Walking with God - 9/12
Revival then Reformation
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He that has surrendered to Jesus, and thus entered the narrow path (been revived), should not look back to the world. He should ask God to take away the love of the world and make a reformation in his life so that the things that used to tie him to the world will not cause him to fall and be in a worse condition than before.
SUMMARY
Once you have surrendered to Jesus, you have entered the narrow way. Do not expect all things to be easy now. The way will become narrower and narrower. Now that you have entered the narrow way, you must not look back (Luke 9:62). If you as a Christian constantly look back to what you used to be before and what you are now, constantly wanting the things of the world, looking at the wide way, you are not fit for the kingdom. Now we have only one objective – to become like Christ. And the only way to do it is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
In order for a revival to accomplish its work it must be followed by a reformation. Otherwise the revival will die off and you will be left in a worse condition than before. King Josiah after having a revival, he had a reformation. (2 Chronicles 34; 2 Kings 23:3-25). Reformation is the act of cutting off all the ties with the old life so that now there is nothing that will compel you to look back. If you are on the narrow path and are casting a longing eye to the world, you will end up in the world. It is here where we are in danger. The work of reformation will last a lifetime – it is sanctification. And it must begin with the things you can get rid of. See also Colossians 3:1-9. In sanctification there is cooperation with God. He takes away the love for worldly things, but you must destroy them (movies, fashions, foods, etc). If reformation is done before revival, it will not last. We should ask God to change our hearts, and empower us to make the change in our lives.
As long as we have satan’s things in our homes, he has full access to us and we should not wonder why we cannot overcome sin (Joshua 6:18, 19, 7:1-12). There is only one thing to do with the accursed (music, books, fashions, prohibited foods, etc) – is to burn them. Jesus wants a church that is pure. If you are not converted and reform, you may think that you are right. Reformation does not make you right. It simply is necessary because these things do not belong to the Christian life. What makes you right is Christ and his righteousness. Burning things is a matter of hours. But there are other things that need to be dealt with – anger, etc.
SUMMARY
Once you have surrendered to Jesus, you have entered the narrow way. Do not expect all things to be easy now. The way will become narrower and narrower. Now that you have entered the narrow way, you must not look back (Luke 9:62). If you as a Christian constantly look back to what you used to be before and what you are now, constantly wanting the things of the world, looking at the wide way, you are not fit for the kingdom. Now we have only one objective – to become like Christ. And the only way to do it is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
In order for a revival to accomplish its work it must be followed by a reformation. Otherwise the revival will die off and you will be left in a worse condition than before. King Josiah after having a revival, he had a reformation. (2 Chronicles 34; 2 Kings 23:3-25). Reformation is the act of cutting off all the ties with the old life so that now there is nothing that will compel you to look back. If you are on the narrow path and are casting a longing eye to the world, you will end up in the world. It is here where we are in danger. The work of reformation will last a lifetime – it is sanctification. And it must begin with the things you can get rid of. See also Colossians 3:1-9. In sanctification there is cooperation with God. He takes away the love for worldly things, but you must destroy them (movies, fashions, foods, etc). If reformation is done before revival, it will not last. We should ask God to change our hearts, and empower us to make the change in our lives.
As long as we have satan’s things in our homes, he has full access to us and we should not wonder why we cannot overcome sin (Joshua 6:18, 19, 7:1-12). There is only one thing to do with the accursed (music, books, fashions, prohibited foods, etc) – is to burn them. Jesus wants a church that is pure. If you are not converted and reform, you may think that you are right. Reformation does not make you right. It simply is necessary because these things do not belong to the Christian life. What makes you right is Christ and his righteousness. Burning things is a matter of hours. But there are other things that need to be dealt with – anger, etc.
