The New Bereans

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.   – II Corinthians 7:1

Revival starts with me.  It starts with holiness, with genuine repentance, and prayer.  It starts with an individual or small group seeking only to bring God glory, through obedience to, and humility before Him.  There is a price to pay; forsaking comfort, safety, respectability, and luxury.  One must be ravenously hungry for God to be glorified.  They must seek Christ as an end, not a means.  They cannot care whether the revival spreads any further than their own heart.  God will share his glory with no man!  Just like Christ’s parable in Luke, after tirelessly serving, we must realize . . . we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.  Luke 17:10

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

Here in Second Chronicles God manifests himself to Solomon and declares that for sins to be forgiven and the land to be healed; certain things must be done.  Humility, prayer, seeking God, and Repentance must first occur.  But we want happiness without holiness, answers without prayer, manifestation without seeking, and revival without repentance.  Like the prodigal son we demand; Give me the inheritance!  We spend hour’s watching television and minutes in prayer.  We can speak for hours about the latest group of rejects from American Idol, yet cannot even recall the prophet Micaiah!  Do we wonder why the world calls us hypocrites?  Humble yourself, pray, seek the Lord, and repent.  Prayer proceeds passion!  Seeking proceeds finding!  Humility proceeds holiness.  And repentance precedes revival.

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  John 14:23