My personal story
I have been a reseach physicist and college teacher for most of my life, have seen a lot of ups and downs, of joys and sorrows. Tried to find the key to a better life in the "transcendental meditation" movement. Never found it, they don't have it.
Some 5 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ entered into my life. From the beginning, the relationship with Him has been personal and intimate. As He had promised, I was able to hear His voice in my mind (not audibly) and know His spiritual presence in my heart.
An important issue for walking with Christ was and is to learn spiritual discernment, to be able to tell the voice of the Lord from the voices of lying spirits. Not everything that is heard in the spirit is of God. You can read about some of my experiences here. In the end, it comes down to truly knowing who God is, and what He is like, as He relates to us, His human creations.
I am discovering more and more that He is a good God. He loves us, atthough He does not love our vices. I am finding the He is faithful. He has made clear promises valid under clearly defined conditions. I see Him keeping them, as I keep my side of the contract, and trust Him for His. This is an exciting and sometime scary process, because I have to trust and let go of hedging my bets.
But this, I found, is the only life worth living. A life of loving service to Him, trusting Him for all and with all.
The bigger picture: Beyond Revival
Reading the Bible, it quickly became obvious to me that the Lord is calling us to be members of His Body, the Church. I believe that this also means to be a member of a local church, a local congregation. Without that, the very notion of a body looses its meaning
The Lord graciously lead me into a bible believing, spirit filled apostolic church. Looking around, I realized that large parts of the Body of Christ are without power, without life, caught in religious traditions or putting their hope in man-made programs.
A situation recognized and lamented by many, but what is the root cause? Why have all revivals been so short lived? What distinguished the early church from what came later?
What will it take to have a vibrant Church without spot or wrinkle, a Church where the glory and power of God can find a place of habitation? The glory of God could manifestly dwell with man under the Old Covenant. How much more should He be able to dwell among us under the New Covenant, where the veil has been rent, and our righteousness is forever secured in Christ.
How can we dare to set out and try to do the work of the Lord, when He cannot even dwell among us? Moses certainly didn't feel he could do it.
These are burning questions, to which we need an answer, before rushing into action. And I suspect that
1) the Lord has the answer and He has already given it in His Word,
2) He is not holding back the revelation of it from us,
3) He is looking for a remnant of people that are willing to ask the answer from Him in humility, and to do His bidding, working together in love as member of His body.
As for me, I am determined to receive the answer from the Lord. I am determined to join my hands in love with everyone of like mind, to fight the good fight of faith, to build the house of the Lord, to do His bidding, not ours.