Jesus is Working

 

In John 15:7 Jesus says, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

 

We know that God is never inactive, that He is working in our world all the time.

 

I was asked one time what does it look like when God brings revival. Now, revival and spiritual awakening are different things. Revival is for the church, God’s people, who already have been given life through Jesus but have grown apathetic toward Him. They have lost their passion for Jesus and His kingdom. Spiritual awakening is for those are lost. God graciously moves to create a desperate desire for salvation. The mark of spiritual awakening is many people coming into a relationship with Jesus. But the marks of a revival can numerous and varied.

 

I want to mention three marks that indicate revival in God’s people.

 

Mark #1: Restore the church to love one another with familial love.

 

The church loves each other as family and not just hanging out with each other like members of club or part of an organization.

 

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

When we don’t love each as God loves as His children, as a part of His family, then we don’t show the world the reality of God’s love. The church appears to be just like any other group of people instead of who were really are, the body of Christ.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about loving each other as God loves us, to be able to show God’s love to the world.

 

Mark #2: Restore honor in our relationships.

 

Romans 12:9-10 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Love that comes from God does not stand aloof but enters into the pain of others.

 

In our culture today we demonize those who are not like us or who disagree with us. We are told in this passage that we are to work hard to outdo each other as followers of Jesus to show honor, not contempt to all others. Showing honor to others does not mean that we have to agree with them, but we do have to respect them and give them the right to disagree.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about showing honor to all people regardless of what they think or believe.

 

Mark #3: Restore our relational harmony with one another.

 

Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

 

We as the church need to move from haughtiness to humbleness. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:6-8 that Jesus died for us while we were still weak, ungodly, and sinners. So, we have no reason to feel haughty or prideful that we are saints and others are sinners because we are all saved by grace and not because we have earned it.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about living humbly before God and before people. 

 

God is moving in our nation. The question: Is God moving in your church and in your life?

 

God Moving to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls,

Joe