In the book, on page 80, first paragraph of the section "Revival Begins at Home", Hession states:
"It is in the home that revival first needs to come. . .It is the hardest place, and the costliest, but it is the most necessary place to begin.”
I understand that it's the costliest place, but why does he say that it's the hardest place?
I think it's probably because it's the place where we let our guard down, where we feel the safest, but the problem with that is, we tend to be less diligent in such an environment, and we let things slide a little more for a variety of reasons, such as being tired, or the idea that "well, I'll get to that later or tomorrow". Of course, if we're honest with ourselves, we would have to acknowledge that we usually don't get to it, because the timeliness of the lesson has passed or something else comes up.
In the next paragraph, last sentence, he says, "The home is the place before all others where this [revival] should be experienced."
Consider this: We go out, and sort of perform all day long for an "audience" of our fellow workers or employees, etc., and then, if we come home and "turn off our 'labor'" (so to speak), or if we hang our "commission" on the coat rack at the door, or if we make excuses like "hey man, I gotta decompress...", doesn't that make us a hypocrite with those we live with?
I get the whole "hard day at work" thing, I really, REALLY do! I go through it, and I know those phrases personally, all too well! My problem is, I tend to let my flesh take full control when I roll in the door. "Where's my coke. . . Where's my dinner." What I ought to do, is go straight to my prayer closet and let the Lord decompress me instead of some TV show. And let Him rejuvenate me so I can then minister to my bride and kids.
This takes discipline in preparation! Being prepared for the battle of the flesh, is a huge part of the battle itself. Hession lays these things out for us to consider and ponder as we ask the hard questions - do I really really WANT revival? We no our how our flesh will answer!
So be prepared to discuss these things on Saturday, and be ready to ask the Lord to strengthen us in those areas were we most need it.
Amen?
Take a read through Ephesians 5:25-33 as well as 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 if you have the chance as well.
"It is in the home that revival first needs to come. . .It is the hardest place, and the costliest, but it is the most necessary place to begin.”
I understand that it's the costliest place, but why does he say that it's the hardest place?
I think it's probably because it's the place where we let our guard down, where we feel the safest, but the problem with that is, we tend to be less diligent in such an environment, and we let things slide a little more for a variety of reasons, such as being tired, or the idea that "well, I'll get to that later or tomorrow". Of course, if we're honest with ourselves, we would have to acknowledge that we usually don't get to it, because the timeliness of the lesson has passed or something else comes up.
In the next paragraph, last sentence, he says, "The home is the place before all others where this [revival] should be experienced."
Consider this: We go out, and sort of perform all day long for an "audience" of our fellow workers or employees, etc., and then, if we come home and "turn off our 'labor'" (so to speak), or if we hang our "commission" on the coat rack at the door, or if we make excuses like "hey man, I gotta decompress...", doesn't that make us a hypocrite with those we live with?
I get the whole "hard day at work" thing, I really, REALLY do! I go through it, and I know those phrases personally, all too well! My problem is, I tend to let my flesh take full control when I roll in the door. "Where's my coke. . . Where's my dinner." What I ought to do, is go straight to my prayer closet and let the Lord decompress me instead of some TV show. And let Him rejuvenate me so I can then minister to my bride and kids.
This takes discipline in preparation! Being prepared for the battle of the flesh, is a huge part of the battle itself. Hession lays these things out for us to consider and ponder as we ask the hard questions - do I really really WANT revival? We no our how our flesh will answer!
So be prepared to discuss these things on Saturday, and be ready to ask the Lord to strengthen us in those areas were we most need it.
Amen?
Take a read through Ephesians 5:25-33 as well as 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 if you have the chance as well.