Wednesday, 3 August 2022

People of the Book


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What is the mark of a true revival? It's not miracles. Even pagans chase miracles and they are not mentioned as evidence of revival. It's not emotion, though those who are revived will be enraptured with joy. No, it is learning, it is understanding:

Isaiah 29:22-24 -

22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

In the spirit of the revived, in the midst of a true revival, you will see a pouring out of a desire among people to want to live God's way, and the best way to learn this is to be instructed in God's ways. In the revived people the straying spirit will come to understanding. Those who were critical will become students of instruction.

When God is moving his people become students of the written word. Because God gave his people a written word to be students of. That is why early Muslims called Christians: people of the book. Where you see this spirit of sanctity mixed with studious devotion to God's work, that is where you can see a powerful work of the Spirit. Where Christians shun the Bible, there is a barren tree, even if it looks busy.  

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