If … Then

http://www.believingstudy.com/articles/40/1/If-hellip-Then/Page1.html

Gary Hall

I was raised as a Roman Catholic and intended to become a priest after I left school, but the Lord had other plans for me. In 1973, at the age of 17, I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at the headquarters of the Liverpool City Mission. This immediately caused problems regarding my family. My mother and father were against what they called my "change of religion". The situation came to a climax when I arrive home one evening from a Christian friend's house only to be met by my father on the doorstep with the words, "You don't live here anymore". So at the age of 18 I would have been homeless but for the kindness of friends. One cannot rely on the goodness of others for too long, so I decided to move into a local boarding house. What I saw and experienced there cannot be written here. Eventually, after spending time living rough and in the Salvation Army hostel, I found my own apartment. I had fallen away from the Lord for two years at this time. My thoughts went back to my childhood desire to become a Roman Catholic priest. I made enquiries and found that the only real option for me was to become a monk in the Franciscan Order. The Saturday before I was due to leave for the monastery in Guildford, Surrey, I pleaded with the Lord, asking, "Lord, is it your will that I should become a monk like St. Francis?" That evening I attended a tent meeting in a local park. A preacher from Northern Ireland, Derrick Bingham, was teaching from the book of Nehemiah. During the service the preacher turned to my direction (there were about 500 people present) and said, God does not want you to become a monk like St. Francis of Assisi." Here was my answer from the Lord. From that moment I made a complete break from the Catholic Church and have come to see it as the biggest cult that this world knows. In 1979 I joined a church, The Mission, in the neighbourhood where I was living. From the moment I walked through the door of that small building I knew that I was home. The godly lifestyle and inspired teaching of Pastor Charles Bolton (promoted to glory 12 December 2003) and his wife brought me back to my first love for Christ. The church had no young people, but I never once felt that I was out of place. These people obviously loved the Lord. In my desire to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ I began to give leaflets out in Liverpool City Centre. Many a Saturday afternoon was spent witnessing to those willing to stop and listen. On one Saturday in late Autumn 1979 I was approached by a girl with an Irish accent. She asked if I was a Christian and where the church I attended was located. The next morning the same girl was found at The Mission. To cut a short story shorter, six months later on March 29 1980, we were married by Pastor Bolton at The Mission. Margaret, my wife, also comes from a Catholic background, but was soundly converted to Christ and from the errors of Rome whilst visiting relatives in New York in the summer of 1979. (You may find her personal testimony one day on these pages.) In 1986 Pastor Bolton retired from the ministry at The Mission. The leadership of the church was handed over to me. To be very honest I did not fully understand what this would entail, but the Lord has been good and has led me each step of the way. Through the Lord's power we have been used to reach many hundreds of people, though our fellowship is actually small in number. In 1988 we changed the name of the church to Living Word. I am convinced that God is about to pour out His Spirit in revival one last time before the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ (see my article on Revival on this site). This revival will not come via the charismatic movement, it will not come from Toronto or Pensacola, it will not come from the ecumenical movement or the so-called Churches Together - these movements are bankrupt of the truth and the Spirit of God. This final revival will come as a result of the true believers in Christ Jesus getting right with Him. The revival will include a return to the Authorised King James Bible. My great desire is to see people coming to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord, to see backsliders returning, and to see the church of Christ revived. Though I have many failings I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of my heart. I am willing to serve Him wherever and whenever He sees fit. The word of God is the delight of my life for I'm still amazed after all these years just how fresh and new The Holy Bible is each day!

By Gary Hall

Published on 10/27/2007

Most believers agree that we are living in godless days. Depravity has reached an all-time low and the love of many has waxed cold (Matthew 24:12). Who can we turn to for the answers? The politicians? The religious leaders? Where can we turn but to the Lord? “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). We truly need an outpouring of God’s Spirit from on high.

If … Then

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Introduction

Revival is possible

“Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make Thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at Thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways: behold, Thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee: for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, Thou art our father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech Thee, we are all Thy people” (Isaiah 64:1-9).

Are we waiting for another Wesley, Whitefield or Moody to stir us up? Are we seeking another Duncan Campbell or Evan Roberts to call down God’s blessing? But guess what, God is waiting for you! The work of revival begins in our hearts first. None of those men of God started a revival, because it had already begun in the hearts of a few praying Christians. These men were simply the earthly focal point for the revival.

Whole nations can fall under the influence of God’s Spirit when the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. Jehoshaphat rid Judah of idolaters and sodomites. Both the Welsh revival and the revival of the Isle of Lewis saw the closure of the pubs and bars when thousands got right with God. Some say it cannot happen again. Have we gone too far? Are not conditions different today? Yes, but the same God is still on the Throne of Heaven! With Him nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

Where lies the blame?

When we consider the spiritual conditions both in and outside of the church, we usually lay the blame on someone or something. Shall we blame the corrupt politician and religious leader? Have they not always been in the world? Are not the television, radio, computers and modern technology the cause of depravity? There have always been forms of entertainment to keep people from God. What about paedophiles and homosexuals? These have always contaminated society. Despite all the evils of the past God blessed nations with many notable revivals.

God has often sent a revival when a nation has reached the cesspool level of morality. We are at that stage today. Why does revival tarry? The blame lies with the church. We no longer believe revival is possible or that God could use us. We must plant the seed of revival even though it might be the next generation that will reap the harvest. If revival broke out tomorrow, it will be because someone laid the groundwork before us.

Revival is inevitable

Revival is inevitable for those who act upon God’s word. Some simple conditions have to be met. Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 again.

“If” … It is almost if God is saying, “If only.” If we do that which is required of us then God will act on our behalf. The word “when” could be used instead of “if”.

“My people which are called by my name” … Are we God’s people? If we are then God is willing to revive us. God is calling on His own to make changes in themselves that will affect the whole land.

“Shall humble themselves” … Humility is certainly not a characteristic that springs to mind when describing the modern church. If we become nothing then God will use us. We need to be the clay in the potter’s hand.

“And pray” … If true prayer from the heart is made, then the Lord will respond.

“And seek my face” … Sometimes we pray with our lips, but never truly seek God’s face. This is praying with agony of soul. It is knocking on God’s door until He answers.

“And turn from their wicked ways” … Are we willing to lay down that besetting sin once and for all on His altar? Good fruit cannot grow on rotten branches, so we cannot expect God to intervene unless we depart from sin.

“Then” … When the “if” is sorted out, God will do the “then” part. The Lord will always do as He has promised as soon as the conditions are met. Consider the book of Judges; rather than being a list of stories about famous people, it is actually a record of revival. As soon as Israel put away their sin, God poured out the spirit of revival on the land.

“Will I hear from Heaven” … Not from Parliament or the archbishop’s palace, but from Heaven! God is promising a personal and immediate response to our humility, prayer and forsaking of sin.

“And will forgive their sin” … Not the sins of the nation, though many, but those of His people. Judgement always begins in the house of God first (1 Peter 4:17).

“And will heal their land” … This is revival, restoration, and a revolution of holiness and righteousness.

Conclusion

God can do it again today, for He never changes (Hebrews 13:5). The outpouring of His wrath can be changed to an outpouring of His mercy. This happened in Nineveh under Jonah’s preaching. It happened in England under Wesley’s preaching. Can it not happen again? “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 3:2).