Abel's Revival Series

Revival means to bring back to life. Spiritually, it means to move from being dead in trespasses and sins to life in Christ. How is Abel's life the first revival after the tragedy in the Garden?

Abel’s parents had failed terribly in the garden, inflicting a curse upon all humanity, but they must have taught their second son something about God. Revival in at least one member of the first family was by faith because, “By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.” (Hebrews 11:4 CEB) Is Cain’s attitude also a common theme throughout history, of jealousy and murder (Jude 11)? Speaking to us still, is Abel’s testimony of a believer who offered a better sacrifice by faith.

Cain probably only gave a half-hearted offering, while his brother gave his best as we can see, “Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift.” (Genesis 4:3-5 NLT) Did he “refuse to do what is right” (Genesis 4:7 NLT), only offering “some” of his crops as a cheap religious gesture, without purity of heart? Wrong attitudes lead to wrong actions, even murder.

The leader of a revival has often been hated and sometimes even assassinated. Jealousy, pure and simple, was the motive for history’s first murder. Killed for his love of God, Abel experienced the first revival after the fall and became the first martyr for his faith.

Have churches across the world been guilty of attacking those who love God? You who scoff at Bible preaching, why do you even go to church? Killed by politics, lust for power, a desire to hear only “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:9-13) and preference for false gospels that tickle the ears, many ministries suffer opposition. Your preacher, if he preaches the Bible as best he can, is a blessing from God. Pastor, will you be faithful to the word of God, even if it means you lose your post?

Abel's faith still lives in those who trust God and wholeheartedly offer their lives to Him. Is our faith that of half-hearted Cain or wholehearted Abel?