And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 1 Sam 3:19 ESV
I am learning not to let God’s words fall to the ground (like Samuel).
God is showing me what it took for Evan Roberts to impact a 100,000 people. I watched a video about the Welsh Revival in 1904-5. When you watch the video, you begin to realize that Evan Roberts was seeking God with such intensity that people thought he was losing his mind. He was up long hours in the night and everything else was being neglected as he cried out after God; even his studying to prepare for the ministry. There was a hunger for God that would not be distracted by anything. Once he had a word from God about what to do, he went to his hometown, had a special service, and began to help others understand how to be filled with the Spirit. It was not enough to have a great meeting, and then go back to business as usual until next week’s meeting. No! Night after night he kept calling people to drop everything to meet with the Lord. This continued week in and week out until 100,000 people were saved in six months time.
There was the same kind of hunger that led Jesus into the desert. The Spirit brought Jesus to a place where there were no distractions and busyness. There Jesus and the Father settled on the front end of his ministry that he would obey the Father’s will. Satan tempted Jesus with everything he had to offer, but Jesus resolved to obey the Fathers will. Jesus would not be distracted by anything the world had to offer.
This is the kind of desire for God we need. Revival in our lives is wholehearted love for God and being undistracted. Praying, reading God’s Word earnestly to hear a word from God and not getting distracted in following through with doing what God says. I see in our lives that often when we get a glimpse of God’s leading and working, we start to do what God says but then usually let it fall to the ground as we get distracted by other things. God’s word does not come to fruition because what God said does not get acted upon. Personal revival will soon come when we turn from sin, put aside all distractions that consume our time and keep us from prayer and doing God’s will, obey the Spirit promptly in everything he says to us in the Word of God, and boldly bear witness to Jesus.
This is what Jesus spoke of in the Parable of the Sower…
And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:14-15 ESV
What will help us be undistracted?
- Scheduling an unhurried time with God everyday.
- Reading a chapter of the Bible a day to hear what God wants to say to us
- Writing down the insights and convictions of what we should do as we hear God’s word (a Spiritual Journal)
- Doing what God reveals to us in our daily time with Him
- Setting aside a couple of hours every few months to review our spiritual journal to make sure we are following through with what God has said to us
- Being part of a discipleship group or small group that will encourage us and keep us accountable to follow through
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