Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Revival Requests and Expectant Excitement

Does anyone still believe in the possibility of revival?

Psalm 85:4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,

and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation.

 

How often I forget one of the most important prayer requests. How can I forget to cry out as the Psalmist here does? “Restore us please!

 

As I pray this, I am reminded of God’s glory and His sovereignty. “Revival is a work of God where He enlivens His people by accelerating and intensifying His work in individual’s lives” (Jonathan Edwards). If enough people have this personal renewal at any one time and in any one place, then the reality of God’s presence is demonstrated in spiritual sensitivity and a community pursuit of holiness.

 

So as I pray this, I am reminded that revival begins in me.

 

Isaiah 64:1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,

that the mountains might quake at your presence—

2 as when fire kindles brushwood

and the fire causes water to boil—

to make your name known to your adversaries,

and that the nations might tremble at your presence!

3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for,

you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

4 From of old no one has heard

or perceived by the ear,

no eye has seen a God besides you,

who acts for those who wait for him.

5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,

those who remember you in your ways.

Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;

in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?

 

Do I really desire this? Is there not a sense of fear that God would actually do this? Is there not a subtle secret doubt that God actually can or will do this anymore?

 

J.I. Packer often taught about the history of revivals. He made some interesting points about the nature of revival that come from his study of the theology and thoughts of Jonathan Edwards.

 

#1 Revival is more about holy living than new conversions.

#2 We cannot pray revival down – we cannot force God’s hand. It happens in His timing.

#3 Revival will not solve all of the churches problems. It can even create more!

#4 Revival is tied up in a deep desire to glorify God.

#5 Revival causes a deep repentance, responding in holy living, which draws outsiders in.

 

I still am excited about revival in our midst. As I am on the horizon of now 32 years as a Christian educator. God's work has always been going on, but I'm excited to see it in a more concrete way... every day!


This is echoed back to 1844 when Archibald Alexander lamented, “From this cause it proceeds, that many children who have the opportunity of a good pious education learn scarcely anything of the most important truths of Christianity. If they are compelled to commit the catechism to memory, they are accustomed to do this without ever thinking of the doctrines contained in the words which they recite; so that, when the attention is at any time awakened to the subject of religion as a personal concern, they feel themselves to be completely ignorant of the system of divine truth taught in the Bible.”

Dr. Alexander goes on, however, to make a most important point. He said that these truths that seem to be a source of great contention, are hidden treasures that actually have wonderful benefits.

He says it this way: “Of two people under conviction of sin, one of whom has had sound religious instruction and the other none, the former will have an unspeakable advantage over the latter in many respects.”

No doubt that some children of Christian parents experience God’s love in a variety of ways. They may be awakened early to stories of Christ and His sacrifice or God and His mercy. But these early experiences do not always manifest themselves in immediate conversion.

It is hard to know sometimes, if a child is truly converted. The Puritans were very careful in their use of the term. To them, “faith that fizzles was faulty from the first”. They instructed their children in the catechisms, but took no hope in externals and misleading ‘juvenile exercises’.

We must never take lightly the enemies of our souls: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Could it be that the great deceiver would use childhood practice with piety as a veil for true conversion? What if the appearance of salvation prevented true confessions of no faith as the child finally becomes aware of his sin?

Dr. Alexander was not fearful of this line of reasoning. He clearly states:

“While I would not deny that Satan may take advantage of these transient exercises to induce a false hope, I cannot be persuaded that he produces these impressions; for often the people, before experiencing them, were as careless and stupid as he could wish them to be, and because the tendency of these impressions is beneficial. The youth thus affected becomes more tender in conscience, forsakes known sin before indulged, has recourse to prayer, and feels strong desires after eternal happiness. These are not what Satan would effect, if he could, unless we could suppose that he was operating against himself, which our Savior has taught us to be impossible.”

If we understand the work of God’s spirit in a less than immediate or linear experience, we are more able to see that even these transient times of experiencing God are beneficial to conversion- even if it is many years down the road.

I love Dr. Alexander’s point here:

“So, when a revival occurs under the awakening discourses of some evangelist, people are ready to think that he only is the successful preacher whose labors God owns and blesses; whereas he does but bring forward to maturity, feelings and convictions which have been long secretly forming and growing within the soul—but so imperceptibly that the person himself was little sensible of any change.”

And what of those who do not receive adequate religious instruction or have these early impressions? No doubt they can be converted, but the soil is much less ready for the good seed of the word.

So I continue to say to parents and Bible teachers of the young- preach on! You don’t think you are making an impact, but you are! You never know what conditioning is taking place in the depths of the heart.

This doesn’t mean that we not try to find creative, encouraging, positive, and loving attempts to share the good news. But every prayer and every attempt may be producing fruit that we know nothing of, until we see it in eternity!

God bless those who labor among the young!


Here comes a new year and NEW OPPORTUNITIES!


Saturday, July 23, 2022

The 'Highly Functioning' Introvert

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35 ESV)

I never will forget the time one of my daughters looked at me as we sat around a meal, having a great time of fun conversation, and just blurted out the phrase... "Dad, we all know you are a highly functioning introvert."... fulfilling the proverb that many a truth are said in jest.

Even my habit of needing to write things out illustrate what I have always known but rarely considered- my withdrawal from all things and a fortress of solitude that lies deep within.

This solitude is both healthy and destructive and it is where God does great work, but also has had to do an even greater work to understand the dangers and hurts that can result.

I have debated how to flesh this out in a post... do I speak of the harm first? do I extol the virtue first? Do I volley it back and forth?

This topic could create a lot of misunderstanding.... much of human writing is a sort of self-justification... even leading with Mark 1:35 could indicate that I am proud of my powers to hide away and exist..but Jesus withdrew for all the right reasons and motives...and He used the moments to pray. I will confess right now- the solitude that Jesus lived in and the fortress I escape to are as different as night and day...though He is always working on that for me...and sometimes with me.

Here is one more introductory point of this issue- I actually lived much of my early years as an extrovert.... and some of this is being a first born son...but I was lead in plays, outspoken, a guy who 'hammed it up' in social circles from 5th to 12th grade.... but I now see parts of my true personality beginning to develop in my senior year and grew throughout college and solidified itself in my late 20's.
Although I still think that 'ham' is there, part of my introverted self is to only use it as an expediency- it gives me no satisfaction to be in a spotlight. 

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

So with this verse as a holding place... a hopeful promise.... let me start by confessing the problems of living an introverted existence.

UNINTENDED NEGATIVES OF MY FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE

STOICISM- Stoicism (little show of emotion) has its benefits. I have been called a rock in times of crisis, but it is mostly a suppression at best and an act at worst. One of the lowest moments of my life was having to tell various family members that my mom had passed away as they arrived at different times to the hospital - telling that story over and over and suffering the reaction together with aunts, brothers, and dad took months to recover from.

I had similar experiences in my seven years as a Dean of Students and my role of  communicating consequences for school discipline. Though it never showed much on the outside- it was very painful.

Not sure why... no one taught me to be stoic. We didn't show a lot of emotions growing up... I grew up in a world where it was unmanly to cry... and though I rarely shed a tear in public, I am surprised how weepy I can become in private- I cry at movies a lot- even when they aren't sad.

And I am surprised by what brings tears and when they start... they ain't stopping.

Two quick stories of that... in 1996 we were 13-0 and got upset in the semi-finals on the road...I was hurting (like all losses) and one of my mentors came up with a big smile and beautiful words of encouragement- as he spoke great words, he patted me on my chest with a firm point of emphasis, and it was like turning on a tear faucet.....

Another time, I was speaking to a group of my football seniors and parents right before our end of the year banquet... I was speaking about being a lifelong competitor and how they inspired me that season... out of no where, emotions sprang up as I was making a statement about fighting a worthy battle and my voice quivered and the tears flowed.... and to be honest, it was awkward... to this day I think they must have thought "That was strange".

Another way a stoic persona helped me was as a QB on our football team. My calm demeanor in the heat of battle helped keep our offensive huddles poised and we performed well in pressure situations.

BUT IT COMES AT A COST......

Outwardly showing love has never been easy... and the coolness can seem machine like with those need more expression... mostly my wife and children, close friends... they know I love them... I hugged my girls and spent time with them...we loved each other, but I have wrestled most of my life about letting it flow easier.

It also has hurt me at times in positions of leadership. A calm demeanor cannot be beat in times of crisis...but followers need a certain amount of charisma.... and I followed a very charismatic leader when I took my first head coaching job, he was blessed with a magnetic presence and persona and a lot of our leaders today have a look and a presence that sends a lot of energy out.

I think a person like me will always need to surround myself with those types of people and work harder on the personal relationships needed to overcome the 'lack of aura'.

The good news is that I have really improved in both expressing love and finding/showing external energy.

STRANGE STRENGTH IN MY FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE

I just don't know if very people understand this next statement.... or explanation.

Loneliness is a desert of depression

[18] Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone;” (Genesis 2:18 ESV)

The saddest songs that have ever been written are about loneliness....

So it must seem strange for me to write- I never feel alone... In fact, when I am by myself, I have myself as a companion.... and God's presence is usually there with me.

My inner man is palpable to me- I have actual discourse with him... when I read, he lends a voice, when I think- he leads the discussion... when I pray, I hear my inner man speaking.

And at times, it is a different voice- God's voice has an authority that is unmistakable- it is often tender, but is also at times harsh... even sarcastic.

I notice this a lot when I am fishing.... total peace and total internal deliberation.

Even as I write this... it seems more like a mental disorder than reality...LOL.

But that is who I am.... alone, but never lonely.

This is why it is even more important to push this aside and come out and visit with others. If I am not careful I give out a message that "I don't need you' which would be a lie.

I am deathly afraid of where I would be without my wife, my children, my family, and close friends.

Probably content, but woefully ineffective and anemic.

Regardless, I know there will be seasons of 'turtle days' where I withdraw and meditate on things.

SO WHY WRITE THIS?

This blog is always directed toward my children primarily. They spend little time looking at it- but there may be a day when these words mean more and intended to bless.

As they wrestle with extroverts and introverts... even in themselves... they need to know it is messy but glorious.

"God limits our knowledge for two reasons: to humble us and to make sure that we have dealings with our fellows"- John Calvin

There is a glory and reward for understanding ourselves and others. An extrovert has a place in God's purposes, but so do turtles. One is not superior to the other.

And I laugh because God often puts to different types in a marriage- and though at times hard, it is a beautiful harmony!

The past two weeks, my wife and I had the most incredible time to be together in Alaska. It was sort of like a 2nd honeymoon after 34 years of marriage. Toward the end of the trip, I looked at here and said, "I loved our first honeymoon, but this one is WAY better." And she agreed. 

The beauty of creation soothed my inner being, and I actually TALKED and we laughed and had the most joyous time. She knows me well, is very patient and a perfect fit.

So here is another published but not promoted blog post to those I love.

It is a powerful promise God gives me....

He loves me- demonstrated by the cross- but also that He doesn't leave me wallowing in the muck of selfish solitude- He visits me everyday and works on me. He lets me withdraw in various moods and moments and then gently pushed me out to love others.... I show love for God BY loving others.

I just want it to be more visible......