GOD’S DEMAND IS NOT REVIVAL BUT REFORMATION
God’s Demand Is Not Revival but Reformation: Why the Church Needs Lasting Change
There has been this cry from many brothers and sisters in the Lord and even a call for days for prayer by the church…. There is a sound of many voices calling out to God to send a revival. God’s response to the church is not REVIVAL but a demand for REFORMATION.
Understanding the Difference: Revival vs. Reformation
Revival is something that comes and then goes. If we study the different revivals through the ages they were all marked by a divine visitation of God. However we do not see that a constant and permanent change was brought to the Church. Reformation is rectification of that what is crooked and an alignment to accuracy and truth.
A Brief History of Church Reformations and Why the Church Needs Reformation Today
The Church has gone through several REFORMATIONS. I believe that one of the most well known reformations is that of Martin Luther through the 95 thesis that he presented and nailed to the door of the Church. This was typified with the concept of JUSTIFICATION. There were others as well such as FAITH TOWARD GOD that can be called the HOLINESS MOVE (John & Charles Wesley in the 1800’s. It was followed by the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS with the PENTECOSTAL MOVE in the early 1900’s. The main focus here was MANIFESTATIONS and the LAYING ON OF HANDS whereafter we see the CHARISMATIC MOVE – in the late 1900’s.
Today we see a picture of the Church that has grown cold and ineffective to a large extent. Reformation and alignment to accuracy and truth is needed. I believe that when God starts to RESTRUCTURE THE CHURCH MANY PASTORS TODAY WILL FIND THEMSELVES RETRENCHED. Many pastors and spiritual leaders have STAGNATED in ministry, they are OUTDATED. There is an inability to embrace and release proceeding truth in most of the churches today. We are seeing a new season and move called the Apostolic Reformation in this age. Here we see a restoration of TRUE APOSTLES of our time. There is as always a false move as well called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) which is a false move.
THE PRUNING
When God RESTRUCTURES or REFORMS the church, there is a pruning that takes place. Every tree that is not producing must be cut in order to bear more and better fruit.
Joh 15:2 AMP
Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
This might sound very harsh but our GOD is up to Kingdom Business. In business today we retrench and even close a business down if it does not produce the profit that we demand. How much more do we not need to produce fruit in the Kingdom of God? The question today my friend that we need to ask ourselves is whether I am bearing fruit? Do I constantly allow the Lord God to prune me from all that are not accurately aligned to manifesting the Christ? This is the mindset and attitude of a reformer. There must be a constant seeking to alignment to God’s NOW WORD in this season. We must align and bring ourselves to a place where we embrace the proceeding truth that God is releasing to the Body of Christ, His Bride.
Are You Ready to Embrace Reformation?
To what extent are we willing to let go of our pet theologies and doctrines and to embrace the fullness of the truth that God is releasing to His Body in this time?
When we study the lives of reformers you will find that each and every one paid a high price. Most of the apostles died a martyr’s death. Martin Luther paid the price in his body… and eventually died of infections and a stroke.
You don’t need a special calling to be a REFORMER. In this season God is looking for VOLUNTEERS in the day of His power, to bring REFORMATION TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. Not CHURCH as we know it, but THE BRIDE.
The BRIDE IS NOT ONLY IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY. The Bride is in the Market place, the Bride is in the Social Sectors of our nation, The Bride is in Politics, in Government, The Bride is in the School, university, the MEDICAL FRATERNAL; and in YOUR CITY.
Reformation starts with one person responding to the unction and demand of the Holy Spirit to confront inaccuracies and to seek alignment to truth at whatever price that needs to be paid. I believe that Jesus is the greatest example of a reformer.
Luk 9:23
And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
Are you ready and willing to respond to the call of the Master without reservation and in obedience to His voice?
OR
Will you do as John the Baptist did…. Acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God but fail to embrace the CHRIST.
God bless you till next time.