Of Riots and Revivals

 

Monday, February 8, 2021

The same thing happened in Iconium.  Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.  Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.   But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord.  And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.  But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them.  Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.  Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them.  When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area.  And there they preached the Good News.  Acts 14:1-7

Those who propose change usually get the same response from those who oppose change…a riot, or a revival.  It is often said that the apostle Paul always started one of those, but, most often, it was both!  Such is the nature of what Jesus intended for the Good News of God’s Kingdom.

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth!  I came not to bring peace, but a sword.  ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  Matthew 10:34-35

Some will take Jesus’ words out of context to sanctify unholy ambitions, such as what drove the riot at D.C.’s Capitol last month.  That aside, there is always a sense of division that comes with proclaiming Christ.  That division line is a fault that opens whenever the truth is preached.  It opens a clearly-defined chasm between the camps of faith and unbelief.  To those who recognize their sinfulness and need of a savior, faith springs like wildflowers in the desert after a sudden downpour.  To those who are resistant to bowing to any other than themselves, it brings anger, more resistance, and riot.  When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed those are the only two choices – faith gladly received, or independence and rejection of the Sovereign nature of Almighty God:  it’s either a revival or a riot!

And that happened everywhere Paul and the other believers faithfully delivered the message, some would believe, and some would pick up stones to bludgeon the messengers. 

It’s still that way.

And, what of the lasting result of such a Gospel?  That is also predictable.  The result is unity…in two opposing camps.

What?  How can you speak of unity and opposition?

It’s simple, light is unified with light, and the same is true of darkness.  To those who follow the light of Christ, they do not dwell with darkness.  Evil cannot exist with good; neither can cold be hot.  Just like two children on the playground’s see-saw will be either up or down, but not both!  Those who live and walk-in faith, clinging to Christ alone, will never settle for the darkness of this world’s ways.

It’s either (say it with me) revival…or…riot!

For You Today

Bringing it down to a personal level, if you want revival – the rebirth of life – within your own soul, there must be a riot against the darkness.  It’s called repentance, turning away from the darkness, and turning-to the light of Jesus Christ’s love, His gift of grace offered to us on the cross. 

When you remember that, and embrace that, you look to the light, and away from the darkness.  That’s the kind of division Jesus came to bring.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: via Wikimedia Commons Art UK, Public Domain,    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For another post on Revival see We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us and Revival, Please

 

When Faith Leads to Trouble

"CaravaggioSalomeLondon". Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.  John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork.  Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”  John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.  John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done.  So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.    Luke 3:15-19 (NLT)

John knew at least three things:

He knew he was NOT the Messiah.

He knew Jesus WAS the Messiah.

He knew a servant must KEEP both of those facts in plain view.

John, as a servant of Jesus, was willing to hold to that truth no matter what it cost him.

And it did cost him…everything.  

John the Baptist was a preacher of righteousness who talked of fire and threshing floors, where the wheat is taken violently out of the chaff.  He didn’t fear telling the truth, even to a wicked king like Herod.  This prophet was fierce and unwavering in his devotion to the Kingdom of God.  In the end they cut off his head to say thanks for your ministry!

How inconvenient! 

Not exactly a gold retirement watch and Hallmark Channel finish to John’s life.

I am quite often amazed, particularly compared to the Baptist’s fate, at how comfortable my life has been.  Compared to John the Baptist I have hardly had troubles.  That’s not to say there hasn’t been pain and heartache over personal losses and family difficulties – everyone experiences that. 

But, in the wee hours of the morning, I’m faced with the question of why John suffered as he did, and not Russell.  (Now, stop peeking over my shoulder….I could have used your name here too, you know; we all have to answer this question…has Russell, have you been as committed to Jesus as John the Baptist…and if not, why not?).

Why is it that the greater the devotion to the Kingdom and King Jesus, the less you’re likely to experience comfort?  Could it have something to do with picking up a cross? 

By the way…that was Jesus’ plan; when you give yourself fully to the service of King Jesus others will get ticked, just like Herod fumed over John’s stand for truth.  Contrary to some contemporary preaching of the “prosperity gospel” Jesus did not come to provide the comfortable life of the American way, with two cars, 401K, lake houses and time share travel vacations.  And Jesus knew that people would bristle over the cost of picking up a cross…

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth!  I came not to bring peace, but a sword.  ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  Matthew 10:34-35 (NLT)

Here’s a dose of reality at 5am:  If you want to follow Jesus, closely, devotedly, obediently, get ready for surrender!  Get ready to surrender all thought of comfort and ease.  Living a life of following Jesus Christ is joyful and peaceful in the heart, but it’s liable to get you in trouble everywhere else!  Including family, friends and kings.

For You, Today…

A question:  If it was going to cost you everything you possess, would it be your choice to stand and loudly proclaim Jesus as King?