. The Church can, as she did in the first century and in periods of revival since that time, come to life and make an impact in the world for the Lord.
How can such a revival come about? Although the Lord is sovereign and can send revival whenever and wherever He desires, His Word points out that there are conditions that provide a fertile seedbed for revival. For example, the Apostle Peter proclaimed, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…"(Acts 3:19). This passage teaches that times of refreshing follow repentance. Likewise, the Lord promised Solomon that "…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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). One of the key words in this passage is the word "if." God will hear, forgive and heal if His people repent, pray and seek Him.
Another example of this truth is evident in the fourteenth chapter of Hosea. There, the prophet Hosea declares, "Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously…We will never again say "Our gods" to what our hands have made…’" (14:2-3). And in response, the Lord promises, "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely… I will be like the dew to Israel… He will flourish like the grain…He will blossom like a vine…" (14:4-7). In other words, healing and renewal follow a genuine turning to the Lord.
Still another example is the Lord’s message to the lukewarm church in Laodicea. He declares to them, "…So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:19-20). Again, the truth is clear: a special outpouring of the Lord’s presence comes in response to genuine repentance.
This is why the Church in the first century was so dynamic and effective. These early Christians revered the Lord (Acts 9:31) and turned whole-heartedly to Him. For example, they earnestly sought Him through prayer. The Church was birthed in an atmosphere of constant prayer (Acts 1:14) and the early believers continued to devote themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42). The apostles, even when other matters pressed against them, were careful to give their "attention to prayer…" (Acts 6:4). The Lord blessed these Christians in response to these prayers and filled the believers with the Holy Spirit and with boldness.
Another indication of how earnestly the early Christians sought the Lord is their wholehearted repentance. For example, consider the believers in Thessalonica. In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to them, he writes that their repentance was complete in that they not only turned from idols, but they also turned to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). They welcomed the gospel message and placed their faith in God (1:6,8). They turned from their sin and began living their lives in a way pleasing to the Lord (4:1). They accepted His message of brotherly love and gained a reputation for loving "all the brothers throughout Macedonia" (4:10). They accepted the word of God "not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God…" (2:13) and they stood firm in the Lord, even in the midst of suffering and persecution (2:14; 3:3-4, 8). And the result? The Lord worked powerfully in them and used them as a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia (1:7). His message rang out from them throughout Macedonia and Achaia, and their faith in God became known everywhere (1:8).
The early believers also demonstrated their earnestness in following the Lord’s ways by their willingness to deny themselves and care for the interests of others. They sold their possessions and goods and "gave to anyone as he had need" (Acts 2:45). Luke records that "…from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need" (Acts 4:34-35). The Apostle Paul commended the churches in Macedonia for their rich generosity, as they gave even beyond their ability. He also commended them because "they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will" (2 Corinthians 8:5).
Another indication of the early Christians’ wholehearted submission to the Lord was their willingness to lay aside racial and cultural prejudices in order to share the gospel with those from other backgrounds. As they crossed these boundaries, the Lord blessed them. For example, as some of the Jewish Christians began to reach out to the Greeks in Antioch, "the Lord’s hand was with them" and He gave them much success (Acts 11:21).
I am not trying to imply that the early Church was without problems. However, many of the believers were earnest in seeking the Lord. They prayed, embraced His Word, denied themselves, cared for others and spread the gospel across all lines. Because they so wholeheartedly turned to the Lord, He blessed and empowered them with His Spirit.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord wants to bless and empower the Church in our day as well. He wants to renew us and revive us. He wants the Church to come to life and impact the world with the message of the gospel; to demonstrate His character and reach out with His love; to serve as salt and light in the world; to overcome evil with good; and to serve as a vessel for a mighty outpouring of His presence.
The Lord is certainly able to accomplish these things. As a matter of fact, He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…" (Ephesians 3:20). The issue, however, is not God’s ability. Instead, the issue is our willingness, or lack thereof, to turn wholeheartedly to the Lord.
I realize that many of you are longing for revival. You have opened your heart to the Lord. You are embracing His Word and seeking Him through prayer. You have turned your back on sin and are living a godly life. You are giving generously to His work and sharing the gospel with others. Keep at it! The Lord will certainly bless such devotion. May all of us continue to seek a special outpouring of His presence!
Revive us again--fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.
Hallelujah, Thine the glory!
Hallelujah, amen!
Hallelujah, Thine the glory!
Revive us again.
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