Renewing Your Spiritual Roots

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "You need to get right with God!" What does this mean? There are two senses in which you might hear this:

• Some use this phrase to refer to one's salvation -- the spiritual relationship anyone can have with Almighty God through exercising faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. To "get right with God" in this sense means that you turn from your sins and place your trust in the LORD Jesus Christ who died for your sins on the cross and rose victoriously from the grave. Your commitment to follow Him grants you forgiveness of sins and eternal life -- the assured hope of heaven.
• The other use of this phrase "get right with God" refers to a renewal of one's relationship with God. Sometimes you hear of a married couple that renew their wedding vows made long ago. This is the second sense of how this phrase is used -- one who long ago committed his or her life to the LORD Jesus Christ can renew that pledge at any time. Difficult circumstances may initiate such a renewal. Often, though, it is a growing conviction that comes upon a person at some point that draws them seek a new, deeper commitment to the LORD.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 35:1-21
 

Main Thought: Spiritual renewal takes place when you remember God's call on your life, remember your promises to Him, purify your life of that which hinders your relationship with Him, and recommit yourself to God.

• God called Jacob to return to the place of his spiritual roots and fulfill his vow to the LORD.
• Jacob responded to God's call for renewal by purifying himself and his family.
• Jacob's search for spiritual renewal was rewarded as God once again appeared to Jacob.

Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." (Genesis 35:1, NKJV)

1. God called Jacob to return to the place of his spiritual roots and fulfill his vow to the LORD.

Much had transpired since Jacob had left Bethel:

Jacob had found Rachel for a wife but, through Laban's deceit, gained two wives and many children.

God prospered Jacob while living with his Uncle Laban.

Jacob wrestled with God until he was broken and learned to hold on to God rather than trust in himself. His name was changed to "Israel" meaning "God prevails." This indicated the important change in his inner character.

Jacob went back to the land of God's promise but did not go to Bethel. He lived in the land for ten years before he finally realized God's call for renewal.

Most recently, Jacob's sons had taken revenge on the people of Shechem for the rape of their sister, Dinah.

What does it take for a church or a country to experience spiritual renewal? One of the leaders of the 19th century revival in the United States was Charles Finney. His sermons were characterized by fiery, passionate words. His most famous message was "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." Today, we would call Finney a "fire and brimstone" preacher. Yet many people turned their hearts and lives over to the LORD Jesus Christ as a result of this spiritual renewal. His experience in this major revival by God led him to record seven signs that God is working on revival in a church or in a country.
 

Charles Finney's Seven Indicators of Revival
When the sovereignty of God indicates that revival is near.
When wickedness grieves and humbles Christians.
When there is a spirit of prayer for revival.
When the attention of ministers is directed toward revival.
When Christians confess their sins one to another.
When Christians are willing to make sacrifices to carry out the new movement of God's Spirit.
When ministers and laity are willing for God to promote spiritual awakening by whatever instrument He pleases ... then revival comes.
Source: Charles G. Finney, "Lectures on Revival of Religion," New York: Fleming H. Revell, copyright 1988, pp 22-34.

Each of us would do well to consider these signs in our own lives, in our own church, and in our own community as a "wake-up" call for spiritual renewal. Let us pray that revival would be a reality.

"(2) And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. (3) "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone." (4) So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem." (Genesis 35:2-4, NKJV)

2. Jacob responded to God's call for renewal by purifying himself and his family.

The "gods" which they put away, they buried. They were never to be retrieved again. Once something is buried, that's it. You don't go back and dig it up. It is dead and finished. This is the way they were to view their former idolatrous acts -- dead and finished. They were going to up Bethel to worship the true and living God. Are there any "gods" in your life that need to be buried? Most anything can get between you and the LORD -- the want of money, the abundance of money, too much work, varieties of pleasure, painful circumstances, or even church activity that has become routine or a duty. Consider this God's call to "get right with God" by putting away that idol in your life. Bury it today and never resurrect it.

It was a time for purification of the inner self (getting rid of idols, trusting in the LORD, meditating on His word) and purification of the outer self (bathing, putting on fresh garments). The outward purification symbolized what God was doing in their hearts. They were on their way up -- literally and spiritually. Bethel was approximately 1,000 feet higher in elevation than Shechem. So they literally "went up" (v.3) to Bethel. This word is also used elsewhere in regard to a spiritual pilgrimage. (1 Samuel 1:3; Psalm 122:4)  It is symbolic of their upward spiritual journey to draw closer to God.

Is it necessary to visit a particular spot to draw close to God? No, but often we find it easier to focus on God and worship Him when we rid ourselves of the busyness of life, all the details, all the "to-do's", and all the worries by going to a particular place for worship. This is one of the reasons we gather together at church for prayer, Bible study, and worship of the LORD. Consider this a challenge for your devotional life at home to set aside a particular place in your home where you devote yourself to God. Renewing your commitment to and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ each morning is a wonderful way to start your day.

(5) And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. (6) So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. (7) And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. (Genesis 35:5-7, NKJV)

3. Jacob's search for spiritual renewal was rewarded as God once again appeared to Jacob.

It was also a time to worship. This is where God appeared to Jacob on his flight from home. With his brother, Esau, wanting to kill him and an uncertain future ahead, Jacob received a revelation from God (Gen. 28:11-19). In this revelation, God affirmed the blessing of Abraham for Jacob. Now Jacob has returned to the place of his spiritual roots to worship again. Jacob's family had felt the wooing of God's Holy Spirit. In response, they went through a purification inside and out of things that hinder worship, submitted to God's sovereign reign over their lives, and gave Him praise and worship. Jacob was rewarded for his obedience to God's call by the reaffirmation of God's promises to him:

Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. (10) And God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.' So He called his name Israel. (11) Also God said to him: 'I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. (12) The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.' (13) Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. (Gen. 35:9-13 NKJV)

God reminds Jacob again that he is no longer "Jacob the deceiver" but "Israel" in whom and through whom "God prevails." In renewing your spiritual roots, take time to reflect on what God has accomplished in your life. What has changed since you trusted in Him? How has your character been molded since that time? How has your love changed -- for your spouse, your children, your family members, your neighbors, your co-workers? Have others in your life been affected by your testimony of faith? Trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ means more than escaping the fire of Hell but puts you into a personal relationship with the Creator of all things! It means that you have committed your life to following Him. As you obediently put His word into practice, you will find great blessing as did Jacob. Those around you will notice the changes and be blessed as well.
 

Reflect on YOUR life: If you feel that things are not right between you and the LORD Jesus Christ, consider your relationship with Him. Do you really know Him or is He some distant, vague concept that you have heard but never experienced? Have you ever come to your own "Bethel" where you placed your trust in the living LORD Jesus? If not, acknowledge that to Him right now and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a personal way. Turn to Him and away from your sins. The Bible says, "Believe in the LORD Jesus and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31, NIV). Claim that promise from the one who died for your sins, who gave His life for yours, and rose from the grave that you might know He can forgive your sins and give you new life forever. Commit your life to Him even now.

If you trusted in the LORD Jesus at some point in your life but do not enjoy the peace that He promised, perhaps you need a time of purification and renewal like Jacob. The LORD desires that you walk with Him in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control -- the fruit of the Spirit of God at work in your life (Gal. 5:22-23).  Reflect on that place where you met Him. Ask Him to reveal things in your life that need to be purified -- put away for good. Confess your sin of lethargy in spiritual pursuits. Then pursue God through the study of His word and your obedience to what He reveals. Pursue Him with passion -- He wants you to know Him and walk with Him each day!

Copyright 11/12/2001, Randy Lariscy.