Luke 19:41-44 Now as He (Jesus) drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
While seeking God today about other things apart from this subject, or as of now I think they were, a somber thought came to mind. “Did America Miss It’s Time of Visitation?”
As I began to focus on this thought alone I thought about the last 4 years under the Trump administration. A driving force that helped to get him elected was the huge support from the Christian leaders and community. In my life I have seen the political landscape swing every 4 or 8 years like a pendulum on a large grandfather clock. The great peaks of left liberal progressiveness eventually give way to the far right conservative agendas, but only for a season.
My blog is not politically centered even though I mention it at times. My point today is about what Christians, the Church and its people, say they want. A reoccurring theme in the Church is the need for revival. I myself have prayed and fasted many days a year for that goal alone, to see true “Holy Spirit” lead revival. History and evidence proves that God visits His people at the times of His choosing, NOT on the calendars set by men.
In a way I believe God gave the Church and many Christians a season with Trump when the pendulum swung to the right. I also believe that for awhile they made good use of that season. For a long time though I have felt that this visitation of God’s favor was squandered in some ways. I remember sermons at the church I had been attending shift over time from being mostly Christ, Salvation and Biblical teachings to being secular focused. I couldn’t wait for football seasons to end because that was mentioned so much before the real preaching began. I even gave it a name, “The Football Season of Preaching.” Also I began hearing more frequently sermons based on the “prosperity” gospel. My skin would crawl when I heard, “Money Coming,” and I’d hope and pray it was a long time before I’d hear it again. About this time last year, before Covid 19 took root I had decided to look for another church. One that focused entirely on the Word of God from a balanced approach.
Since Covid started and through this election cycle I wish I’d counted how many times I’ve heard Christians proclaim that “God Promised A Huge Revival” before the last days would really kick in and turn for the worst. “We gotta have 4 more years of Donald Trump” was another. Like Trump was the answer. Sometimes I wonder what God thought during this last presidential election campaign. Click this link, “Massive Arizona Trump Train” on Youtube and think, “when did I see this happen for God.”
Does God think, “When was the last time people gathered in tens of thousands, lined the roadways celebrating for Me or with great anticipation of a Visitation by Me?”
Matthew 21:6-11 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Think about the last time you saw the excitement focused on a mere human like Trump, directed by the hundreds of thousands to Almighty God. I have to wonder if He wasn’t just a little bit jealous.
I have long believed that a huge revival is coming to America and the world but I also believe it won’t be set on some mans calendar. I think it will be in a time of great distress among men and nations. I’m surely not a prophet so it is only my opinion and partly from my own experiences.
In the times I fasted and prayed for revival for others, I experienced it in my own heart and mind. Think about any revival, even the greatest ones recorded. God dealt with communities and nations ONE Individual at a time. The Holy Spirit was definitely over a region working powerfully to drive people to repentance, a seldom mentioned or preached word. Revival is just that. A persons realization of their sinful state, what will be their end if they don’t change and opened eyes, ears and heart to see God as the solution.
Fads like the Beatles and Donald Trump has come and gone throughout history. On March 4, 1966 the London Evening Standard printed that quote by John Lennon, that’s 55 years ago. Fourteen years later on Dec. 8, 1980 John met his appointment with death and faced eternity.
I would say time has proved John wrong about the Beatles remaining “bigger” than Jesus but I have to agree with something he said that day.
“It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me” too John.
In the end the ONLY Revival that will matter is the one in our own heart. The revival that keeps us walking “with God,” and not away from Him. Revival is an everyday thing, not a once in a lifetime event. Visitations by God to His people are to bring them into relationship with Him. This is a song that says where revival is needed.
Let it start with me
Open up my eyes
Fill my heart with your compassion
Free my mind from all distractions
Use my hands, to set the captive free
Move my feet to follow after you
Lord change the world and let it start with me
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
In The Word 