Tag Archives: The IF of revival?

Is It Too Late To Return??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #382

05 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Check Your Knees???, If not now? When?, In hell it's too late to be a witness?, Religion isn't enough?, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Responding to God's call to share the Good news.

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Is It Too Late To Return??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #382

I have to be honest with you, I’ve been trying to get this writing done since Wednesday, but it’s been a busy time with several unexpected interruptions, but here I am with a burden on my heart that we must seek God’s face and forsake the way that we are going.  We are not above God’s just and true ways, and I am praying that we will see the truth of scripture, and the error of our ways, and turn back to God.

“Woe unto them

that draw iniquity

with cords of vanity,

and sin

as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say, Let him make speed,

and hasten his work,

that we may see it:

and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel

draw nigh and come,

that we may know it!

20 Woe unto them

that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness

for light,

and light

for darkness;

that put bitter

for sweet,

and sweet

for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them

that are mighty

to drink wine,

and men of strength

to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked

for reward,

and take away the righteousness

of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble,

and the flame consumeth the chaff,

so their root shall be as rottenness,

and their blossom shall go up as dust:

because they have cast away

the law of the LORD of hosts,

and despised

the word of the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 5:18-24

The world we live in has turned against God, who like Isaiah says above in verse 19, they wanted God to convince them with miraculous signs that HE was worthy of their regard.  Jesus dealt with the religious leaders of His day with a most significant reply to their request for a sign that He was from God.  I hope that we will hear and heed the Words of Jesus Christ my Lord!  Jesus told them that the only sign that they would receive was His death burial and resurrection for sin—your sin and mine!  What sign are you looking for.  Which way are you going?   God’s way or your own?

May we hear and heed God’s answer to Solomon at the dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem and come to Jesus in humility, recognition of our sin, and a willingness to obey. Or is it too late for us to turn around?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming!  Hear with your heart as well as your ears!

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall 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.”  

Chronicles 7:12-14

God was telling Solomon that He, as His righteous character demands, would discipline His people when they sinned and rebelled, but there was hope hinged on their response to HIM!  We hear a lot about this promise of God to respond, but we often hear the emphasis on what God will do, not what HE is calling us to do.  First there is a great big IF for God’s own—the born again (in the context, those faithful servants in Israel, whom God also called with this big IF)—and we are called to some clear and concise instructions.  Let’s rehearse them:

Humble ourselves—bow before HIM–

Pray ourselves—beseech HIM on our knees–

Seek God’s face—look to GOD not man–

Turn from our wicked ways—repent, return to faithful service to our King, not the world, knowing that Jesus died to give to all who will believe eternal life.

Let’s hear what Jesus says about seeking signs for assurance!  Seek God’s Word for answers and wisdom.

“But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying,

Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them,

An evil and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given to it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights

in the whale’s belly;

so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights

in the heart of the earth.”   Matthew 12:36-40

Jesus came to die for our sin, and the greatest sign from God ever to be given, was Jesus’ resurrection; but what will you do with it!  Will you receive the Gospel that Paul was unashamed of?

“For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve…”  1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Amen and Amen!!!

What IF? A Good Question??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #266

29 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Humility, If not now? When?, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Repentance, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Revive us O God!, Salvation, Seek ye first The Kingdom of God, Turn to God's Word, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!

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What IF?  A Good Question???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #266

I am among those who are earnestly praying for revival, and I know only God can send it.  Yet God set out some parameters for restoration, forgiveness and healing.  And I’d like to share a few brief thoughts on this very thing from a verse that many know, and hopefully I can shed some light on it that we may consider the truth of where we really are and what we need to do!

IF: a supposition; uncertain possibility… a condition, requirement, or stipulation…

Keep this in mind as we consider God’s promise to Solomon.

“Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD,

and the king’s house:

and all that came into Solomon’s heart

to make in the house of the LORD,

and in his own house,

he prosperously effected.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall 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 7:11-14

I want to simply make a few comments on things that we so often miss in this passage, and may we draw near to God, willing to do the things that will lead us to real revival from God.

First and foremost is that great big “if”!  This is a term of condition—God is saying that there are some things that are expected from “my people”, those who are “called by my name”!  God isn’t talking to the world, but to those who claim His name and are truly His children.  As I so often remind us, Jesus told us in Matthew 7 that in the day of judgment there will be those who “say Lord, Lord”, yet He will tell them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  So, it seems to me that God is talking about those who have truly been born again, by responding to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—your sin and mine!

God goes on to tell us what it is that His people need to do.

Humble themselves—

to bow before God to ask Him as thePsalmist prayed, “search me O God…know my heart…. try me…see if there be any wicked way in me…lead me..”  Recognize that God is right, and I need to adjust to His way, not the other way around.

       Pray—

to truly pursue intimate, concerted, conversation with God.  Not just a check-off list, but truly an earnest and open communion with God The Father, and Jesus The Son, seeking His will for me, my family, and the culture in which I live.

       Seek MY Face—

to keep our eyes on Jesus, and desire toknow Him better through His Word—the love letter that God has written that we might be “approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth…”!  The Word of God is to be our daily bread, that as Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:12

As we take these things into our heart and mind, may we will be able, ready and willing to complete this quartet from God’s Word.

Turn from their wicked ways—

even we who are God’s Own, often fail and fall for the lies of the devil.  We live in a culture that not only fails to keep God’s commands and His Word, but is blatantly guilty of doing as Isaiah said,

“Woe unto them that call evil

good,

and good

evil;

that put darkness

for light,

 and light

for darkness;

that put bitter

for sweet,

and sweet

for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

Only when we understand and are willing to hear God’s truth and yield to His demands, will we have any hope of seeing revival.  May we truly humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our own sin!  Oh, Father, hear our prayer and bring us to repentance that we might see you revive and heal our land.

Amen and Amen!!!

The IF Of Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #244

28 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, If I be lifted up---, If not now? When?, IN HIS TIME!, IN Jesus!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Persecution, Perseverance, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Preaching truth about SIN, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Word

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The IF Of Revival???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #244

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall 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 7:12-14

God is calling us to Himself just as He answered Solomon’s prayer for His hand to move upon the people when they sinned and turned away from God (not if but when); and when they would see their sin, repent and turn back to God, His Word and His ways, Solomon asked for God’s touch to restore them, even bringing them back from captivity.  And while we don’t have the Temple, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God/Jesus, and when we stumble, turn away from the light, or fall for the lies of the Devil, we can call upon God to restore us to fellowship and intimacy with Him. But we must be willing to hear the voice of our Lord, turn from our sin, and follow the instructions that God laid out to Solomon:

first and foremost the preface=IF!

A conditional term, referring to our willingness to hear and yield to the work of God in our lives.

       — humble themselves

              Recognize our own sin as sin:

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:9-10

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”

       — pray

              Know that God is our first source and provision in all:

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5   

  “Pray without ceasing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:15-16

       — seek my face

              Turn to God for salvation, restoration, and deliverance:

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens

are higher than the earth,

so are my ways

higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

       — turn from their wicked ways

              Repentance is the IF:

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

…5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”   Luke 13:3 & 5

Jesus makes it clear that repentance is necessary for us to be born again, as well as to keep our intimate relationship with our God growing and productive.  It’s the same message that God gave to Solomon at the dedication of the temple.  Are we dedicated to keeping short accounts of sin between us and our God?  Are we committed to knowing our Lord through His Word and growing in grace by our obedience.  James gives us some other instructions about living holy and not yielding to the world’s way!

“Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God

abideth for ever…

…3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father

hath bestowed upon us,

that we should be called the sons of God:

therefore the world knoweth us not,

because it knew him not.”  1 John 2:15-17 and 3:1

Jeremiah, much like what Jesus told us to expect, may give you a perspective that you haven’t considered.  Jeremiah spoke the truth and wept over the hardness of his people; yet few believed his message, even to the point of persecuting and trying to harm him, we should expect no less.  Jesus told us the same thing.

“Be not afraid of their faces:

for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand,

and touched my mouth.

And the LORD said unto me,

Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee

over the nations

and over the kingdoms,

to root out,

and to pull down,

and to destroy,

and to throw down,

to build,

and to plant…

… 17 Thou therefore

gird up thy loins,

and arise,

and speak unto them

all that I command thee:

be not dismayed at their faces,

lest I confound thee before them.

18 For, behold,

I have made thee this day

a defenced city,

and an iron pillar,

and brasen walls

against the whole land,

against the kings of Judah,

against the princes thereof,

against the priests thereof,

and against the people of the land. 

19 And they shall fight against thee;

but they shall not prevail against thee;

for I am with thee,

saith the LORD,

to deliver thee.”  Portions of Jeremiah 1:8-19

So I’ll close with our Lord’s own words, and you decide if you will heed the “IF” or ignore the voice of our Lord speaking to your heart and mine?

“If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 16:18-21

Don’t expect God’s provision and blessing when we are not willing to consider the “IF”!  May we bring glory to God and make a difference wherever God has placed us!  Remember:

“If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall 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.”

May we be humble, praying, God-seeking, repenting children of God, that He may hear, forgive and heal our land….  Even so Lord Jesus!

Amen and Amen!!!