By His death on the cross, Jesus accomplished far more than simply providing us with a way to get to Heaven. The cross opened the way for humanity to be reconciled to God and restored into a personal relationship with Him. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them...” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV). Jesus died to save us, but He also died to make us whole , body, soul, and spirit. What happened at Calvary opened the door for everything God intended for His people.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV). Sin had brought separation between God and man. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God...” But through the cross, the way back into relationship with God was opened.
Jesus did not only come to give us eternal life someday; He came to bring His life into us now. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 KJV). He also made it possible for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” (John 14:16 KJV).
The Upper Room forever changed the nature of the Church. No longer was God simply on the outside of the believer; through the Holy Spirit, He was now personally present within them, leading and guiding them from within. John explains this in 1 John 2:27: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you...” The anointing is not merely something we talk about. It is the power and ability of God working in and through yielded vessels.
Jesus told His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...” (Acts 1:8 KJV). The power had a purpose. The anointing had a purpose. Pentecost had a purpose. God was preparing ordinary people to become anointed vessels through whom He could touch their generation. Healing was also provided through what Jesus accomplished. Isaiah 53:5 declares, “...and with his stripes we are healed.”
When Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The separation was over. Through God's grace and mercy, we now have access into His presence. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” His door is open to those who hunger and thirst after Him.
But this brings us to a serious question: Have we really understood what Jesus accomplished, or have we reduced the Gospel to what God can do for us? Have we made Christianity about our blessing, our healing, our prosperity, our needs, our problems and our desires, while forgetting why He saved us and filled us with His Spirit?
Jesus did not save us so that we could remain unchanged. The purpose of God's presence and power in our lives is to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. When we truly encounter God, our desires change. Our focus begins to move away from ourselves and toward Him. His presence becomes our passion, His Word becomes our direction, and His purpose becomes our desire.
That is what revival is about. Revival is not simply an emotional experience or an outward manifestation. Revival is God manifesting His glory, presence, and power, and we, the Body of Christ, yielding to whatever He wants to do in and through our lives. Revival is God's direction for man's reception.
The disciples experienced this in the Upper Room. Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost...” But they did not remain in the Upper Room talking about how wonderful the experience had been. They went out! The same Peter who had denied Jesus stood boldly and preached Christ. Ordinary people became anointed vessels through whom God could touch the world. Jesus had already told them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 KJV).
The power had a purpose. The anointing had a purpose. The touch of God had a purpose. And God's touch upon our lives today still has a purpose. The question therefore should not simply be, “What can God do for me?” The greater question should be, “Lord, what do You want to do in me and through me?”
There are Christians who become discouraged and even angry with God when He does not do what they expect Him to do. Somewhere along the way our relationship with God can become centered around ourselves instead of Him. Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength...” (Luke 10:27 KJV). That is relationship. That is surrender. That is worship.
God's purpose in touching us is to bring a new level of obedience into our lives and a desire to do His will. A genuine encounter with the presence of God should produce change. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Revival brings refreshing, but that refreshing should produce change.
When God touches us, we must be willing to GO where He wants us to go, DO what He wants us to do, SAY what He wants us to say, and BE what He wants us to be. This is where revival moves beyond an experience and begins to fulfill the purpose of God in our lives.
The cross was never intended to produce a selfish Church continually asking, “What is in this for me?” Jesus gave everything. The Father gave His Son. The Holy Spirit was given to live within us. The anointing was given to empower us. The Great Commission was given to direct us. The question we must answer is: What are we doing with what He has given us?
Jesus certainly did not die in vain. But it is possible for us to live far beneath what His death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit made available to us. Paul prayed that believers would “be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19 KJV). God's desire is not merely that we know about Him, but that His presence fills and changes every part of our lives.
God wants more than occasional visits from us when we need something. He wants our hearts. He wants relationship. He wants obedience. He wants yielded vessels through whom His presence, power, love, and compassion can touch a hurting world.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 KJV). Our focus must remain on Him , worshiping Him, loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, and yielding ourselves to His will and purpose.
The cross opened the way. The Holy Spirit came to dwell within us. The power has been given. The Great Commission still stands. Now it is our responsibility to receive, yield, obey and GO.
By Evangelist Gil Howard-Browne
[www.revivaltimes.com](http://www.revivaltimes.com)
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