Bible Questions Answered:
Pastor, what does one do when there is fighting between different sects in the church?
Sheila/ London, United Kingdom
Bible Answer:
Yes, and how many others are in the same boat?
There is something we need today, the prophet Habakkuk talked about it.
Habakkuk 3:1-2 KJV
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:1-2 NLT
1 This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:
2 I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.
Gods work, at times needs “reviving.”
That reviving, we call revival.
Reviving: To come or bring back to life or consciousness; resuscitate.
Revival: Reviving or being revived, as, restoration to vigor or activity, a returning to life or consciousness, a stirring up of religious faith …
(New World Dictionary)
Is it possible for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, to become lethargic, cold or indifferent?
Of the seven 1st century churches mentioned by the Lord Jesus, to John (Revelation 2:-3:), five were in a state of reprimand while only two were worthy of our Lord's blessings.
We need a reviving, we, as God's people of old, need a spiritual revival.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 51:10-13,17 KJV
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 80:7; 18,19 NLT
7 Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
18 ...Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
19 Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 85:6 KJV
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalm 119:25, 40, 50, 149 NLT
25 I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.
40 I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.
50 Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
149 In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry; let me be revived by following your regulations.
Psalm 126:5,6 KJV
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Isaiah 32:15 KJV
until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.
Isaiah 57:15 KJV
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Jeremiah 13:17 KJV
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.
Lamentations 3:40-41 KJV
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Hosea 6:1-3 KJV
1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
2 After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hosea 6:1-3 NLT
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now He will heal us. He has injured us; now He will bandage our wounds.
2 In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence.
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 10:12 NLT
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
Hosea 14:1,2 KJV
1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down.
2 Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.
Joel 2:12,13 KJV
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.
Revival comes, when we confess our own short comings, and not the faults of others.
Joel 2:17 KJV
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD..."
Matthew 6:12 NLT
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 7:1-3 NLT
1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
