Post Revival Reflection

Dear RockSpring Church Family,

Our revival services are now over, and I give thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout the week. All Glory and Honor belong first and foremost to God Most High! I also want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our entire leadership team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this revival possible. Your faithful service has been a blessing to so many, and we are deeply grateful for each one of you. I am also deeply grateful to our RockSpring congregation for setting aside time from your busy schedules to worship, pray, and seek the Lord together. This revival was especially meaningful because it was our first revival meeting since the launch of our RockSpring Church. As such, it marks a significant milestone in our journey together looking forward to an amazing future God has prepared for us.

When we hear the words like revival or retreat, many of us naturally hope for a dramatic spiritual experience—a life-changing encounter, a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, or a defining turning point in our faith. There is certainly nothing wrong with praying for such moments. If God chooses to work in that way, we rejoice with all our hearts. At the same time, revival is not measured only by extraordinary spiritual experiences. Revival also means faithfully gathering as God's people, just as we do every Sunday—to worship, to hear His Word, to pray, to examine our hearts, to reflect on our lives and ministries, and to renew our commitment to follow Christ. Rather than chasing spiritual excitement or emotional highs, revival often begins with simply returning to the place of faithful worship and humble obedience. As we conclude the first half of our ministry year and prepare to enter the second half, this revival has been a timely reminder to seek God's renewal.

The very word revival means "to live again." My prayer is that whatever has grown weak or broken in our lives would be restored by God's grace and to live again! Whether it is our worship, our prayer life, our spiritual passion, our health, our relationships, or our calling, may the Lord breathe new life into every dry place; like the vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel, may God bring life where there once seemed to be none. Paradoxically, revival also requires death. Before something new can begin, something old must come to an end. I recently completed my meditation through 1 Samuel and began reading 2 Samuel. The opening verse in chapter one immediately caught my attention: "After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag." (2 Samuel 1:1) The books of Samuel were divided in the Septuagint, and that division begins precisely here; with the death of Saul. Just as the book of Joshua begins, "After the death of Moses," and the book of Judges begins, "After the death of Joshua," 2 Samuel begins, "After the death of Saul." Each marks the beginning of a new chapter in God's redemptive story. Saul's death signals the beginning of David's leadership and a new era for Israel. In the same way, a new season in our lives begins only when the old self dies. My prayer is that our sins would die completely, that our pride, our self-righteousness, our self-centered thinking, and our old ways would be crucified with Christ. As these things die, may God open a new chapter in our lives through the power of the gospel. May the Lord revive what He desires to revive, and may He graciously put to death whatever must die, so that His purposes may be accomplished in and through us.

This Sunday, we will also begin Mark chapter 7 in our expository sermon series. We have now reached approximately the halfway point of the Gospel of Mark. I encourage you to reflect on all that God has taught us through chapters 1–6 and prepare your hearts for what He will continue to teach us in the chapters ahead. Let us press on together and faithfully finish this journey through Mark. Thank you again for your prayers, your faithfulness, and your love for Christ and His Church.

Love you all in Christ Jesus,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church