The start of Revival!

As I ended last time I have been drawn to a few topics that have led me to a revival of my spirit. One of the last things that just slapped me in the face, but was super important was reading Hebrews 5. This is where they are explaining that Jesus is the ultimate high priest and why. How he became the author of our salvation and he is always the mark that we are to aim for.

Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Regular men are asked to serve the rest of mankind, “ordained FOR men”. This starts teaching the true meanings of LOVE! God asks I obey. The only way I can love God is thru total obedience. John 14: 21-23 and 2 John 1:6 Doing this for the benefit of others is how we LOVE each other. John 15:13 It’s all about helping others, never about me!
Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
This is the importance of Jesus being fully human as well as fully God, so he could understand our flesh. Now seeing that we are all just normal men who are all sinful by nature, we should be more compassionate to the unsaved and the backslider. I sure know how easy it is to be “out of the way”.
Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
So I as a priest should offer for sins of all which includes me, so all of us can have and keep closer fellowship with God the Father. One sin without repentance breaks fellowship, and yes that goes for God’s people before Christ and after. Being saved just means “no Hell”, everything else still applies.
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
We do not call ourselves to leadership or do it to gain honor, but we are the brotherhood of priests now and this is our example of the best one ever. I am afraid there are too many in it for the wrong reasons, as people wanting to uplift themselves or obtain some kind of reward on earth. I personally feel I have aided this by not answering some of God’s calls in my life. Telling God no is a really bad plan by the way.
Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Next cool thing I started picking up on was the New Testament sure does quote the Old Testament a lot! It is used to show something has come to pass or to validate truths. I believe some time ago I had told myself the Old Testament is just old. It is not that important is it? I believe it is quoted about 700 times in the New Testament. That is about 25 times per book. Jesus quoted it constantly. Seems pretty important and a lot to overlook.
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Jesus is assuming the role of intercessor that Moses, Abraham, David and others did for God’s people. Offering prayers and negotiating with loud and forceful cries unto the Father. God listened because he feared! Am I really to fear God? Can’t I just respect him? Kinda like a loving grandfather that always has candy for me when I see him. We better fear him! I learned this one the hard way. Jesus even feared the Father and spoke of it more than just here. This will be the focus of Revival. I am fearful by nature. The quicker I realize who to fear the better. I believe this to be the greatest deception of our time. The serpent told Eve “surely God doesn’t really mean you will die”. Trade the words “will die” for “must fear” and here we are back in the garden being deceived.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Listen up, no one is special and gets a free pass after salvation. If Christ had to suffer so shall we. Paul writes that we are to perfect or complete our salvation thru suffering! He learned obedience thru what he suffered. WOW! I had made every excuse possible to not suffer. Shouldn’t this be easier? God doesn’t want me to really suffer does he? I guess I figured fearing and obeying could be gotten around and suffering was just not an option. Fearing and suffering lead to obedience and where in here does it say this is easy. God says easy love is worthless, even sinners can love when it is easy. Luke 6:32 Bottom line is, if I love at all I should go to any lengths to show it! I just hate to suffer and I hate to obey and was being selfish. This is why I need an intercessor like Christ.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Made perfect is 100% obedience. No sin! Praise the lord his perfect obedience came to completion on the cross and he rose three days later. He became the author of salvation thru this to ALL who obey him. This means all that believe and ask. Just like the thief hanging right beside him. He sure didn’t have time to earn it. Awesome part is this has been the plan since beginning of time.
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
They would like me to know more about Jesus, but I am so dull of hearing it is hard to explain. Hey, I am a smart guy. I have read the Bible. What’s up with this?
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Now this hit me hard, but this got me thinking. This is saying by now I should be a master/teacher with an obligation to be teaching others, but I still need to be taught the basics. I need milk because I can’t handle meat. Maybe even I desired the milk because I wanted someone to do the hard part for me?
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
If I need milk I am inexperienced and almost ignorant in the word. Like an infant that can not yet speak. I have always wanted to comfort, provide, teach and protect people. This is the role of any good father. I just never understood how ignorant I was in the only help we have and which father really provides this.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
This makes a little more sense. It says I never completed what I started 30 years ago because I had not made a habit of constantly practicing the reading, use and understanding of scripture so I might be able to discern both good and evil. I believe it had been about 30 years after Christ’s death when this was written. Sounds pretty familiar and these guys had Paul and the apostles and they had fallen behind. I had overlooked the great commission. I had never finished becoming a disciple.

2Ti 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
2Ti 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Sounds like this had started to be a big problem. Here in Timothy, they have added explanation about who wrote the Bible too. Sounds simple, but I hear it all the time. Did God write it, or Paul, or Moses, etc? I have wondered too. The Bible is clear, God wrote it! Second interesting thing is if they had understanding of scripture since early childhood, they were only reading the Old Testament then. This was just being written to them. I believe we all have really lost the value of the Old Testament.

I look back at how little I had studied the word of God over the last 20 years and I am ashamed. I feel foolish to have thought I understood anything. Being saved at 9 and doing just enough, or sometimes nothing had taught me just enough to be only harmful to myself, others around me and worst of all I was harming his kingdom. I failed at the most important purpose of the church. Make disciples! Jesus saves and we help make disciples. I could never help others if I had never become one myself and that only happens thru his word and prayer! I remember a disagreement I had last summer where we were using the opposite end of the same Bible verse against each other. I want to laugh at how foolish we both were but it isn’t funny. If I am ever just half right I am totally wrong! This is one of the things God keeps reminding me of that has led to the revival of his spirit in me. It has been hard sometimes to face all my mistakes and keep getting them shown to me, but I can’t explain the freedom and peace in realizing I am worthless without his word and spirit.

Php 4:5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Php 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Php 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

There are things I wish I could take back, but through all this I have learned to embrace his discipline. It is what changed me and the Holy Spirit shows me when I mess up now. Nothing is sustainable without him and thru obedience we can be given the understanding than no matter how tough it gets it is better than being without his love. Love is never easy, but always worth it!

I hear more and more people talking, hoping and even praying for revival. God has asked me to show you what his word says about revival. It is coming! Are you ready! Reading the above scriptures I realized I may have to start back over like a little kid, but interesting how he speaks of “the faith of a child” which is probably the best kind. It is awesome to feel like a kid again! I don’t have to figure all this out on my own. I have a Father that is ready and willing to help show me the way. Listen, it is ok to be a kid at heart. I am concerned that as we get older it is much more difficult to remove our stubborn pride from his call to love him thru obeying all he asks and humbly serving others and never serve our own selfish desires. God has led me to his revivals. They are only in the Old Testament. These show how God’s people can easily fall out of fellowship, due to our disobedience and need reviving. Hosea 4:1-6 warns that the lack of truth, mercy and the knowledge of GOD is destroying us. All thru our churches and even country today, I do not believe we realize how bad we are out of his fellowship. I personally did not grasp how far from him I was. We are all being disciplined right now! All of us! It has gotten painful for everyone, but I had one thing he promises. He is always calling for us to turn back and he is ready to forgive and restore and nothing is too difficult with his help. We have to choose to turn back, and we have some serious work to do, but revival is always granted if you mean it. It is time to restore the fear of my Lord!

I love you cause Jesus loves both of us and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!

BEZ