Revival!

When I was growing up I hated road trips! I liked going places I just wanted to be there in 15 minutes or less. So, if I could get from West Texas to Orlando in 15 minutes or less I was good. However, since it takes a bit longer then 15 minutes I was sure to ask, "how much longer" about 1,000 times. The funny thing is that all 1,000 times I was going to get the same response from my dad; "about an hour".

I'm beginning to think of life in a very similar way- I like where God is leading but I want to be there now! That is the way I think about revival too. "God, how much longer and why aren't we there yet?" I look around and I see the need for revival and I'm excited about when it happens but I spend little time thinking of the journey.

We sing in our churches that we need revival but do we ever ask what we need reviving from? Things that need reviving are things that have lost their life in some area- so where are we lifeless? I don't believe that the local church is lifeless at all, I believe it is full of life, I'm just not sure that anyone can tell. What I mean by that is the church is active and eagerly wanting to reach people with the, very much ALIVE, message of Jesus Christ but is anyone listening?

No one is listening because they don't think our message is any different then what they have now. We are living in a world consumed by media. We have the world at our fingertips and we now have all our relationships at our fingertips as well. Life is happening online, and while I don't think technology is bad, I do think the way we are using it can take a toll on fellowship. According to Scripture, the Christian life is intended to be lived together. We were created for real fellowship and that looks very different then what the world says is normal. With this in mind I have an idea for REVIVAL.

I believe revival will happen when we begin thinking about life in terms of community. Now, I don't mean just getting together for a Super Bowl Party (altough that is a good idea) but rather living life together. This means allowing people access. You no longer carry your burdens alone, you no longer just decide the way to go on your own- you geniunely live life together. We have a great example of this with the early church from the Book of Acts. I am not advocating the attempt to replicate every practice from the early chruch but rather, observe their response and learn from it. When you speak of revival (bringing back to life) there are few greater examples than the early church. You have this fresh, restored relationship with God being proclaimed throughout the streets and thousands coming to the faith. And what was there response to this new life? They were baptized and then they abandoned their NORMAL way of living for fellowship! It is amazing to think about and it is no wonder the church grew so quickly- this new life didn't look anything like that of the world's.
I think that is the point: if we want to see revival then our lives can't look like that of the world's. We must redefine family, church, work, school, sports and relationships in the terms of community. We must begin investing and allowing our lives to be invested into by those in our circle. Then as those bonds grow closer the natural response is evangelism. With the strength of my people I will reach boldly into the areas of my life with the Gospel and then the cirlces grow and multiply. You know what that sounds like to me?- REVIVAL!