Let’s Do It Right This Time
Introduction
I have been releasing posts on the subjects of revival and reformation, based on Christ’s two commissions in Mark 16 and Matthew 28. They are very different, and understanding those differences is critically important.
Today’s post deals with the devastating outcome of fulfilling only the Great Commission found in Mark 6:15-18 (preaching the gospel and restoring people to God’s family), without accomplishing Matthew’s commission of discipling nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Here is a brief review of the previous 3 days.
In Review
The concepts of revival and reformation are linked to Yahweh’s assignments to Adam and Eve - and therefore all of us. Today’s post is the fourth teaching in this series. Each post builds on the next, so if you haven’t listened to or read the first three, you might consider doing so. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
In Genesis 1:26-28, Adam and Eve were told to: 1) multiply God’s family, and 2) steward/govern/manage His earth. Christ re-commissioned the church to these assignments in Mark 16:15-18 and Matthew 28:18-20. In Mark’s gospel, He told us to “preach the gospel” in order to see people saved, i.e., multiply His family. When this happens with great momentum and a large number of people coming to Christ, we refer to it as revival.
In Matthew’s commission, Christ instructed us to “teach” His “commandments” in order to disciple nations, enabling them to steward/manage/govern the earth in accordance with God’s ways. When this occurs on a broad scale, we call it reformation. We have analyzed the differences involved in these assignments.
And Now for Today
The Charismatic and Jesus People movements of the late 1960s through the early 80s saw millions of people in America and tens of millions around the world come to Christ. It was a wonderful example of Christ’s commission in Mark 16:15-18, occurring with great momentum, truly a significant revival. However, there was a deficient understanding of our calling to disciple nations in Matthew 28:18-20. For the most part, the minimal awareness of “discipling” that existed was limited to discipling individuals who came to Christ, rather than also discipling nations, societies, and cultures.
As we have stated in the previous posts, discipling nations involves teaching, modeling, and implementing God’s ways in all spheres of society, including family, religion, government, business, education, arts/entertainment, and media. It is NOT dictating or forcing God’s laws upon people and nations, as some who misrepresent our words accuse us, but rather teaching and modeling His ways and principles in every sector of society. Salvation, the new birth, opens the human heart and will to being discipled, which is why revival must occur first.
When a person is born again, Holy Spirit writes God’s laws in their heart (Hebrews 8:10), making them hungry for His Word and truth. Also, their conscience becomes alive, active, and desirous of pleasing God (Hebrews 9:14). When a nation experiences significant revival, the portion of the populace affected by it does not have to be “forced” to obey God’s laws and walk in His ways; they desire to do His will and obey Him (Psalm 40:8). New believers, however, must be taught these ways - retrained. They, in turn, must teach their children. If this training and discipling do not occur, satan attempts - and often succeeds - in counteracting a revival by infusing wrong thinking, ideas, and philosophies, etc., into the culture.
As we stated, during the Jesus People/Charismatic movements of the ‘70s, Christians focused primarily on Mark 16: seeing people come into God’s family and be able to go to heaven one day. And in an incredibly oxymoronic turn of events, in a revival with millions of people coming to Christ, humanists, secularists, and atheists were busy doing their version of Matthew 28, reforming a nation, while we saved individuals, they discipled a nation. We preached the gospel; unbelievers taught dogmas and doctrines. We went to church once or twice a week; they indoctrinated our schools and universities five days a week. We carved out a new, small niche of Christian TV; they made hundreds of movies and programs, increasing their hold on the industry. We sang and worshipped at church; they took over the airwaves and discipled a generation 24/7 with their music. We built a few radio and TV stations; they adopted new technologies, developed social media, and dominated all communication platforms. The results: America experienced one of the greatest revivals in history…AND LOST THE NEXT GENERATION TO DEMONIC CONTROL AND INFLUENCE!
This is almost incomprehensible! The irony is beyond belief, the tragedy beyond words. But it happened.
Adding to the devastation, the generation discipled by humanists, secularists, and atheists filled positions of influence, and has been in charge of our nation for years: governing, teaching, entertaining, etc. AND, they have been grooming the next generation, our kids. Sadly, today, social media and the entertainment industry have a far greater influence on the minds of our children than parents. This is the fruit of revival (Mark 16)…without reformation (Matthew 28).
And it’s how you lose a nation.
It’s sad to say, but had the church obeyed the commission of Matthew 28:18-20, we would not have lost 67 million babies to abortion. Our children would not be confused as to their gender, some going so far as to mutilate their bodies. And the law of the land regarding marriage would still be defined by a sacred covenant between one man and one woman. The cost of our ignorance and disobedience has been astronomical.
Had we obeyed Matthew’s commission, we would not have an anti-law enforcement movement, thousands of criminals roaming our streets, socialists in high positions of government and antichrist religions ruling entire regions of America. We would not have 42 million Americans on food stamps, and millions of Americans who can’t read, write, or do basic math. We would not have had a senile president, controlled by a shadow government, inviting 20 million unvetted illegals into our nation, many of whom are supported by our taxpayer dollars. America would not be $37 trillion in debt.
We would not have a lukewarm church, half of whom don’t believe in a literal Holy Spirit, the virgin birth, or the inerrancy of the Word of God. Revival without reformation is like building a house without a foundation; it cannot survive.
We must not make this mistake again. Another powerful outpouring of Holy Spirit has begun that will ultimately produce an even greater revival than the Charismatic and Jesus People movements. In this outpouring, the body of Christ, His Ekklesia, must accomplish BOTH commissions. If we do so, it will reverse these failures and produce the greatest transformation of nations in earth’s history.
Pray with me:
Father, You created Your family in Genesis 1, assigned them the responsibility of multiplying Your family, and commissioned them to manage their home, planet Earth, according to Your ways. Although this was temporarily stalled, Your plan has been relaunched. Jesus restored it, and said He would build an Ekklesia, a governing family that the gates/government of hell would not be able to overcome. He then recommissioned His followers to once again multiply Your family and steward the earth for You.
We embrace these commissions!
We now see this two-fold plan of Christ’s gaining momentum. His bride is growing in numbers, and the Ekklesia’s revelation of its authority is also growing. Release another wind that exponentially increases this growth. Cause the greatest season of revival and reformation in earth’s history to erupt - Mark 16 and Matthew 28 fulfilled simultaneously. Release the greatest wind of evangelism the world has ever experienced, and fully reveal Christ among the nations.
We love You, Father, and pray these things in the name of Your glorious Son, Jesus. Amen.
Our decree:
We decree that the two Great Commissions of Christ WILL be fulfilled by His family and co-laborers, the church.
Previous posts in this series:
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