Characterizing the Forerunners of Revival

The last blog post "The Heartbeat of the Forerunner" in a series of topic speaks about the true heart every believer should have. If we are truly Christ's disciple, we will follow his will in a heart beat. As Forerunners, I strongly believe that God is calling believers who has been "set apart" for a purpose. And for us to fully grasp what God is doing, we need to identify characteristically who and what Forerunners should be.

Now, I truly believe that Forerunners will spread revival in the entire earth for Christ. We also need to fully define who we are as movement, as people set apart for the completion of Christ ministry work.

Today we will focus on the characteristics of a Forerunner, how do we differ from others and how can we focus on the vision of God while redefining who we are? But more importantly, I'd like to focus on the "Heroes of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and identify ourselves together with them. There are gems that we can learn from these people and of the calling the Lord has placed before us.

1. Forerunners are a people of FAITH

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead."

Forerunners fully understand that they live by faith, believing that God is in control even when fear is there. We desire to worship and honor God by offering better sacrifices. 

Now, let me speak more of "better sacrifices", this doesn't even mean that we're better than other believers. It actually speaks about the conditions of our hearts when we offer our time, effort or even gifts to the Lord. Our purpose should and always will be to bring an offering with a cheerful heart.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Yes,God looks at the heart and he deals with the heart more importantly because it is the wellspring of life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Proverbs 4:23

It is the same way when we look at Forerunners, our purpose why we do stuff for the Lord because we want to honor him, even to the point of sacrificing certain things personally. But this is because we know and believe that God has better things in store for us because we believe in his promises for us.

2. Forerunners LIVE for righteousness

"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"

Righteousness is defined as someone who is without blemish. As God is preparing a people who lives in righteousness, we still consider ourselves wretched because we oftentimes sin. Indeed, the apostle Paul was right in mentioning to the Roman believers in Romans 7:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

But like the Apostle Paul, we cherish on what Christ has done for us that we can boast through Christ in our own weaknesses. Indeed, we can fully declare:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Our righteousness comes from the cross' power. It is because of Christ's work that we are able to live in righteousness - not of our own but through grace. That is why even when people mock us and in difficulty, curses us, we still delight in the Lord for He makes us strong.

3. Forerunners ABIDES in GOD's instruction

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith..." 

We believe that God is raising up a people wherein they hear instructions from the Lord and with wisdom follows it. We strongly believe in the concept of "obedience is better than sacrifice". We believe that God desires more that we obey his words, follow the instructions from His words and flourish in the season God has blessed us.

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! – Matthew 11:15

Because we want to abide in God, we turn away from the world and stand for what is right. We condemn the world's view and bring in change in our communities with the truth based on scriptures. We live in the grace that allows us to move on in life.

As Forerunners in this season, God requires for us to have an ear for instruction. To follow God's decree and have the wisdom to change the course of history through the powerful message of the cross of Christ. 

4. Forerunners are RECEPIENTS of God's inheritance

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise." 

We believe that God is placing in us a dream as an inheritance and because He is the giver of good dreams, we obey and believe that He will fulfill his plans for us even when we sometimes don't understand. 

We move from one season to another in this world believing that we live as aliens and strangers of this world, desiring a world where the King sits on his throne. But more importantly, deep down inside of us is the reality of God's promises wherein grace, favor and blessings becomes our inheritance through Jesus Christ. That's what keeps us going from breakthrough to breakthrough.

5. Forerunners BEARS fruits in season

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 

And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

We believe that God is the perfect builder of our life wherein He knows what's right for us and leads us to a brighter future.  We also believe that as Forerunners, we need to bear fruit for Christ. A true disciple of Jesus bears fruit as he is our great vine dresser. I believe that as we continue to rise up God will continue to bless our work. 

Not only do we obey God's blueprint but also brings blessings in our lives. And we believe that because of the power of a changed life through the grace of God, God will place people in our lives who will bear testimonies of God's fulfillment through us.

I believe that God will also place us in situation wherein we will see the fruits of every effort, of the faith that comes by believing and walking in righteousness. We will also see God's favor and hand from one situation to another, declaring that the one who has called is faithful when we abide in him. 

I may never know where you are in your journey with the Lord but it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes of these spiritual truths and bring in the revival that will set on fire and prepare the way of the Lord. 

Have you identified yourself with the 5 characteristics of a Forerunner? 

Do you believe that God is placing us in this timely season for revival? If you believe these truths, I pray that you would also entrust to others what you are learning and start living as a Forerunner for the Lord.