Centuries ago, the Christian church closed the canon of its
Bible with the book of Revelation and its last verse plea – “Come,
Lord Jesus.”
Centuries later, the plea remains a Christian heartcry –
and the only hope for a modern church and world in desperate need of spiritual
awakening and revival.
Centuries ago, the Christian church closed the canon of its
Bible with the book of Revelation and its last verse plea – “Come,
Lord Jesus.”
Centuries later, the plea remains a Christian heartcry –
and the only hope for a modern church and world in desperate need of spiritual
awakening and revival.
“We live in a time when there is only one hope –
and that is revival among the people of God,” international evangelist
and author Sammy Tippit summarized during last weeks Louisiana Baptist
Evangelism Conference.
However, Tippit was not the only speaker who cited the need
for revival or spoke of the urgency of repentance for modern Christians. That
theme was woven throughout the two-day meeting at Louisiana College in Pineville.
This years conference attracted persons from across the
state, with more than 1,000 people attending each session. In addition, an estimated
2,100 people attended the conferences claosing session, which featured
a 350-voice presentation of “Experiencing God: The Musical.”
At every turn, participants were challenged with the need for
revival – in their lives, churches and world.
The emphasis began the night before the conference in five
concerts of prayer held around the state.
In the rally at Louisiana College, Henry Blackaby emphasized
that revival does not always come in large numbers. Many times, it arrives in
the quiet wind of the spirit of God, said Blackaby, author of the “Experiencing
God” discipleship materials and president of Henry Blackaby Ministries.
“The moment you see the spirit of God change someone,
theres revival, because Gods presence is there,” he said.
Blackaby offered illustrations from his own experiences, which
includes a 1988 assignment to guide Southern Baptists in prayer, revival and
spiritual awakening.
“I still remember that Tuesday night at Howard Payne University
in Brownwood (Texas) when two men testified that they had sinned against God
and that he had convicted them of their sin,” he said. “They tried
for two days to repent privately of their sin but had to do it publicly. I told
them they had to ask for mercy and then asked if there were anymore who needed
to repent.”
From that moment, there was an explosion of students crying
out for forgiveness, Blackaby related. In turn, that set in motion an incredible
movement of God that lasted the entire night throughout the campus, he added.
Though the movement across the campus started quietly with
just two campus leaders admitting their sin, it blossomed into an enormous revival,
Blackaby said. “Most of the movements Ive seen have started quietly,”
he said.
Blackaby also reminded persons that John 3 says the spirit
of God goes as it wills. “You cant bring the Spirit of God yourself,”
he said. “He goes where he wants to.
“(And) There is no limit to what God can do.”
However, while one cannot determine when God will move, one
thing cannot be denied, Blackaby said during a message at the subsequent state
Evangelism Conference.
“You cannot determine the moment you will encounter him,
but when you do, you will know its him, …” Blackaby said. “And
when the Lord of the universe encounters you, you better deal with him and deal
with him immediately.”
Blackaby reminded persons that revival always begins with a
conviction of sin, with God confronting people with their sin. “There is
no such thing as a revival without tears of conviction and sorrow,” he
stressed.
However, the Bible warns that not all people who claim to have
encountered God really have done so, Blackaby reminded persons. The key is whether
they have been transformed, he said. “If you ever behold God, you will
be transformed into his image. … The evidence is the transformation that happens
in your life. …
“Everytime I go into the presence of God, there ought
to be a radical change in my life in the presence of others.”
Unfortunately, many people do not spend enought time in the
presence of God to be transformed, Blackaby said.
If they would do so, if they would let God show them what the
love of the Lord is about, if they would let God turn their hearts to kindness
for one another, revival would fall, he said.
“I believe revival is just an encounter away, just one
encounter, …” Blackaby said, stressing the need for persons to allow
God to begin the work of transformation in their lives. “When heaven touches
any person, theyre never the same again. So, are you being transformed
into his likeness?
“And if not, why not?”
In the final session of the conference, Blackaby once more
reminded persons that God is at work in their lives.
Speaking as the audience prepared to hear “Experiencing
God: The Musical,” Blackaby explained to persons who really would be moving
them during the presentation.
“The musical tugs at your heart – but its God
that is tugging at your heart and using the musical to do that.”
As a final exhortation, Blackaby focued on the power of the
cross that Christ died on for the sins of the world.
“Its astounding how many of Gods people claim
to be Christian, and yet, the cross has no compelling meaning on their life,”
he noted. “What is the evidence that the cross has ever made a difference
in your life? Paul (the apostle) said that once he understood Christ died for
him, he no longer was able to live unto himself.”
Instead, Paul acknowledged he had to live to Christ, Blackaby
said. For the apostle, the cross became a symbol of the power and wisdom of
God, he said.
The cross remains the same, said Blackaby, who admitted one
hymn about the cross stirs such great emotion in him that he is unable to sing
a certain verse aloud. “See from his head, his hand, his feet,” he
quoted, tears forming in his eyes. “Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did eer such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown.”
Blackaby noted, “All through my life, this hymn gripped my heart. I cant
sing this verse because of the huge surge of emotion in brings on. I weep because
the Lord stood me in front of the truth, and I can see what the words are saying.”