Many Christians today are eagerly anticipating a mighty move of God. The opportunity for a widespread revival seems to be standing at the Church's door. This is the hour for us to lay hold of a fresh vision of the Church, empowered and purified for Christ's sake and service. We are now in the season when the Lord is calling forth and qualifying His vessels for revival use! (2 Tim. 2:20,21). Yet we must be diligent and watchful, lest through negligence we miss the day of our own visitation. The coming revival I'm speaking of is not some inanimate force or power that can be casually manufactured and produced. True revival is a miraculous manifestation of the presence of Jesus Christ. A revival is Christ's Kingdom come on earth in holiness and power! Such a visitation is the direct result of the Church's passionate pursuit of Christ Himself. Therefore, the coming of a true revival always requires diligent heart preparation on the part of God's people. How can we prepare ourselves for the day when our sanctuaries and communities will suddenly become the very throne room of God? How can we make the King of Kings welcome in our midst? It is only through brokenhearted humility that we can be prepared for such a revival visitation. "For God sets Himself against and resists the proud, but gives continual grace to the lowly and humble." (James 4:6). "For thus says the High and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." ( Is. 57:15).
Consider King Saul, who while he was little in his own eyes, received the prophet's kiss, the reviving touch of the Spirit and the honor and charge of the Kingdom. (1 Sam. 10 & 15:17). Yet later he had the Kingdom torn from him, because of his own prideful desire for the approval of men. The kingdom was little by little torn from Saul and given to David, his humble neighbor ( 1 Sam. 15: 24-28). Saul had found the Kingdom in the valley of humility and had lost it on the heights of pride and presumption. The Kingdom of God comes on earth only through the humble. In 1st Kings chapter one, we find another timely lesson for the Church concerning God's revival qualifications. The people of God were in a very vulnerable position. David, the faithful and trusted leader of Israel, was now old and had lost his strength and fire. King David's role as a leader was coming to an end, and the people were now waiting to see to whom God would entrust the Kingdom. At such times, when there is a "changing of the guard" there also comes an atmosphere of uncertainty mixed with hope and expectation. These are times of both, God given vision and fleshly activity. When God moves to prepare His people for a fresh work, the enemy is always there with another alternative and deceptive opportunity. These alternatives are almost always dressed in spiritual and religious clothes. Today, the Church is in this same position. One generation of leaders is passing off the scene, while a new generation of unknown leaders is struggling to rise to the need of the moment. Many in the Church are quite aware of this and are now waiting and watching with a mixture of hope and caution. The Church today, needs to be watchful for the enemy's deceptive alternatives and Kingdom substitutes.
During this time of David's weakness and decline, Adonijah, his son, presumptuously claimed control of the Kingdom for himself. "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying 'I will be king . . .'" (1 Kings 1:5). Like Saul, Adonijah attempted to disguise his prideful and self-seeking heart with a great show of religious noise and sacrifice. He tried in vain to substitute religious sacrifice for humble submission. (1st Kings 1:5-9, 1st Sam. 15:14-24). Adonijah had foolishly forgotten the prophetic words of his humble father. "For You do not desire sacrifice or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, these Oh God You do not despise." (Psa. 51:16,17). Adonijah,
