The Cost of Revival
The Cost of Revival
Scriptures & Highlights
Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
In Matthew 10:1, we see aspects of what God does in a revival
Power upon believers
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits
Reaching the Lost
Matthew 10:6 go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Preaching the Gospel
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand
Healing the Sick
Matthew 10:8 8Heal the sick,
Miracles
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead
Driving Out Devils
Matthew 10:8 Cast out devils
We expect to see all this in revival. But we sometimes forget that there is a cost for revival. This is where Matthew 10:34-38 comes in. In this chapter Jesus spent more time talking about the cost than the miracles.
Most believers in the Western world have not been tested to give up their family for the gospel in a physical sense. Here is the story of two believers who had to do so.
Algerian Christian Loses Family and Home Due to the Gospel
Ahmed from Algeria, a 32-year-old Christian who converted from Islam paid a tremendous cost for his faith in Jesus Christ.
He received Christ in 2013, and his wife subsequently did the same.
After getting baptized, his parents and siblings took away his assets that funded his livelihood including a family business he was running.
He was threatened in the community and on his job for his faith.
Ahmed’s in-laws threatened his wife causing his wife to deny her faith.
Ahmed’s wife, along with her family, accused him of attacking Islam. Ahmed spent one night in jail due to this and was later released. His wife then divorced him after being pressured by her family.
Ahmed has not been able to see his children since they were taken by his in-laws.
Here is a quote from Ahmed: “Today I am far from my family, my wife, and my two daughters, without work or home,” “Such is the lot of a Muslim who converts to Christianity in Algeria today.”
Information and quote from Christianheadlines.com
Revival has a cost. When the day of Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit was poured upon the early church 3,000 souls came to Christ. In Acts 3, we have the healing of the lame man. Peter and John preached to the people of the resurrection of Christ, and by Acts 4, they are imprisoned. Throughout the book of Acts, the Apostles and the believers are crucified. Stephan was stoned to death, James was killed. Peter, Paul, Silas imprisoned. The believers were scattered due to persecution. There is a cost to revival.
New Believer in Uganda Lost His Family and Livelihood in One Day Following His Conversion
Muhamud received Christ. His father told him that he was a disgrace and disowned him as his son.
A village mob leader led a group of people to Muhamud’s plantation and destroyed it.
Muhamud was forced to leave the village, but his wife, a Muslim, refused to go with him. His children had also turned against him
See the full story at MorningStarNews.org
These believers in Africa had to literally pay the cost of losing their family, homes an livelihood. As believers we must realize that for God to use us, there is a cost.
We are seeing believers today compromise their stand for God such as in the case of Lauren Daigle, well known Christian singer, who stated on a popular radio broadcast that Christian Artist is only a label put on her by others, and she thinks of herself as just an artist (See interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUt4tKiEpKI) . She is only one example of many Christians in the West who are unwilling to take an uncompromising, bold stand for Christ and his word. It would cost us friends; we would be rejected; it may cost of fame and popularity; it may cost us acceptance in the society. But revival comes with a cost. Are we willing to pay the price?
Revival may cost us:
Family
Friends
Worldly Acceptance
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Self - we have to take up our cross and deny ourselves.
Your Life
For those who are willing to pay the price, God will use us for his glory. We got to be bold to preach the gospel. Jesus tells us not to be afraid:
Matthew 10:26-28 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
