REVIVAL
THROUGH RETREAT
Memorise:
Wilt thou not receive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Read: 1st Kings
19:4-8,
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the
wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for
himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away
my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a
juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and
eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there
was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat
and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came
again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the
journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink,
and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb
the mount of God.
MESSAGE!!!
All human
beings have an intense desire to connect to God. One vital element that is
required to connect to God is a nice quiet atmosphere, devoid of daily
concerns, where one can ruminate over spiritual truths. Meanwhile, it is often
difficult to create such within the unrelenting activities of one’s daily life.
This is why a retreat comes in handy. A spiritual retreat could be defined as a
sustained period of quiet, uninterrupted time for a person to be reflective and
receptive in God’s presence. It offers a time to leave daily concerns, to
connect with one’s spiritual self, and to be attractive to the needs of one’s
soul and spirit. People seeking for a time of retreat often locate a retreat
centre or a specific geographical place that offers an atmosphere conductive
for quite reflection. The search for spiritual retreat has taken many to Prayer
Mountains and remote solitary places.
Mount
Carmel is best known as the site of Elijah’s battle against the prophets of
Baal. However, the fact that Elijah and Elisha frequently returned to Mount
Carmel is an indication that they were using the mountain for spiritual
retreat. The overall purpose of a spiritual retreat is to be transformed in
whatever manner God chooses. Withdrawing to a place of spiritual retreat offers
a time for refreshment and nourishment of life, a time to experience a
continual sense of God’s presence that could become a constant reality in everyday
life. 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”
Therefore,
a time of spiritual retreat is a time for sober reflection, repentance,
rededication, revival and rejuvenation. The book of 1stKings
18:20-46 showed us the structure and pattern of a spiritual retreat. First,
Elijah rebuilt the ruined altar to Yehweh, symbolising repentance and
rededication of Israel to God. Then, he dug a trench around the altar and
poured 12 jars of water on the sacrifice, the wood, and the altar, filling the
trench, symbolising the activities of the Spirit. Finally, he called on Yehweh,
who answered immediately by fire that consumed the whole sacrifice, including
the water, the wood, and the stones of the altar. This was immediately followed
by heavy rains after three and half years of drought. There was great
celebration as the people rejoiced in the Lord for a time of refreshing. A
spiritual retreat always leads to celebration.
A spiritual
retreat is also used a pursue personal holiness and to stay connected to God.
Several passages in the Gospels according to Saint Mark and Matthew, give the
account of Jesus retreating to pray. This point out the importance of spiritual
retreating to Christians. Every child of God, as a matter of necessity, must
constantly create time for spiritual retreat, seeking the face of the Lord for
cleansing, renewal, re-dedication, and spiritual empowerment
Prayer
Point:
Father,
please revive me again, that I may experience a time of refreshing from above
in Jesus’ name.
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