Lessons from first Advent for Revival

This Christmas season, there are four simple lessons from the First Christmas, that I would like to share, that can help prepare our hearts to Birth Christ again so that Revival comes to the Church and Kingdom of God to the society at large. When I mean birth Christ, it is to model Jesus like behavior.

Feeding on God’s word

How many of you if asked to speak at a child dedication or Baby showers or a Birthday, will speak the Word of God, so much so that it can be appended to the Bible later on. Don’t dismiss what I say lightly. If you aren’t mature in the Lord, you can’t birth Jesus. Mary was just a girl in her late teens or 20’s, but she was truly mature in the Lord. Today, Do you know the prophecies about Jesus second coming?

Being led by the Spirit

Look at how many times Joseph took his child and went here, went there. Simeon came into the temple at the time baby Jesus was being dedicated. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then, he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32).

Even the wise men searched the scriptures and were led by the Holy spirit. The star was an outward sign, but it was the inward belief that propelled them through cloudy nights and dark days. These were probably the Persian converts in Babylon, during the captivity. Wise men too took a different route and escaped Herod because the Holy Spirit told them.

See the shepherds, how prompt were they in obeying the instructions of the Lord. Instant obedience even at say 2 or 3am at night. They didn’t delay, if they waited till next day after breakfast, they may not have been part of the Christmas story.

Out of the comfort zone

Here’s a young girl being engaged to a guy. The girl says she is pregnant with God and the husband believes it. The guy finally accepts to marry her. How much ridicule he may have had to face in society? I mean who will do that. Elizabeth too faced a lot of shame and hid herself, because she had a late pregnancy, But, that’s how John was born. All these people faced ridicule, shame, hardships. If you are a simple Church Christian, no trouble will come. But when you begin obeying the Holy Spirit, you will be shut out, ridiculed, called names. This is the price to pay. Jesus told us so too.

Fully yielded lives

These people were fully yielded to the single cause of bringing the Kingdom of God upon the earth. Even their careers and families had one single goal. An overarching zeal to see Jesus birthed and Kingdom of God come upon the earth.

Friends, we are living between two Advents. The First Advent is over and the Church is waiting for the Second Advent of Christ. The next big event in World history is this - a Global Revival that will prepare the planet for the Return of Jesus. This revival could start in your own life, in your family and friends, but this is the flame that will grow bigger and bigger and finally touch many people, as Azusa street did and as Welsh Revival did. No doubt it will start in many places. It will be unstoppable and bring many people into the Kingdom of God. God is once more looking for yielded hearts and Bible reading believers. And as Evan Roberts (Welsh Revival) told his people, Obey the Spirit promptly.

Today, is your career more important. Is growing to become a VP or buying the next house that important. Joseph, Mary, Shepherds didn’t have any of these things. Simeon was an old Pastor, Anna a really old lady, just fasting and praying. But they all saw Jesus.

As sure as the LORD lives, this Revival is going to happen. It is an event prophesied in the Bible. In Azusa days, William J Seymour said, in about 100 years from now, God is going to bring forth a Revival that will touch the entire planet. It will be much much bigger than Azusa street. The question before us, is this - will you obey and set your life fully in alignment with the will of God?

Blessed Christmas to you and families