INSIDE THIS CONNECTING POINT

• Revelry Has Been NOLA’s Focus; Other U.S. Cities Have Been Focused On Revival

• Ash Wednesday’s A Good Time To Focus On Personal Renewal/Revival

• STEPS TO SUCCESS, Communion, The 52 Challenge This Sunday At Celebration

As happens annually in New Orleans, our region’s emphasis has been on the “revelry” that’s associated with the Mardi Gras season. From eating King Cakes to attending Mardi Gras Balls to attending or riding in Mardi Gras parades, it’s been one celebration after another. Some of that “revelry” has been wholesome; a lot of it hasn’t been wholesome. But we’ve come to accept here in the New Orleans Region that regardless of what’s happening in our lives or nation, we’re gong to celebrate and “pass a good time” during the Mardi Gras season.

At the same time, a number of places in our nation and world have been focused on “revival.” Now, “Revivals” have been a part of God’s work among His followers since the beginning of Christianity. And the most recent “revivals” I’m aware of began at Asbury University in Wilmore Kentucky , and in the nation of Uganda. Let me address the one in our nation. 
 

This week the services are being moved to another location in the central Kentucky area, while Asbury will continue to host evening services for college-age and high school students through Thursday, which is the National Collegiate Day of Prayer. You can learn more about the Asbury Revival by clicking here 

The fires of awakening have also begun to spread to other College Campuses. Revival services have begun at Samford University (Alabama), Cedarville University (Ohio), and Lee and Belmont Universities (Tennessee). Students have also been gathering at Baylor University (Texas) to pray for revival. Over twenty college campuses have been affected so far.

What is “revival” and what causes it to occur? A “revival” is a spiritual awakening that occurs when people become so hungry for God they are willing to turn from their sinful lifestyles and pursue the Lord’s presence through extended times of prayer and worship. And when that happens, the Lord shows up, and His manifest presence and transforming power is experienced in new and fresh ways. The bottom line is this - personal and corporate “revival” begins when we want more of Jesus than we currently have.

So let me ask you, “do you really want more of Jesus than you currently have?” Your reaction to that question will be determined not by your verbal reply, but by the actions of your life. If you really want “more of Jesus” than you currently have, you will focus more on things like daily Bible reading and daily prayer and worship, faithfully attending corporate worship services, sharing life with other Christians (like we do in Life Groups), serving the Lord and others in a variety of ways, and striving to deal with the sinful strongholds of your life. And the more that we seek the Lord’s presence, the more of His presence, peace, and power we will experience in our lives. And that’s when we will learn that “revival” trumps “revelry” every time in our lives.

Speaking of “revival,” today is known as Ash Wednesday, which was a day set aside centuries ago by Christian Leaders as a special time for repentance and reflection. This day, which is preceded by “Shrove Tuesday” (or “Fat Tuesday) is seen in many Christian circles as a day of prayer and fasting, and it begins the season called “Lent”, six weeks leading up to Easter where professing Christians refocus on their faith or relationship with the Lord. 

At Celebration, we believe “every day is a good day to repent and turn or return to the Lord.” Repentance is an important word in Christian faith and practice. It’s the word “metanoia” in the Greek New Testament, and it means to “turn from our way and turn to God’s way.” The Bible teaches that we can’t experience God’s wonderful salvation unless we’re willing to repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38, 3:19). And we can’t really walk in regular fellowship with the Lord unless we constantly recognize when we’ve strayed from the Lord’s will and then repent of our sins or waywardness in our lives. The good news is that whether we’re coming to the Lord in repentance for the first time or the millionth time, He is always willing to forgive our sins, resume fellowshipping with us, and empower us to walk in the victory in the days ahead. So, whether it’s Ash Wednesday or the day after or the week after or many weeks after, ask the Lord to reveal to you any overt or covert sins that you have in your life, and then seek His forgiveness, freedom and fullness in your life. The Bible promises in Proverbs 28:13 that “He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sin (real repentance) shall receive mercy.” And it promises that we can walk in victory when we put our faith and trust in the Lord (1 John 5:4).