Visitation of God

Once again the following is just an idea I jotted down. I haven't fully developed the scriptural or scholarly support. It is just notes but I still want to get the idea out there...

5th November 2013

Pastor Garth Clarkson

When we boil it all down, revivals and moves of God are times when God visits His people. Jesus and the prophets spoke extensively about "the visitation of God".

Elijah's return was prophesied to prepare the way of the messiah. Later Jesus tells us that it was talking about John the Baptist. Anyway, it speaks of preparing for the visitation of God. Cut down the mountains, fill the valleys and make a highway for Him to travel. In other words, Repent. Jesus said narrow is the gate and straight is the road that leads to eternal life and few there are that find it.

Every outpouring of God's grace publicly en-masse has been preceded by extraordinary prayer and a heart of repentance in the people of God. (Sometimes it has even involved martyrdom as a foundation) Even if it was as few as twenty people or in some cases just one or two. The common factor is dedication and unity. Sacrificial dedication.

John the Baptist's message was "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

Jesus' message was "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is HERE"

Peter's message, Stephen's message and Paul's message was "Repent for you killed the King and He is risen. The kingdom of heaven is here to stay"

Today we have a situation in the contemporary church where it appears that "repent" is a dirty word. Problem is, without repentance there is no becoming a part of the kingdom because that is how you enter - by the blood of the Lamb and that blood is NOT AVAILABLE without repentance.

• Need to expand on the visitation side from scripture
• Need to expand on the visitation side from Church history

What happens when God visits His people is dependent on their attitudes and what they've been up to. Visit is used for the day when God's judgement is executed and it is also used when they are restored from that position of judgement. Job said that it was God's visitation on him that brought the blessing.

When God visits it is a good idea to make sure that your accounts are in order. It is crazy to pray for revival without entering a state of deep repentance or otherwise you are one of the first casualties when He comes. Deal with it now or He will and it will be very public. God will not allow His anointing to be a covering for sin or a validation of bad character. If we want that double portion then we need to do the "Hebrews 1" thing, hate lawlessness and love righteousness.

Posted by Garth Clarkson at 01:57

TUESDAY, 29 APRIL 2014