Interpreting A Unique Work of The Holy Spirit
Last night, on April 26th, we experienced a brief outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our PM gathering. It was beautiful. I had finished preaching John 3. We discussed Jesus’ command that “you must be born again.” As we entered into our time of response, our pastors sensed that the Holy Spirit was inviting us to stay. In the end, our gathering lasted nearly three hours. We received multiple prophetic words. People believed on Jesus for the first time and 11 people were baptized (the first of which I am happy to say was my oldest daughter). It was one of the most beautiful gatherings I can remember in the 10 year history of our church.
For years now we have been asking God for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit over our city. We have been praying Habakkuk 3:2 - “Lord I have heard the report about you; Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy!” We long to see Him revive His works. And in the last few months we have seen some glimpses of what we have been asking for.
But here is what you find with revival. Biblical revival is never an odd, sensationalized, overly hyped gathering. When many well-meaning Christians think of revival, this is what they assume. But to summarize the great American theologian, Jonathan Edwards, true revival is simply an acceleration and intensification of the normal activity of the Holy Spirit. When true revival happens Jesus is exalted, we are humbled, sin is repented of, the lost are saved, the sick are healed, and captives are set free. When revival happens, the normal things that God is always doing are accelerated and intensified. In fact, after experiencing the First Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards wrote a piece called “The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God” in which he lays out five indicators of true revival.
Here they are:
The exaltation of Jesus Christ: He says, “When the operation is such as to raise their esteem of that Jesus who was born of the Virgin, and was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem; and seems more to confirm and establish their minds in the truth of what the gospel declares to us of his being the Son of God, and the Saviour of men; is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God.”
The undermining of Satan’s schemes: He says,“When the spirit that is at work operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom, which lies in encouraging and establishing sin, and cherishing men’s worldly lusts; this is a sure sign that it is a true, and not a false spirit.”
A love for the Word of God: He states,“The spirit that operates in such a manner, as to cause in men a greater regard to the Holy Scriptures, and establishes them more in their truth and divinity, is certainly the Spirit of God.”
Lies are replaced with a love for the truth of sound doctrine: Edwards says, “Another rule to judge of spirits may be drawn from those compellations given to the opposite spirits… we see that it operates as a spirit of truth, leading persons to truth, convincing them of those things that are true…; and confirms them in other things that are agreeable to some sound doctrine.”
Growth in love for God and other people: He says,“If the spirit that is at work among a people operates as a spirit of love to God and man, it is a sure sign that it is the Spirit of God.”
We received a glimpse of these things last night. And trust me, I am hungry for more of this. But I also feel a burden to lead us through this well.
We received a glimpse of these things last night. And trust me, I am hungry for more of this. But I also feel a burden to lead us through this well.
So, here are three things to keep in mind as we seek God for more:
We don’t pursue moments, we pursue Jesus. It can become easy to desire to recreate the moment. We must never do this. We are not into manufacturing moments. We are into pursuing and exalting Jesus (Colossians 1:15-23).
We don’t sit back and settle, we seek Him for more.This is a moment to be in the prayer room. To show up to Sunday gatherings prayerfully expecting to encounter God. God has plans for us that we want to ask Him to fulfill (Matthew 7:7-8).
We don’t get a big head, we humble ourselves. It could be easy for us to start to think that we are special because things like this are happening in our church. We are not. We remember that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
I am reminded of God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 where God says,“If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on my people, 14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
I am deeply grateful for what is happening in our church. My prayer is that Jesus will be exalted and loved in our city.
Lets keep seeking Him,
Corbin Hobbs, Lead Pastor