An Article of Faith

A refiner’s fire burns away all impurities to leave pure metal. When God comes, He too burns away all impurities and waste. Responding to God’s presence produces holiness in churches and in the lives of believers. Revival is painful in the process but well worth the end result.
A church in a southern state entered a two-week series of revival meetings in the spring of 1994. At the beginning of the services the members made a list of sins they knew existed in the nation. Their list contained 41 specific sins. Then they prayed for the nation.
As God began to deal with sin in the church, members began confessing sin and seeking forgiveness and cleansing. Much of the confession began in the prayer room and with counselors. Some was shared with the congregation, when there was a need for corporate confession or when a person could share a testimony of the victory over sin that God had given. God’s refining work began to go deep, and services continued for five weeks.
At the conclusion of the revival services, the pastor examined the list of 41 sins. He was amazed to realize that every one of the sins listed for the nation had been confessed by church members. Months later, the church began to experience some of the joys and fruits of revival, but the pastor said that those five weeks were some of the most painful experiences of his life and ministry.
When Jesus came preaching repentance, John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water. But One more powerful than I will come, the [straps] of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16-17).
In other words, people either came to Jesus in repentance and faith or they rebelled against Him. God exposes the attitude of the heart when He comes in revival. You cannot be neutral. Once you hear what God wants you to do, you must do it. Individuals and churches cannot continue to do business as usual when God is calling them to revival and to be part of a spiritual awakening in the land.
Thank God that He wants you, your church, and our nation to be revived more than we do. Ask Him to increase your passion to see revival in the land. Invite God to come as a refiner’s fire in your life. Ask Him to show you everything that needs to be disposed of or removed from your life. Agree with Him about the impurities He reveals. Let Him revive you. Now pray that He will do the same in your church.
“Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside Your anger against us once more. Will You be angry with us always? Will You prolong Your wrath to all generations? Won’t You revive us again, so Your people can rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:4-6 NLT.)

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)