Over the past few days at groupbiblestudy.com, we have been reflecting on the topic of revival. Today, we need to examine our role in bringing revival to our community. Genuine Holy Spirit-led revival always begins with repentance. What is repentance? George Kurian, a Christian scholar and historian, describes repentance as "contrition, the acknowledgment, and condemnation of one's sins together with a turning back toward God… it includes sorrow, confession, and a determination not to sin again" (Nelson’s New Christian Dictionary, p. 654).[1]
Most people are familiar with the Holy Spirit coming on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, powerfully filling the disciples. Peter stood up and preached the Gospel, and the Word of God touched the hearts of 3,000 people as they saw their leader's rejection of the Messiah. They responded, "'Brothers, what shall we do?'" Peter told them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). Mark records Jesus’ first words of ministry this way: "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" (Mark 1:15). The only way into the kingdom of God is through repentance toward God and receiving the substitutionary death of Christ as God's payment for your sin.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Sin and Hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce.” Do not allow yourselves to fall into false repentance, for many people who seem to repent are like sailors who throw their goods overboard in a storm and wish for them again in calm waters. The Jews in Jesus’ day didn't need to ask what the Lord meant by calling for repentance, because before Jesus appeared, His forerunner, John the Baptist, had already been calling for the nation's repentance.
John preached a baptism of repentance, urging people to turn their hearts to God. In times of revival, when the Spirit of God moves powerfully, people will travel miles to hear biblical teaching from a man of God who speaks the truth of God. This desire for the pure truth is why many went to see John the Baptist in the dry, barren wilderness by the River Jordan. John's ministry of calling Israel to repentance was described in a prophetic word through Isaiah:
3And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6And all people will see God’s salvation.’” 7So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8"Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9"Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:3-9; emphasis added).
In those days, when a king arrived in a specific land (v. 5), his servants would go ahead first and command that the roads be repaired so there were no potholes or fallen rocks, or to widen the roads if needed for the king's chariot to pass. The highways were to be straight, and the path was to be made smooth. John's preaching declared that we must clear the rocks from the way for the Messiah's path.
I don't know about you, but I long for Jesus to come; before He returns, I dream of witnessing a genuine move of the Spirit that brings millions into the Kingdom of God. If we desire the presence and revival power of the Lord today, He won't come unless His church gets things right with Him through repentance. Let's reflect more on this tomorrow. Keith Thomas
This study is a shortened version of God Uses Ordinary Believers. The series is On Fire With the Holy Spirit.