When Revival Is A Hindrance


Contrary to what you may have heard, Pentecost was not a revival.  It was a time on God's clock when the church was birthed and activated.  Even then there was such a draw to remain around the comfortable fire of Jerusalem that no one wanted to leave.  Then the Lord allowed (or caused, depending on your doctrine) persecution to drive the church away from stagnation to activation.  It's also very interesting what the KJV says in Acts 8:1 "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles." The Scripture goes on to say that those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Jesus has promised empowered and equipped  but it also activated.  To be empowered and equipped without being activated leads to a drying up on the vine.  


During the last decade there were hundreds of thousands of people who traveled great distances to experience some kind of refreshing "in the Presence".  That is a wonderful thing but if it doesn't lead to activation the end result will always be negative.  It would actually be better to have never been empowered and equipped if activation doesn't follow.  Of course the activation of which I speak is doing the work of Jesus among the world.