Revival
I have prayed for Revival a lot over the years. And yet, I am often the cynic.
Has Charlie Kirk's death/assassination started what could be a national revival?
His funeral/memorial was amazing! So many national figures, politically powerful people talking about Jesus, salvation, the Bible, and truth. My goodness, was this for real???
And then the message from Erica Kirk (Charlie’s wife) was incredible! And after losing her husband to a ridiculous killing only two weeks ago, to publicly say she forgives the assassin…are you kidding!! Am I hearing this right!?
I had the privilege of being invited to an event sponsored by a Christian Lobbyist group representing Christian Schools in Ohio. Our little town hall meeting was with Senator Bernie Moreno and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, who works for President Donald Trump with the assignment of closing down the Department of Education and giving education back to the States (a tremendous blessing for us in Ohio – a leader Choice State). And to hear these politicians sounding like Biblical believers with a goal to bring faith, character, and Truth back to the way we govern… Incredible. What is going on?
And not that “Red” means Christian, but “Red” seems to give more room for Christian thinking. So, the perfect storm in the winds of change, and Charlie Kirk's goals as a leader, with apologetic skills, making us all more enthusiastic and bolder in debating and standing for Biblical Truth bringing us to “Such a Time as this.” Is this a time where we Christians can really be a part of making and building a kingdom focused culture where morals, character, and values are normal and meaningful?
We Christians (the Body of Christ) must steward this time and the opportunities before us well!
Yeah, for some good signs in what is otherwise a very scary time (Wars, rumors of wars and much disunity and liberal thinking all over our planet).
Pause – to the hopeful world changer, or the cynic!
Did you hear about the revival at Calvary?
A few weeks ago, we had a special guest (Adrian Despres) speak to our kids. He spoke in Chapel 7 times, plus Bible classes, Leadership kids, teacher devotions, and a donor event. He is an evangelist, Biblical apologist, that really gets kids (He got us teachers too). He delivered several powerful messages. The one that cleared the gym bleachers and sent kids to the gym floor, faces to the ground, tears in eyes with sincere hearts to repent and get in communion with our Savior Jesus was called Four Chairs (get the t-shirt!).
Adrian has developed this message over the years, and it explains our situation so well. We want to be, we need to be, in the 1st chair – a life devoted to the Lord. He describes what a John 10:10 Christian looks like, not perfect, but a love of Jesus that is real and genuine. I could never reproduce his humor and embellishments here (although Adrian does have a book on the subject you can get). The 2nd Chair is a Christian – represents many of us, who get used to Jesus, and grow luke-warm. We might be headed to heaven, but not joyful, not purposeful, and just getting by. The fourth chair is the unsaved, the agnostic, the atheist, the bad-boy – yep – they are going to hell. Then he describes the third chair, much like the 2nd chair – but not saved. They have taken the wide road, not the narrow and think they are saved, but they are not. It is a game to them, and they thought they picked up the life insurance against hell by a child’s prayer or on the coattails of parents and grandparents – “hey I am an American!!” But the salvation they thought they picked up is not real.
Wow – chair 2 and 3 are not impressing chair 4! Chair 4 wants nothing to do with it – it looks fake. And Chairs 2 and 3 make fun of Chair 1 for being some “goody to shoe!”
It is a mess! And the only remedy is to see where you are, consider your sin, confess, and jump into Chair 1! Fall in love with the Jesus who died for our sins and wants us to live that Good Life described in John 10:10 and the message that is all over the Bible.
As I said, a few lines do not do it justice, but while Clay Cross is singing “I Surrender All”, the floor flooded with our students (6th through 12th), your sons and daughters, repenting and proclaiming that “I want to be a Chair 1 Christian!”
It was beautiful! Kids are crying, teachers are crying, and I am crying!! III John 4 tells us there is no greater joy than to see our kids walking with God in Truth!!
Revival!! It is the beginning of a transformed mind, and it changes everything! We use our Holy Spirit power to be the pieces and parts described in our Portrait of a Graduate as we become the next part of the fearfully and wonderfully made person described in Psalms 119 to the handiwork that God created to do the good works and fulfill the assignments He has for us (Eph 2:10). It makes us obedient, hardworking, curious, kind, problem-solving, good teammates, testimony for Jesus-kind of life that was intended (that the devil and world hates).
And – as good as that sounds — you guessed it, we all do it, we leak, we slip, and we forget. Again — Get the t-shirt!! Remember what you are fighting for! Participate in the Bible Study, the activities at Church, the family worship and prayer at home and pursue, over and over, the First Chair!!
I am hopeful and excited about the revival or resurgence I see in our county! But I get more excited about the things I see right here in our school and in our community. These things will have a huge impact on you and your family. And then push this out over the next 10, 20, and 30 years, and we will see these kids having a huge impact wherever they go. Nope – not proclaiming “easy street,” but excited about what God is doing right here, right now!!
The Body of Christ is an awesome organism! Let’s all join forces to contribute to what God is doing to bring His Kingdom about!! No reason to be cynical. This life-changing transformation is what all of us at Calvary are fighting for (Portrait of a Graduate: Equipped, Grit, Humble and Grateful, Leader, Authentic, and having a Biblical Worldview).
Praise God for REVIVAL!!