A lot of prayers have been going up for revival. Many people have been praying for revival for years and not seeing an answer to their prayers. One would wonder why?
Is it possible we are praying the wrong prayers? We are pleading God for a visitation of His Spirit? Is it possible that He is wanting us to pray that we be a habitation of his Spirit?
Bro. Blaine
Rededited for clarity
Timing...
Or I should say the God's timing... You don't see a Move of God yet because it's not the time...
Good thoughts bearmaster.
What helps me at this point is continuing to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit already dwells within the entire church because He indwells personally each and every believer of the true church and He doesn't come and go. He's already dwelling within to stay so He is already habitating. I guess the church which He already inhabits may not be ready yet to release that which it has within.
Thats reminded me of what God wants in our private lives. I habitation of His Spirit. But people love the gifts of the spirit more than losing their lives and following Him so there is still only a visitation in many hearts.
because they haven't left the chidhood stage of the Life, they claim it as being the only way, the true way, not knowing their is a continual habitation we can have.
by bearmaster
A lot of prayers have been going up for revival. Many people have been praying for revival for years and not seeing an answer to their prayers. One would wonder why?
by bearmaster
Is it possible we are praying the wrong prayers? We are pleading God for a visitation of His Spirit? Is it possible that He is wanting us to pray that we be a habitation of his Spirit?
If we are His temple, then I believe we should be praying that He inhabit His temple!!!
God bless, bear
Lisa
Good thoughts bearmaster.What helps me at this point is continuing to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit already dwells within the entire church because He indwells personally each and every believer of the true church and He doesn't come and go. He's already dwelling within to stay so He is already habitating. I guess the church which He already inhabits may not be ready yet to release that which it has within. I'm just thinking out loud here.
I guess there are many things I still don't understand about all the calls for revival. We need it to be sure but no matter how big and large the revival is the Bible clearly lets us know that at the end of the age men a vast multitude of souls will be saved yet even as the nations shall wax worse and worse and descend into greater evil and iniquity and the moral character of man outside of God will rise in a full rebellion against God and His laws and His covenants. It's sort of like many calls for revival are trying to get around the evil that is to come but I believe there will be are revival also at he end of the age but in the midst of a growing and fully manifesting evil. I was speaking with a group of Christian friends about this very thing just a few minutes ago so it is fresh in my mind right now. At this point, is this country and the nations destined to turn back to God again and on a broad scale embrace righteousness again? If so, why would God pour out final judgments upon ALL the nations? Local revivals may come and it would be good, no complaining here, but they would likely restrain darkness at their local level only and not nationally. I guess. I'm just wondering what the church really views as ahead and coming. Are all the nations going to turn back to God at this point?
(Isaiah 34:1-2)
Interesting. Aren't these two thoughts contradictory?
yet even as the nations shall wax worse and worse and descend into greater evil and iniquity and the moral character of man outside of God will rise in a full rebellion against God and His laws and His covenants.
At this point, is this country and the nations destined to turn back to God again and on a broad scale embrace righteousness again?
To be fair, your first quote is a statement and the second one is a question, so they are not really contradictory. You are just asking for confirmation on your statement and wondering if maybe things will get better.
I did not see the original post before you edited it so really I can only give what what I see in your present post.
Is it possible we are praying the wrong prayers? I am not sure there is really a "right" prayer to be honest. Maybe a right heart would be a better place to start.
We are pleading God for a visitation of His Spirit? Is it possible that He is wanting us to pray that we be a habitation of his Spirit?
If we are His children and have been born of His Spirit I am not sure how we can be unborn of His Spirit and become not His Child....and NO I am not a Calvinist...just a very simple man.
I think prayer serves so many different functions each reaping a different outcome. The same with revival, what do we think revival is? What are we expecting to see? Why do we want revival in the first place?(This is not a stupid question because I know of many pastors who want revival only to have bigger congregations and all that comes with that.....you can fill in the blanks).
The nuts and bolts of Christianity usually comes down to specifics when we approach God, First BELIEVE and believe that HE IS a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. That s why children are so precious, they simply will just go to their father/grandfather and not be hindered (in most normal healthy circumstances)and they make their requests, when they make their request they do so expecting to receive. It is the joy of any father or grandfather to fill that request, no matter what that request is. So maybe the Lord is just really waiting on us to become more like children?
Just a thought my brother. God Bless Bro. DMiller
I love the question that speaks to visitation or habitation. It reminds me of covenantal promises and taking possession. God promises His people the promised land but it must be possessed. Some folks think the land covenants are yet to be fulfilled but God gave what He promised, it was up to the Israelites to possess the land. If I own something and give it to you and you fail to take possession of it, is that my fault or yours? If I promised you something and then give it to you then I have fulfilled my promise, if you dont take it then what has that to do with me?
If there is a peace to be had that surpasses understanding, in Christ, and there is, then how do I possess it? Jesus said " Be anxious for nothing." He gives us a command. For those who follow His command then the peace that surpasses understanding follows. Jesus part is to supply and our part is to possess what has been given. We have a part to play.
God has made many promises to His people yet much of Christendom has failed to possess the promises in Christ which are yes and amen. The failure is our part for God is faithful to those who are obedient and who are diligent. We want to partake of the glories but we do not want to partake in the humiliations. We want abundant life in Christ but we are not willing to take up our crosses and die. We desire the feast but we have no stomach for the fasting. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. We praise God with our lives, we praise God with our desire to follow Him. We praise God when we can glorify Him when we are hungry, when we are naked, when we walk through the valley's. God is looking for a people to inhabit all the days of their lives. But, I thank God that He considers the weaknesses of our flesh and our own lack of faithfulness.........bro Frank
Galatians 2:20 says that Christ lives in one crucified with Christ. Is this true only for Paul or can Christ live in my life?
Brother Blaine
Paul's inheritance is the same inheritance for you and I, Blane if we meet the conditions set forth by the Lord Jesus in His Testament to us.
Paul did not inherit lands, houses or goods. He inherited Christ... Who IS eternal life.
Frank said it perfectly.
God promises His people the promised land but it must be possessed. Some folks think the land covenants are yet to be fulfilled but God gave what He promised, it was up to the Israelites to possess the land.
Jesus kept all of His promises in the OT and we can trust Him to keep His word to us in the NT. It is' that vacillates, God's faithfulness is never in question.
He will come to everyman who receives Him in faith and walks according to His word.
John 14:21-23
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
I wanted to bring this thread up again. The initial question posed in this thread is should we be praying for visitation or habitation. That is should we be praying for a visitation of the Holy Spirit as in say revival? Or should we be praying that we be a habitation of the Holy Spirit? That we would be vessels filled with Jesus?
A faithful few have been praying for revival. And yet have seen no answers to their prayers. Should we rather not be praying that would be a habitation of the Holy Spirit? That would be a habitation of his presence? Are we not more likely to see an answer to praying for his habitation as opposed to praying for Revival?
Then perhaps if we are the habitation of His Spirit. If we are the habitation of His presence. Then maybe we will see a visitation of His Spirit.
Bro B
... And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all...Eph. 1:22-23
... So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, and whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit...Eph.2:19-22
The passages above contains some incredible truth. If we would focus our prayers to be a habitation both individually and corporately of the Holy Spirit. Then God can truly move in the church and in incredible power.
Some have told me that revival is the presence of God in our midst. Then is God not present in our midst by the Holy Spirit? Should He not be corporately dwelling where two or three have gathered together in the name of Jesus?
Just some questions for reflection.
Bro B
I think the other thread I just posted/wrote this morning, speaks to the awareness of Gods presence as opposed to the abstract truth that God is everywhere. This word " awareness," was a favorite word of Duncan Cambpell and it is a key word in understanding what it means to walk in the power and the Spirit of God. Just for clarification, not being aware of God's presence does not equate to the loss of salvation or any sin per se, it could be a season or seasons that God has introduced in order to strengthen the saint. On the other hand it could be a David and psalm 51 situation where David cries out in repentance in regard to adultery and murder and begs God to restore unto him, not salvation, for he was still a man after God's own heart, but the joy of his salvation. This "joy," is another word for the awareness of His presence....................bro Frank
Brother just realizef that was what your thread was about. I should have put these verses on your thread. Wasn't trying to open up a competing thread But was actually thinking what a sister had posted on another thread regarding Franklin Graham.
Anyway so true brother. The fact that Jesus abides in us. The fact that he lives in us. Should cause it's a step back and wonder and awe. Or as we say in Arkansas. To be spellbound and amazed. You know that we have and we are his habitation should bring joy to our hearts.
Bro B.
A few days ago I was on a prayer call for revival. There were broken prayers going up before God. There were tears of confession of sin. This prayer call has been going on fir years. People praying for revival...Yet no revival.
So is it a lack of prayer? Or is it we are not praying God's heart? Has God ever said He would bring revival or an awakening to the church? I cannot find a New Testament verse where God said He would respond to prayers for revival. But certainly He would respond to prayers that we live crucified lives so that He would live in us.
-bbs-
Not sure why you would discourage the people from praying for revival and awakening? Should we not pray for such things? I am astonished that you don't see any prospects for revival in God's Word. The prospects are as bright as the word of prophecy! An awakening is the law of Life in operation (Romans 8:2 and Isaiah 42:1).
Revival is perhaps the brightest promise in the word of God. God never relents in recovering that which was lost. The God of hope will perform it. We press on and lay hold of God (Philippians 3:12).
Let there be no despair, an awakening will come forth from the throne, by, through, and unto the Lamb who was slain! Let us not grow weary in well doing.
In Christ,
I thought I would bump this thread up again for consideration. I started it two years ago. The question is still appropriate. What is a more realistic prayer? Visitation or habitation? Revival or the indwelling presence of the holy spirit in our hearts?
To the best of my knowledge no place in the New Testament has God ever said that he would answer prayers for revival. But He has said that he would answer prayers for those who ask for the Holy Spirit.
BB
When I look at Revelation and I see Jesus dealing with 7 Churches I see what it means to be weighed and found wanting. When Jesus speaks to our own hearts we begin to say things like " I can discern an apostle who has left the faith, Oh God, I have not discerned I have left my first love".
Oh God, I believed you to deliver me, yet I am appointed to suffer and be persecuted...Oh God will I persevere? Will I endure to the end and not deny the faith like others?
" Oh God, there is false teachings and false teachers, some of my brothers are alive to you, some are seduced and failing to obey you, am I one? Am I seduced oh God? Have mercy on me."
A revived heart is a heart that knows God has spoken and it knows its own sins and it knows where to go for help. This is the first step, we being a habitation of the Spirit are indwelt so that Jesus Christ might live through our lives, in our jobs, in our way of life in this present world.
But there is another step.
Oh God, have mercy on me and my brothers, let not any of us learn to discern the errors of others and have no understanding of our own condition, God enlighten and empower me and my brother for your glory, make your name a rejoicing in our mouths.
The initial start of widespread revival is personal revival and submission to the word of God. Genuine personal revival senses a genuine hope in God and therefore reaches out to the inclusion of my brothers and sisters in our own prayers of repentance.
But sadly, so many starter revivals in so many various Churches seem to have fallen prey to another form of seduction.
A Church experiences true revival among its members, there is joy, activity, freedom, love, good works, obedient following of Christ. But the seduction is "this is all we really wanted". Widespread revival is not satisfied with "what me and you need". This is where sovereignty and personal sacrifice intermix. The failure can be said to have been "save us 4 Lord no more". In short we truly did want repentance and we do want obedience and we do want to be fruitful, but we stopped at the border of our own tribe. Benjamin had no dealings with Gad. So it goes, others live in the worldliness we previously were caught up in, but our own satisfaction with just us 4 having the Lord stopped the intercessions for others, it stopped the interest in evangelism and stopped the fasting and preparation for serving Christ in difficult situations.
We recognize it when a Pentecostal meeting goes into a full week, many tears are shed, people are healed and many are reconciled to one another, some new coverts come in, and a great joy and freedom among the congregation exists. But when 'us 4' are satisfied with 'only us 4' the very thing that God intended to reach out to the lost was stopped literally at the front door of the Church.
The recognition of these things is not in itself a great help, the repentance of these things are better and when repentance, new obedience and joy fill the worship and ministry of the Word, the repentant pastor says to us all "we have let Jesus in to sup with us, now let us all listen for where he intends to take us and what he intends to do with us". We know God is with us, but the habitation of God in the Church is the start, we seek God now for his visitation upon the lost that they might glorify God as we should".
You are probably going to get varying answers depending on a person's understanding of revival and their own prayers for it.
But to me, Ia more realistic prayer is, "Oh God consume me and make your habitation in this weak vessel and burn all the dross in every dark corner Yours."
I am quite certain revival would visit and rock my world then!! :)
Yes, Lord.....I am willing, "consume me and make your habitation in this weak vessel and make every dark corner Yours."
God bless us all until we are consumed by the fire of the God!!
Are we waiting for God to do something externally in the church for our heart to be changed. To change us from the outside in? Or is it not Christ who indwells our heart and changes us from the inside out?
BB
by bearmaster
Or is it not Christ who indwells our heart and changes us from the inside out?
Christ does dwell in a born again child of God but humans are such fickle beings, Blaine!! In my understanding, we must submit to Him to overcome all of our sins that does so easily beset us!
by bearmaster on 2018/3/2 15:32:47
Are we waiting for God to do something externally in the church for our heart to be changed. To change us from the outside in?
I got sidetracked, I'm sorry! :) Christ does dwell within each of us and changes us from the inside out, no matter what denomination we are or theology we hold to. And it is He who gives the increase, brother!
God bless you, bear!!
Lisa
Hey, here's an oldie but goodie, David Meece - Inside Out (still one of my favorite albums) search youtube for the song... here's the lyrics!!!
"Inside Out" from the album Once In A Lifetime
Gotta open that door, take a look inside and change what's in there (From the inside out, inside out)
Find the window of truth, past the web of lies and open it wide (From the inside out, inside out)
And let the winds of conviction blow through this hurting soul of mine
(Chorus)
Search me, Holy Spirit, help me look inside
Tell me what you're seeing, what I'm trying to hide
Holy Spirit, send your healing power
Search me, Holy Spirit, help me change from the inside out.
Wanna know your word, wanna hear your voice
Wanna heed your call, (From the inside out, inside out)
Gotta break these bars, gotta build a bridge
I gotta climb that wall, (From the inside out, inside out)
So, cast your vision upon me and crush the chains that have bound my heart
(Chorus)
Help me look inside, what am I trying to hide
Send your healing power, help me
(Chorus)
I think you all have very centric hearts, as I also am often times guilty of. Revival happens when we see the need in life and by the grace of God cry out for that need and Lord willing step out in faith to meet that need socially. Elijah was such a man, and God honored his faith, I don’t believe he was at first so introspective but waszealous for the glory of God and His Word. Until a person can fully trust in the finished work of Christ and His Priesthood on our behalf they will never Do anything, thier eyes always being on self,a very insecure position to be in.
This morning in my time with God I got to thinking. Always a dangerous thing to do. Particularly when I get to thinking about the simplicity of Christ.
I pose this question again. Is God interested in visitation or habitation? In listening to and reading the New Testament countless times I have never seen promises where God has said he would revive a dead structure. But I do see countless verses where the Holy Spirit Will inhabit humble hearts who are yielded to him.
Some say this thing we call revival is the presence of God in our midst. Did not Jesus tell us in the simplicity of his word in Matthew 18:20 that where two or three have gathered in his name he would be in their midst. Could not 2 or 3 humble hearts gathered in his name see the presence of the Holy Spirit come and dwell in their midst.
The above would be pretty radical. Or it would be unstructured. And certainly disturbing to the revivalist or the religionist.
Just pondering some thoughts. Always a dangerous thing to do.
Blaine
Hello Brother Blaine
Great post. I believe we are to be a habitation.
As I have studied revivals.. I sense that the people who were on fire the most were called Eccentric.. (Finney Lectures on revival)
So.. I do believe our habits.. our witness for Christ would bring revival..
It doesnt matter what church denomination we go to if we go to a denominational church. It matters if we OBEY God and are walking away from sodom daily.. It matters that we repent for our sins daily.. 2 chron 7:14
2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I believe the LORD is speaking to HIS CHURCH.. WHO IS HIS CHURCH?? We are His church His representatives.. May we all be found worthy and not be told I never knew you..
We will be in heaven because of HIS SHED BLOOD..
So May we all be filled with more power from the HOLY GHOST and Habitate with HIM and spread the fire...
Just some thoughts
In Christ
Sister Frannie
Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.
Donate