Revival and holiness – Part 26

A season of revival is always a time for the restoration of the consciousness of holy living in the Church. Most times, God chooses to send revival when morality is at its lowest ebb. Then, revival comes like the breath of fresh air to rekindle the consciousness of the holy presence of God. Holiness, like light shines brightest when darkness is at its highest pitch.

Just as prayer is a precondition for revival, so also holiness is a precondition for revival. We have said it before that knowing God is the goal of revival, and during revival God chooses to make Himself known to His people. God is a holy God and those who seek Him must accept to relate with Him on the basis of His holy nature. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14).

God is intrinsically holy. He is holy in His nature, holy in His ways and holy in all His actions. Isaiah in chapter 6:3 testifies of the degree of holiness of our God. John in Revelations 4:8 corroborates Isaiah’s testimony that God is thrice holy. That is, if holiness were to be measured, then God’s holiness is of the highest degree. “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY [is the] LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME [the unchanging, eternal God]” (Revelations‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭AMP‬‬).

When a holy God responds to our prayers for revival, we must of necessity take on His holy nature. Those who seek to be revived by God must of necessity satisfy His demands, they must ask that He input in them His righteousness and holy nature. The one way He does this is through His Holy Spirit and through His Word. Thus, we read in 2 Peter 1:4, “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (NLT‬‬).

It is not enough to have a passion for God, our hunger for God must lead us to live holy lives. God Who sends revival to His people is holy and all who relate with Him must seek to be like Him in character. Like Peter wrote, “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,” because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (I Peter‬ ‭1:14, 15, 16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬).

Our passion for God must lead us to live like Him. God made a very clear statement when the children of Aaron appeared before Him with strange fire. He killed them for their disobedience and for desecrating His altar, “And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ “So Aaron held his peace” (Leviticus‬ ‭10:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬).

Holiness is not legalism, but living in conformity with the Spirit of Christ. As Charles H. Spurgeon said, “If you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with Christ, you have made a great mistake. If you would be holy, you must live close to Jesus.” Contact: pastoracukachi@gmail.com

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