The Fear of Revival?
Having posted twice about events over this last weekend…..
….. I received a few comments and one question which jumped out at me:
“Why did The Holy Spirit, having manifest enough to grab our attention,
…. why then did He not fall upon that gathering?”
A fair question which I partially answered by saying that The LORD is awaiting OUR response first!
Now The LORD is asking me, “Now why do you think I AM waiting for you in this matter?”
Another fair question, to which The LORD also gave me a devastating answer:
“You are AFRAID of revival!”
WOW – what a statement to make!
I’m very aware of the passionate cries for Revival echoing through The Church right now.
I’m aware — because I’m one of them — that many have been calling for Revival for years!
I’ve prophesied Revival at The LORD’s Request, as have many others.
So why does The LORD say that we’re afraid of Revival?
- Are we afraid to call down Holy Spirits presence and revival?
- Afraid of the presence of God?
- Afraid of the commitment involved?
- Afraid of the cost — both personal and financial?
- What are we Afraid of and WHY?
- Maybe its fear of the unknown?
- Fear of failure, of suffering or of persecution?
- Fear of man and his opinion?
While there are quite a large number of those who long for Revival, there are actually far more who fear it for one reason or another!
The LORD then proceeded to go through my list point by point.
● Are we afraid to call down Holy Spirits presence and revival?
“It’s a fear of the unknown and being/doing something very different.”
● Afraid of the presence of God?
“Many folk take this Scripture too far and too literally, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God….” (Hebrews 10:13) and will not ask, for fear of angering God.”
But why would God be angry at anyone for asking for Revival?
Is there not peace in His Presence?
Is there not a feeling of safety in His Presence when praying for Revival?
● Afraid of the commitment involved?
Are we really afraid of the commitment?
I recall accounts of meetings over-running by hours, even to the extent of overlapping with the next meeting.
This meant missed or late meals, lost sleep and more — but — The LORD always enabled folk to do these things in obedience to Him!
● Afraid of the cost – both personal and financial?
Do I need to say anything more on this?
So, if you’re one of the people who claim that none of these reasons are accurate for you then this begs further questions.
● What are we Afraid of and WHY?
Maybe its “fear of the unknown”?
● Fear of failure, of suffering, or of persecution?
Particularly relevant today.
● Fear of man and his opinion?
Probably the number one reason for our reluctance to fully engage with Holy Spirit.
In my opinion, I feel The LORD was anticipating this reluctance to engage with Holy Spirit when He gave us these scriptures :-
“Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” Genesis 13:17.
“Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory.” Deuteronomy 11:24.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
Three times the Word says that The LORD will be with us wherever we go — every place!
He has even given us these lands before we start, so what are we afraid of?
“Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.” Acts 16:25-30.
Nothing, not even an earthquake, can take us out of the protection of God!
“So he answered and said to me:“This is the word of The LORD to Zerubbabel:‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’Says The LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6-7?.
Just a gentle reminder that it’s not us anyway — it’s all God!
We just obey and speak or act when He calls us to do so. Then we stand back and watch Him perform miracles!
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:10-11.
Cover yourselves with the Blood and give your testimony. The enemy is already defeated. He is ‘cast down’!
I’ve been encouraged just writing this — and I pray you are encouraged reading it.
It’s time for all Christians to stand up fearlessly and be counted!
Speak The Truth, do what is right in Gods eyes!
When The Holy Spirit enters your Meeting, grasp the horns of The Altar, don’t let go but cry out for Him to ‘fall’ on your meeting, to bring Renewal and Revival!
Failure to do this will only result in the unthinkable happening to us!
It’s my responsibility and it’s your responsibility too — to cry out for The Holy Spirit to move until He moves on us!
He will – He’s promised!
~ Chris G. Bennett
Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.
Always follow your words, Chris. We just had the Holy Spirit blow into our meeting this past weekend (Saturday evening), here in Ontario. I was about to teach the Word after beautiful worship, and as I looked out one of our leadership team was fidgeting and talking to others around him and getting up to talk to other leaders at the back, so I finally asked him, is there something else before I speak? He said, does anyone else smell apples and cinnamon? And as soon as he said it, a waft of strong, intense apples and cinnamon smell hit my nostrils. It came and settled in the middle of the room, in the centre aisle. You could actually walk into it and out of it, though it did waft around the room a little but, but there was a specific location of intense smell, level 10 out of 10. People went to their knees. Some said afterward they never felt such peace. I, of course, never did get around to teaching. Lol. Lasted for an hour then faded. Was not someone’s drink or an air freshener (we double checked all that just to be sure we weren’t declaring the Lord when it was not the Lord!). We cried out for more, but did not get more. Yet! Thanks for your words!