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Independant Baptist Revival in Burlington, NC

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• Independant Baptist Revival in Burlington, NC

  praise_yeshua > 06-13-2016, 09:02 PM

  There is a "revival" report in NC. You may have heard of it. A few thousand people attending each night. This meeting has been going on for somewhere around 5 weeks now. I read were one pastor said they haven't seen a genuine move of God like this in 30 years. 
  
  Now, I don't want to seem skeptical but I must admit that I am. 
  
  What does "revival" mean to you?
  
  I can tell you from experience, that many revival meetings are scheduled to help evangelists "make ends meet". Not that I'm against a evangelist getting paid. I just know from experience that well known, national evangelist, generally command good wages. I also know, that at times, there's a lot of money that ends up coming in over the course of meetings such as this. Money that often ends up being haggled over, Argued over.....and you never know what's exactly is going to happen with it. 
  
  I can assure you. I have never been to such meetings where the leader of the meeting quoted the latter part of 1 Corinthians 16:2. 
  
  
  

  Quote:1 Corinthians 16:2 that there be no gatherings when I come.

   
  
  Not trying to cast "shade" on the event. Just being "real" about what generally goes on in such events. 
  
  I'm going to list a few things that I generally don't like about said events. Hopefully this will start a discussion....
  
  1. Endless offerings. ( I don't care what plans you have for the future or how a "minister" looks to fulfill his "call". STOP the endless offerings. If you get a living wage and some more..... STOP IT. Or..... collect for a specific need and then make sure it gets to that need. Paul did it. Be like PAUL....)
  
  2. Head counting. ( who cares how many are there? You say to God be the glory!!!...... and then talk of ...... if only...."just that one" gets it..... Stop being inconsistent. Be real. Revival isn't about how many attend.)
  
  3. Soul counting. ( Well. Its true. I've known way too many "ministers" that love to keep track of how many "souls" they've notched with their "gospel gun". Before you want to condemn me for such a remark. I've counted a few in my past. I'm not a novice. I just gave up counting. God has the record. What anyone else counts, doesn't matter!!! Stop the nonsense. I've read Acts 2:41. Sorry. That only happened once.... and you're not in that "league". If you notice..... they quit counting after that. Make an application. ).
  
  4. Confusing Revival with "nostalgia". ( Yes. That happens. In fact, it happens a lot. It really does. I've already seen people talking about how its just like it "use to be" when they were a kid. Old wooden altars and all..... Please STOP this. The old paths aren't from the 30s, 40s and 50s. America had just defeated the Nazis, Japan and Italy. America was "PROUD" of themselves. Proud of their accomplishments. Don't get me wrong. Thank God for it. HOWEVER, that's not what revival is all about. Its not returning to the 30s, 40s and 50s. Its EMBRACING God for the FUTURE.... BETTER THINGS!. You're aiming too low. In fact, you're aiming into the ground. Sets your sights a little higher.)
  
  5. Lack of Guilt. ( You know what makes ministers start harping on sin? They've forgot or have never realized just how guilty they are.... THEMSELVES. In fact, Guiltless people make Grand Pharisees. Don't get me wrong. Preach on sin. Preach hard on sin...... BUT... never forget to realize you're just as GUILTY as the next person. In fact, if you believe the Gospel. God has concluded us all under sin. That He might have mercy upon us all. We are ALL guilty. Show me someone that has forgotten this..... then I just can't see a true "revival" taking place. )
  
  6. Celebrating to Celebrate. ( I'm hesitant to say this. I know some people with take this the wrong way. I have NOTHING against someone praising God. NOTHING. In fact, I enjoy it. Young, old, disabled, mute or deaf.....I LOVE to see "praise" on display. However, I know enough to know, its not all genuine. I've been in meetings were some speakers brought their own cheerleaders with them. When their "pastor"..... "took the field"..... it was "HURRAH, HURRAH". That same pastor ended up giving a sermon that was so discombobulated no one in their right mind......would get anything out of it. That didn't stop the cheerleaders from "shouting her down"!!! When the next "quarterback" took the field.... it was dead silence. It didn't matter what was said or how true it was..... it just wasn't the right quarterback.
  
  Then there are those who are endlessly looking for the next "shouting game". The next "home game". They can't enjoy much of anything unless there is someone shouting. 
  
  There is entirely TOO many people judging a genuine move of God based on how LOUD the meeting gets. I could say more, but I'll leave it at that for now. )
  
  7. Change for the sake of change. ( Most people have no idea what true repentance means. They don't. They come to God with things in their hand they want to use as bargaining chips with God. They think.... "God..... this is what I'll do for you if you do what you promised for me"...... and that's what "ministers" have made repentance out to be. Bring your "things" to God and just "turn your back" on them and you'll be okay. Sorry. That's not what True Repentance is..... Repentance is "GRANTED" from God. You can't bring anything to God. You have nothing to give. You can't turn away from sin because you're SURROUNDED by sin. Repentance is a "TURN TO" Christ. Its a realization that everything is WORTHLESS.... You need Him. Change WITHOUT a central focus on the Eternal Doctrine of Christ..... is useless. When I said God grants repentance..... I mean.....When you get it right, and you've sincerely acknowledged your HELPLESS condition.... God will grant you repentance. Then and only then, will you experience real change.)
  
  8. Lack of Brokeness. ( Pride is a terrible thing. Terrible. The more I live, the more I realize just how overwhelmingly destructive Pride can be. I'm not casting stones. I'm guilty. Wholly guilty. So guilty, at times, I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself. There can be no "revival" without our Pride being broken. Yet, often pride is "on display" at many revival meetings. I can't help but be disturbed at how ministers describe themselves. "Dynamic preaching". "Appointed". "Anointed".... "Powerful preaching"..... that "ignites the atmosphere with enthusiasm".... REALLY? I wonder sometimes if some minsters wouldn't love a "alabaster box of ointment" foot massage for their weary feet..... I mean... Jesus got it. He's our example....Geesh. Brokeness removes "self" and lets Jesus shine through. Remember. Jesus is the Light of the World. Not us.)
  
  Rant off...
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