On Tuesday night Jesse and I attended the Revive Us event, lead by Kirk Cameron with Francis Chan, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr James McDonald, and Jennifer Rothschild.
As we entered the Harvest Cathedral in downtown Chicago we immediately recognized what a “God thing” it was to have received tickets to this event. While we knew we were attending the live broadcast, we had no idea we would be experiencing a very intimate setting with some of the most passionate, transformed, and knowledgeable people of faith. We were also not expecting to be seated next to Kirk and the other speakers?!
I can picture God smiling at us as we walked into the cathedral. I imagine he felt much like a parent on Christmas morning. You know that excited feeling you get when you watch your child get ready to open a gift they’ve been longing for? Well, I imagine God felt the same way when he watched us unwarp the gift of Revive Us. We quickly recognized this gift was from him because only he knew the desires of our hearts. Only He knew the revival that has taken place in us the past two years and our desire to see the same revival take place in the hearts of the Church. He honored us with front row seats to such an event.
The night began in worship with Passion on stage singing One Thing Remains.
Jesse and I were moved to tears as the overwhelming truth in the lyrics resonated with our hearts,
“And it’s higher than the mountains that I face
And it’s stronger than the power of the grave
And it’s constant in the trial and the change
This one thing, remains”
His Love Never Fails.
The past two years have been a battle but we have been overwhelmed with confidence in the power of God’s love towards us.
♥
Before the event went live, we were able to witness Kirk and guests spending time in prayer for the evening. As they spoke I was struck with their humbleness and pure desire to share the hope we have in Christ with a nation in need. Their calm demeanor and wisdom was proof to me of the depth they shared in a personal relationship with Jesus. It was truly inspiring.
The purpose of Revive Us was to help American believers “return home awakened, empowered, and engaged to make a difference in the real world.”- Kirk Cameron.
The night was definitely empowering and engaging. Dr. Ben Carson ignited the event by explaining the critical condition of America and reminding us of the hope found in 2 Chronicles 7:14,
“But if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, I will restore their land.”
I believe America’s issue is a heart issue and the first steps to restoration begins with a personal revival in each believer’s heart. It starts with prayer and sharing intimacy with God. It starts when you desire to know him. Because when we know God, we gain wisdom of God. And when we gain wisdom of God we are filled with the Spirit to live and love as Jesus did.
Francis Chan gave the perfect metaphor for knowing God.
I’ll do my best to paraphrase what I remember him saying- you can know all there is to know about Michael Jordan. Know all his stats and records but if you showed up at his door, he wouldn’t answer the door for you because he doesn’t know you.
The problem with the Christian culture today is that not many truly know God. Going to church every week and considering yourself religious isn’t enough. He further explained that the problem is not the world getting “worldlier.” It’s that the church is becoming the world. We aren’t set apart from the world because we aren’t living transformed lives.
Dr. James McDonald went on to remind us the importance of being filled with the spirit and displaying Christ’s love to our neighbors. Jennifer Rothschild shared her powerful testimony of seeing God in the midst of loosing her vision. Discussion on the importance of voting also took place. I agree that if we want our country to stabilize and we want to secure freedoms for our children, than the best thing we can do is speak up. While we may not approve of the character of either candidate, there are certain nonnegotiable issues we, as believers should stand firm on. Now is the time to unite through the core values of our faith. Division in the church is not of God and its time to unite by remembering we are all sinners who have been powerfully transformed by his grace.
Friends, I don’t think my attendance to Revive Us was by mistake or that you are reading this by coincidence. God wants all of our hearts to be renewed and awakened. I challenge you to:
Pray for revival in your own heart and in the heart of the Church. Ask the spirit to ignite a fire in your soul to know Jesus, to thirst for knowledge of him. I guarantee if you desire this prayer, God will answer you.
Share your story. If God has transformed your life then tell the world! We need hope and you might be the hope someone needs to see.
Vote. It’s time for believers to unite in faith and be the voice that changes the course of America. Unfortunately 25 million Christians did not vote in the last election. If we want to stop the chaos and division in our country than we need to speak up.
Lastly, join Jesse and I in attending an encore showing of Revive Us at a theatre near you. You can attend Monday, October 24 at 7pm local time, Tickets and theater locations are available here
I’m so thankful to Kirk for being so bold in his faith for such a time as this. As I tried to assure him Tuesday night, I am too young to simply know him as Mike Seaver. I only know him as Kirk Cameron, someone who has been transformed by a personal encounter with the Savior. What an encouragement he is to the rest of us.
♥
We were not allowed phones during broadcast so imagine my surprise on the drive home when my cousin posted this photo she took while watching Revive Us at a Cincinnati theatre. (I’m positioning myself out of camera view behind Jennifer Rothschild’s shoulder lol)
We were onscreen entirely too much and I’m totally embarrassed and still camera shy from being so visible during the broadcast! God truly got the last laugh on this, if only I had known…