Is it OK to pursue a personal revival with everything I've got?

[Presbyterian Continuist]

• If I'm tired of armchair/philosophical/intellectual belief in Christianity,
• If I'm tired of atheists vs. apologists debates,
• If I'm tired of exegetical debates,
  
• If I'm tired of philosophical debates,
• If I'm tired of epistemological debates,
• If I want to meet the living God of the Bible in REAL LIFE,
• If I want to experience a Book of Acts type of Christianity in REAL LIFE,

would it be okay to pursue a personal revival with everything I've got?

I'm planning on spending one or two months in intense prayer, fasting, sanctification, repentance, Bible reading, praying at 3:00 AM, praying for hours, worship, and any other scripturally supported spiritual practice available. I want it to be all-in. I want to play all my cards in this big move. It's a last hope move. If this doesn't work, I don't know what else could.

Do you think it can work? What else can be done?

Are you saying that being born again of the Spirit of God, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, living each day in the light of His countenance, being led of the Spirit, receiving grace and comfort during times of suffering, enjoying fellowship with other believers, are not enough? What more do you need?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Are you saying that being born again of the Spirit of God, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, living each day in the light of His countenance, being led of the Spirit, receiving grace and comfort during times of suffering, enjoying fellowship with other believers, are not enough? What more do you need?

Where did I say that? Can you quote verbatim the parts where I say that?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Where did I say that? Can you quote verbatim the parts where I say that?

The point i am making is that if you have all the things I set out in your life already, isn't trying to seek something else to add to them like searching for the Holy Grail?

When I was with the Pentecostal movement during the first 12 years of my Christian life, we were always praying for revival - that something spectacular would happen, thousands of souls would be saved, and the whole city would be transformed to come under the lordship of Christ. But nothing happened. What I learned was that as a Spirit-filled Christian, I was already revived, and I didn't need anything else other than day by day fellowship with the Lord as I walked in the Spirit. So, I stopped seeking "The Holy Grail" of revival and got on with serving the Lord day by day, using the skills He gave me.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

The point i am making is that if you have all the things I set out in your life already, isn't trying to seek something else to add to them like searching for the Holy Grail?

When I was with the Pentecostal movement during the first 12 years of my Christian life, we were always praying for revival - that something spectacular would happen, thousands of souls would be saved, and the whole city would be transformed to come under the lordship of Christ. But nothing happened. What I learned was that as a Spirit-filled Christian, I was already revived, and I didn't need anything else other than day by day fellowship with the Lord as I walked in the Spirit. So, I stopped seeking "The Holy Grail" of revival and got on with serving the Lord day by day, using the skills He gave me.

I'm not looking for the revival of others. I'm looking for the revival of myself.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I'm not looking for the revival of others. I'm looking for the revival of myself.

But if you are already revived in the ways I described, then why are you still looking for it. Isn't that looking for something you already have?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

But if you are already revived in the ways I described, then why are you still looking for it. Isn't that looking for something you already have?

That's the thing. I'm not revived in the ways you described

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

That's the thing. I'm not revived in the ways you describe

Oh. So you're not born again then?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Oh. So you're not born again then?

That's a complicated question. My honest answer is I don't know.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

That's a complicated question. My honest answer is I don't know.

Do you believe that Jesus died on the Cross for your sins according to the Scriptures, and that He rose from the dead to give you eternal life?

 

[TruthSeek3r]

Do you believe that Jesus died on the Cross for your sins according to the Scriptures, and that He rose from the dead to give you eternal life?

This brings me back to the epistemological discussions I had with swordsman1 when I pointed out his double standard regarding the evidence for modern miracles.

I believe there is evidence (mainly testimonial evidence) for continuationism. I believe that continuationism is more likely to be true than cessationism given the evidence. Likewise, I believe that there is evidence (mainly testimonial evidence) to believe that the resurrection of Jesus was a historical event.

I don't claim 100% certainty, but I feel personally persuaded to believe that both continuationism and the resurrection of Jesus are more likely to be true than not. In fact, the evidence for modern miracles reinforces my belief in the resurrection of Jesus (which was a miracle).

In contrast, swordsman1 dismissed all the evidence for modern miracles and claimed to have 100% certainty in the resurrection of Jesus (double standard)

 

[TruthSeek3r]

@Watchman1 - In other words, I have a rational/intellectual persuasion toward both continuationism and the resurrection of Jesus (or "mere Christianity", to borrow terminology from C.S. Lewis).

The issue is this: I need to transition from this "intellectual" and "probabilistic" mode of belief to a "Spirit-filled" mode of belief.

In other words, I need a personal revival of myself.

 

[ARBITER01]

@Watchman1 - In other words, I have a rational/intellectual persuasion toward both continuationism and the resurrection of Jesus (or "mere Christianity", to borrow terminology from C.S. Lewis).

The issue is this: I need to transition from this "intellectual" and "probabilistic" mode of belief to a "Spirit-filled" mode of belief.

In other words, I need a personal revival of myself.

I'm not sure if you ever mentioned about attending church, but finding a decent church to attend on a regular basis and people praying for you will go a long ways towards you being able to reach up to GOD and receive.

 

[TruthSeek3r]

I'm not sure if you ever mentioned about attending church, but finding a decent church to attend on a regular basis and people praying for you will go a long ways towards you being able to reach up to GOD and receive.

I'm kind of reaching the same conclusion. The issue though is where to find a Spirit-filled Church in the first place. I once attended a church and shared with them my desire to find God, but they didn't understand what I truly meant. In the end it felt like attending a social club and I ended up leaving in disappointment. There are lots of Christians with cessationist mindsets for whom the book of Acts was a thing of the past.

 

[bmjackson]

Be ye holy as I am holy.

That is it. Simple!

First thing is to learn how to hear God speak to you. It takes some practice. It is that small still voice, not the one that has any urgency. Ask God to reveal your sins to you and then listen and start obeying - even if the answers seem not important, like taking the store trollies back to where they belong and not just dumping them anywhere.

What is needed is to learn to be led by the Spirit on a moment by moment way and not by trying to remember scripture. Do not accept anything however which is against scripture or is totally off the track. Satan will try to deceive you here.

You are born again though?

You will probably come to a crisis where you have to decide whether to give up the right to yourself. Stay away from charismania. Read proper holiness materials from the 19th century.

 

[ARBITER01]

I'm kind of reaching the same conclusion. The issue though is where to find a Spirit-filled Church in the first place. I once attended a church and shared with them my desire to find God, but they didn't understand what I truly meant. In the end it felt like attending a social club and I ended up leaving in disappointment. There are lots of Christians with cessationist mindsets for whom the book of Acts was a thing of the past.

A lot of your more mainline Protestant churches are pretty much catholic lite, and they don't know anything about being born again. It is pretty much foreign to them.

Keep looking. If you need to get outside your city or town, you may have to. Wherever you may find a church that wants to help you become born again is good. It's all steps in faith.

 

[bèlla]

I'm experiencing a personal revival at present and the fellowship is sweet. I've had a significant increase in offensive prayer and warfare against hindering spirits and others in high places. I'm doing it twice a day and feel emboldened after every session and see breakthroughs coming through the dream state and the natural. Answers and directives are flowing rapidly and He requested my presence for greater works.

When you're able to spend uninterrupted time in prayer and discourse with the Lord the results are powerful. You'll notice an immediate change in yourself, your environment and interactions with others. He's in your ear constantly and the rhema is non stop. There's nothing like it. If you can devote your day to Him without distractions I recommend it. I lived that way for years and had incredible breakthroughs, healings, and revelations too. Including my calling.

I saw the post and wanted to reply before my hiatus. If you feel Him leading you towards a deeper connection don't hesitate. I did the same when I returned to Him and wouldn't change a thing. He honed my gifts and talents during that period and strengthened me in ways I didn't grasp until now.

May you be bathed in the blood and covered in its blessing. God bless and keep you.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

This brings me back to the epistemological discussions I had with swordsman1 when I pointed out his double standard regarding the evidence for modern miracles.

I believe there is evidence (mainly testimonial evidence) for continuationism. I believe that continuationism is more likely to be true than cessationism given the evidence. Likewise, I believe that there is evidence (mainly testimonial evidence) to believe that the resurrection of Jesus was a historical event.

I don't claim 100% certainty, but I feel personally persuaded to believe that both continuationism and the resurrection of Jesus are more likely to be true than not. In fact, the evidence for modern miracles reinforces my belief in the resurrection of Jesus (which was a miracle).

In contrast, swordsman1 dismissed all the evidence for modern miracles and claimed to have 100% certainty in the resurrection of Jesus (double standard)

This has nothing to do with whether miracles ceased or continue. It also does not involve a belief that Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world. The crucial factor is whether YOU believe that Jesus died for YOUR sins on the Cross and that He rose from the dead to give YOU eternal life.

If you merely believe that Jesus died for people's sin generally, then you are still on the road to hell. You can give intellectual, philosophical, and theological arguments until the cows come home but even if you win those arguments and satisfy yourself that have the right views, you will still go to hell, because you did not acknowledge that Jesus died for YOUR sins on the Cross.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

@Watchman1 - In other words, I have a rational/intellectual persuasion toward both continuationism and the resurrection of Jesus (or "mere Christianity", to borrow terminology from C.S. Lewis).

The issue is this: I need to transition from this "intellectual" and "probabilistic" mode of belief to a "Spirit-filled" mode of belief.

In other words, I need a personal revival of myself.

No you don't. Revival is for someone who was once alive in Christ but has gone cold in their faith. You are at present not even alive in Christ, because you have not yet come to Christ and acknowledged that He died for your sins on the Cross and that you need repent of trying to find answers through intellectual pursuits. You need to acknowledge that you are a sinner deserving of hell, and that you want to put your whole trust in what Jesus did for you on the Cross, ie: take your sins upon Himself, give you a new heart to be able to live a life glorifying Him.

 

[ARBITER01]

I'm experiencing a personal revival at present and the fellowship is sweet. I've had a significant increase in offensive prayer and warfare against hindering spirits and others in high places. I'm doing it twice a day and feel emboldened after every session and see breakthroughs coming through the dream state and the natural. Answers and directives are flowing rapidly and He requested my presence for greater works.

When you're able to spend uninterrupted time in prayer and discourse with the Lord the results are powerful. You'll notice an immediate change in yourself, your environment and interactions with others. He's in your ear constantly and the rhema is non stop. There's nothing like it. If you can devote your day to Him without distractions I recommend it. I lived that way for years and had incredible breakthroughs, healings, and revelations too. Including my calling.

I saw the post and wanted to reply before my hiatus. If you feel Him leading you towards a deeper connection don't hesitate. I did the same when I returned to Him and wouldn't change a thing. He honed my gifts and talents during that period and strengthened me in ways I didn't grasp until now.

May you be bathed in the blood and covered in its blessing. God bless and keep you.

Time with GOD is one of the most important endeavors we are to have. The requirements of the world always tend to interrupt that.