A preacher can conduct a church service, but only God can conduct a revival — a spiritual awakening. In a church service a preacher follows a program. In a spiritual awakening people surrender to the living God.
In Acts chapter six, seven men were chosen to wait on tables for the apostles in Jerusalem. Two of them, Stephen and Philip, quickly broke out of their confining religious roles. Spiritual awakening soon followed!
When church is unplugged from the Holy Spirit’s current, God’s light goes out. “Quench not the Spirit.” Spiritual awakening happens when people let Jesus innergize them with His presence, energy, and love surging through their heart.
Jesus is always present but it’s a struggle to be persistently aware of His presence, for His holiness makes us aware of our sin. To try to make Christ comply with culture is the converse of the Gospel. He came to free us from conformity to human culture.
Hearing a talk about bread isn’t the same as being fed. Neither is hearing a talk about Christianity. Perhaps it’s time for church to pop the cork on God’s new wine & let people fill up with the Holy Spirit.
A talk about electricity is never as shocking as a touch of electricity. The same with Jesus.
Christian’s aren’t called to be controlled by custom and religious tradition. They’re called to be completely committed to Christ.
“The truth will set you free.” A lack of truth equals a lack of freedom.
Pride is dangerous for all human beings. It also holds back spiritual awakening. The Bible says: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
