by Theodore Wright.
Revival: If it is a truly Holy Spirit led, the devil may not be able to stop it. So instead, the devil may try to push the revival forward with “religious excesses”. That way the revival will fall flat on its face. Friends, we don’t need the devil’s help.
The devil will seek to introduce into a Holy Ghost revival various fanatics, cultists, those self-seeking and those seeking recognition for themselves, those who only will live in extremes, and those who are influenced or even controlled by demons. This would not be easy for the devil, though, because the revival is a move of God. The devil’s goal in all this is simple, which is, to take peoples’ eyes off of God. That way they will turn away from Christ and depart from the gospel into lukewarmness.
The devil tries to distract them with counterfeit Christians and counterfeit manifestations by having them creep in, only pretending to be genuine. One of the common ways of the devil is to tempt a preacher to seek the credit for himself about the revival, thus stealing glory from God for what God does Himself.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
– James 1:17 (KJV)
Give all the praise, glory, and credit to God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ for what He does.
Another method of the devil is to get Christians to turn away from the Holy Bible to seek only the Holy Spirit in exclusion of God’s Word. When believers in Jesus follow this route, the revival is derailed and effectively over, changing it into a mere side-show act. What God started as His revival of others to Him can result into a spiritual scandal and shame if His people turn away from Him when He demonstrates Himself.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
– James 4:7 (KJV)
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
-Ephesians 6:11-12 (KJV)
Christians need to continually seek God and remain humble. Revivals become short-lived when God’s people are proud of themselves. You do not get the best of both worlds by giving in to both God and the devil. Kick out your fleshly ways and worldliness for neither will aid what God does. Grow strong in the Word of God and the Spirit of God in desire, faith, and love for God.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
-2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
As believers in Jesus, we need to maintain ourselves in the presence of God in all holy living. To have Holy Spirit revival, we ourselves need to live again in God’s sight, being revived and staying revived continually. God moves where and when He wants, however, He is faithful to His word. He is not difficult to find.
