Are the glory days behind us?
I have a fascination with history. These past nine years that my wife and I have been married,we have been to many graveyards where we have paid our respects to Presidents, Methodist bishops, circuit-riding preachers, and heroes of our great country.
I have read countless books and accounts about the glory days of the Holiness movement. A few months ago, I stood once again in the tabernacle at Clinton Camp Meeting, that my great-grandfather started. It was there that I gave my heart to God. My heritage is rooted deep in the Conservative Holiness Movement and, for that, I am grateful.
I have heard about the glory days all of my life. My parents, grandparents, and uncle have told me accounts of occasions when the power of God was manifested time and time again. I long for those days. I want my family to experience the power of God in such a way that they will never be the same.
While I long for those days, I must confess that I some-times grow weary of hearing about them. God is still the same. And if He hasn’t changed, who has? The answer is pretty obvious. We have. We lack the power that once characterized the Conservative Holiness Movement. We lack the dedication to dedicated prayer. Please understand, I am not attacking; I am just stating the obvious.
If we are to reclaim the power of God that you and I so desperately desire, there are several things we must do.
Be willing to give our all to God. Don’t hold anything back. Christ wants our all, including those things we are afraid to give Him.
We need to search ourselves and make sure that there is nothing between us and God.
We also need to make sure that everything is clear between us and our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Make prayer a priority. We don’t need prayer meetings that last seven to ten minutes. We need to be willing to sac- rifice our time and pour it on. We need intercessors. We need to make prayer an absolute priority. I think that we have become too busy. The culture that we are part of is fast paced. Technology allows us to remain connected at all times. All of this adds up to a busy life. I have read accounts, and so have you, of our forefathers who maintained a vibrant prayer-life. That was their secret! When we are willing to give up ourselves and give all to God, He honors that.
I long for the glory days. But, I believe with all of my heart the best days can be ahead of us if we are willing to do the work.
previously published in the September 2008 issue of the STANDARD
Very well written. In fact, I have been preaching and teaching a similar message for awhile now. One other thought — were the glory days that much better than today? It has been my experience that we somehow glorify the past. We forget the dry and difficult times and lift up the good times. I don’t think that is a coincidence that only dead people can be saints! I see what God is doing at the Gospel Center and believe that one day I will look back to these days and tell my children and grandchildren about these “glory days!”
That is my prayer too. May our days that we are currently experiencing be filled with God’s glory!
Robert,
This is thought provoking. I think many of us who grew up hearing about the “glory days” have similar wonderings. I ponder the idea that maybe we are looking for God to replicate what He did 50 years ago instead of scanning the horizon and preparing the way for Him to work in fresh power? It seems to me that Scripture indicates God tends to move in unexpected ways — from Jericho to Jesus, we see that pattern. Maybe we won’t see a return to campmeetings as the primary form of revival, but maybe He will perform great and mighty deeds through another method. I’m sure that the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther and John Wesley all experienced the power of God, but probably in different manner. I think you are right that wonderful days are ahead and I absolutely agree that, however God works, we must prepare the way by making Him a priority in our lives, both in prayer and in living. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Well stated Valorie. It is too easy to anticipate God moving the way he has moved in the past. But we read through Scripture that sometimes He comes not just in magnificent ways, but in the stillness of our souls.
We just got a new pastor, our first, but we must keep focused on God. Keaton’s will not make God move in power. We will as we let Him have complete control and realize our place is to do what He wants. I believe not only is His wrath stored up for the wicked but His blessing, beyond what we can ask or think are stored up for those who will be and remain wholly/completely surrendered to Him-but we can not even get there without His help. So though it is only by His power and might, He is ready and looking for such individuals. By the grace of God here am I Lord and I am tired of waiting unless You want me to wait. I ask that we might be ready too do or not do whatever it takes and I know that as soon as it happens Your blessing will be outpoured. Oh that I might ready-altogether ready! May this be a day that our children maybe able to look back to and continue in and say with complete conviction and wholliness our God reigns.
I believe our part is wholliness of sacrifice His part is holiness. May we not touch His glory He alone is worthy of all glory. Oh my words just come so short!
Good words, I agree with you whole-heartedly.