Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim Burt
The word "revival" is often used in Christian preaching. Yet most people have never seen or experienced a true move of God—a genuine revival. We witness one taking shape in Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6 (NKJV): "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight."'
Then "Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”
At this point in history, God was using John to awaken people to Himself. It was a powerful move of God—unlike anything that generation had ever seen. Crowds poured out to see John—some out of curiosity, others drawn by a deep longing to be closer to God. Either way, they all came. Read the verse again:
"Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”
People arrived unaware that they would be apprehended by the Spirit of God speaking through John. Yet when their hearts were confronted with truth, they repented, were baptized, and began to experience life from a new perspective—one transformed by God.
The religious leaders of the day also came. Steeped in pride, they believed they had all spiritual knowledge. They were insulted and envious that anyone other than themselves could be used by God with such power and influence. Their jealousy and arrogance blinded them, exposing their true nature—despite being seen as religious men, many were revealed as truly corrupt.
In the midst of this move of God, John looked up, saw them in the crowd, and declared: "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…'" (Matthew 3:7-8 NKJV).
John’s words may have seemed harsh, but he was speaking to religious leaders whose hearts were rock-hard with pride. To those who had come for the right reasons, however, his words were life-changing. He called them to "bear fruits worthy of repentance." That statement alone is the key to whether the spirit of revival takes hold in an individual’s heart, a city’s heart, or a nation’s heart.
God is always moving in powerful ways on the earth, but we may not always be in the places where these unique outpourings occur. And we don’t have to be! He invites us to cry out to Him wherever we are. He calls us to draw near, to seek revival within our own hearts. He longs for it. He continually reveals Himself and His truth so we will see it and respond. Right now, He is calling you.
Why does God want us to turn from attitudes and behaviors He calls wrong in His Word? Because deep down, we already know they are destructive. They hurt us. They hurt others. As the saying goes, “Hurt people hurt people.” Beyond that, they hold back the blessings God longs to give us—the blessings that make life truly rich.
Psalm 146:8 (NLT) says: "The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly."
Don’t you want to be blessed? Can you see that His motive is pure love?
The literal Greek meaning of "bear fruit worthy of repentance" is to show evidence of a complete reversal of wrong thinking, attitudes, and behavior—a changed life. Many people say they are sorry to God, knowing they should change. Drawing near to God is the first step, and sincere repentance is the second. But unless there is actual fruit—a visible transformation—words alone are empty. Only embracing God’s Word as truth and the path to right living brings true conviction. And only through prayer can a believer receive the inner strength needed to follow through.
People say “I’m sorry” every day, yet they repeat the same behaviors over and over. True repentance—evidenced by real heart change—is what brings the powerful experience of personal revival. And here’s a truth worth remembering: When a person experiences genuine change in one area of life, it often leads to transformation in multiple areas. That is what makes revival so powerful!
Change may not happen instantly. We often try to change in our own strength first, only to realize we need God’s power to succeed. When we fail in our own efforts, we learn that true transformation comes only through His grace. But if you are sincere in your repentance and seek God for strength, you will find the power to change—even if it takes time. God sees your heart. He is patient with those who are sincere.
As you walk this journey of change, you will take step after step toward "bearing fruit worthy of repentance." With each layer of growth, you will experience personal revival. You will love God more deeply and reflect His life more brightly to the world around you. And that is exactly what God desires—a revived you!
Psalm 143:11 (NKJV): "Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake!
For Your righteousness' sake, bring my soul out of trouble."
In His love,Pastor Tim BurtIf Fresh Manna is a blessing to you, I'd love to know. Click here: FreshMannaFeedback
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