by Pastor Mark Cowart
Nothing does more damage in a society and a culture than Christians who are living double lives. In other words, they are not transformed to be single-minded believers. I like to think of what needs to happen for each of us as returning to our first love. This personal, individual spiritual renewal – the restoration of love, holiness, and hunger for God- is the beginning of revival.
Revival and reformation begin in the Church and in individual believers. Hearts are changed, lives transformed. Once the people of God are awakened and reformed, change in the culture at large can be affected. In fact, I believe America was birthed through transformed Christ followers.
Looking back at the Puritans and the pilgrims, the Word of God was of greatest importance in their lives. Many of them crossed the ocean, at great personal risk, to find a land where they could worship and serve Him according to His Word rather than tradition. These people walked in a biblical fear of God, which gave them supernatural wisdom and provision to overcome impossible odds.
Today, I believe we are getting back into that divine alignment so that this present culture can be renewed for God’s purposes. The Lord brings truth into structures and systems of government. There are those who have worked to hide the godly foundations of this country to promote the poison of ungodliness.
As a result, America is in captivity in so many ways right now. The world system appears to have gained the upper hand in some areas. The Church has been intimidated into silence, much like the Israelites in the Babylonian captivity, immersed in a pagan culture. They were instructed by God, through the prophet Jeremiah, to pray for the culture where they found themselves.
And remember, Babylon represents a system, a structure. Those demonic forces are still in existence, and they have been brought into American culture and society while the church was asleep. God has a better plan for this nation, a destiny. As long as we are still here, we can come back into alignment with that.
This is what your personal reformation is about: getting back into the calling that God has given you. He planted us in the United States, and He desires that we participate in its prosperity. Not only are we affected, but many nations of the world are affected by what happens in America, and they pray for this nation as well. Because God founded it with a far-reaching destiny and favors it, we, His people, have a greater responsibility to work to preserve it.
How do you do that? As the previous lesson explored, you individually must be revived and transformed before you can participate in the reformation of this corrupted nation. Remember, He is not far from you. You need to be revived. You need your own personal great awakening, and He will bring it about.
One awakening for me was to realize what it means to magnify God. He cannot get any bigger than He is, but our view of Him can. As we focus on Him, worship Him, love and obey Him, we are blessed with an expanded consciousness of His power and sufficiency for us.
By the same principles of your mind, you can be overwhelmed by the enemy when you give him too much attention. Then you had better watch what you say – the power of life and death is in the tongue. You and I are not to let the wind and the waves and the storms of life control our destiny. Your tongue is the rudder of your life, so use it wisely.
Scripture says you control your tongue from your heart. Whatever is put into your heart in abundance will be in your mouth. To be working for God’s Kingdom, as part of the reformation force of light opposing darkness, you have to be full of the Word of God. It’s that simple. By this, your faith also rises to the level of the effective faith discussed earlier in this lesson.
Then, you also need patience to be like those “who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Impatience is actually a sin, while long-suffering is a fruit of the Spirit. Scripture throughout says to wait on the Lord. Sometimes there are things God has to get aligned on. Sometimes the answer is no, or not now, because we cannot see all that He can see.
Patience could also be translated as “endurance” or “perseverance”. This reminds me of a long-distance runner. You are in this for the long haul, so you run the race with faith and patience.
I want to encourage you that, no matter where you find yourself now, the Lord is not finished with you yet. If you’ve drifted, you need to get back in the Word. You are not done until you draw your last breath. You have a purpose, written in God’s book about you. I wonder what’s written on the page for today. He has appointments for you, and if you’ve missed some already, that could explain what’s lacking in your life.
Let revival and reformation begin with you, and move on in faith to bring light to your generation.
DIG DEEPER
- Isaiah 33:22
- Jeremiah 29:7
- Acts 17:26-27
- Proverbs 23:7a
- Proverbs 18:21
- Matthew 12:34
- Luke 6:45
- Hebrews 6:10-12
- Psalm 27:14
- Psalm 37:34
- Philippians 1:6
- Psalm 139
PRAY
- Praise and thank God for this amazing nation He founded on godly principles through His people.
- Repent and ask His forgiveness for any appointments you have missed in His plan for you to participate, as salt and light, in the preservation of this nation.
- Seek Him earnestly for direction to move forward in your destiny, in His plan for you and America.
REFLECT
Can you see how the Church’s complacency has allowed this culture to be corrupted?
Do you personally accept the call to revival and reformation at this time?
Do you believe the transforming power of God’s Word can bring you into your destiny?
