05/20/2018
When we say the word revival, as it pertains to our faith, what comes to our minds? Is it tent meetings that run late into the night? Is it a guest Pastor who preaches fire and brimstone or directs the Church towards some new endeavor? Is it the return of calm to a chaotic world? No, although you might find a sense of revival in these things, it is actually the restoration of the divine nature in a soul, a church, or even the world... it is the reinvigoration of faith by God’s divine presence.
“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
Psalms 85:6 ESV
Revival can come in bold fashion to large groups of people, such as nations, cities, or churches, and these are the most celebrated and remembered, but more often, revival comes to an individual, and is apparent to others by a changed life... or a recaptured holiness that is revealed in prayer. Someone’s efforts being invigorated in the church might be a sign, but this is not revival... revival is a renewal or reinvigoration of faith, and a fresh instilling of God’s divinity. All the other things come as a result.
“Most would prefer to have a revival as the result of their programs and efforts. God’s way is the opposite. Out of death, acknowledged as the wage of sin, and confession of utter helplessness, God revives.” - Andrew Murray
We look around ourselves, and even into ourselves, and find sin. We see hopelessness and chaos... personal iniquity, the stagnation of God’s Church, nations doing ungodly things to their citizens, and even such things as citizens perpetuating mass shootings, murder, and debauchery upon one another. In confronting these things we are inclined to ask ourselves how we can fix them, and we develop plans, and institute new laws... but they all fall short. Churches begin to hold meetings and come together in what is advertised as revival, but this too fails. It is hard for the sick to heal themselves; it is hard for a falling person to catch themselves.
Revival comes from God, and it begins with His response to confession, and prayer. When it comes there is nothing we as people can do to stop it, just as there was nothing we could do to make it happen. In our reading from Psalm 85 we heard the plea for revival... not the instituting of one. Are we ready to make that same plea today? Are we ready to go to our prayer closets and lift up that heartfelt cry to God as individuals, churches, nations, and the world?
The righteous prayers of one man brings revival to his soul through the merciful answer of God, and the ripple of that one divine response can change an entire family, then a church, a community, a city, nation, and the world, but all of this comes at the hand of God. We have seen great movements in faith, and often attribute them to a man... Luther, Calvin, and the like, but no man reforms, or institutes change in the church without the divine hand of God being upon him, just like no soul can save itself. Naming great revivals and reformation after men is convenient to human recorded history, but a travesty to faith.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV
As a child, I loved to stand dominoes on the floor in a line such that I could topple one and it would begin a chain reaction that would eventually cause them all to fall... one falling into the next. We would like to think that revival is like this, and to a degree it is, but God controls the process, and at any moment he can place his finger atop a domino and say “Stop.” He has a purpose, a will for us, and revival is within His will. Should revival ever be claimed by man then it is at an end; it is given to mankind, but for the glory of God alone. Are we calling for revival to serve our own purposes, or those of God Himself? Search your soul for that answer, and then pray in earnest for the return of revival.
God’s purpose in revival is to reinvigorate our souls in His divine nature, to renew our intensity of faith, and the other things, like peace, and tranquility, come as a byproduct. How are you praying for revival? Are you asking for God to change and renew you and those larger entities, like church and country, for His glory... or for your benefit? Are you praying for revival or salvation?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for revival, and for drawing us closer to you by your presence in our lives. I pray Holy Father that you never let us confuse our need for your
rescue with our need to feel a reinvigoration of faith in you by your divine renewal of our relationship with you. Help each of us to seek you in prayer, and to listen for your revival voice in our hearts, and lives. Holy Father, our churches, cities, and countries are a mess because your people have lost the personal relationship with you that brings peace and joy into our daily lives. I pray Merciful Father that you revive our individual relationships with you, and through that the faithfulness of your Church. In this way Gracious Father, all the other things in a godly existence will fall into place. My prayer this morning God is for your revival in my heart and soul, and that you hear this same plea prayed by so many others as we cry out together for your presence. When hour revival comes to one, then two, then seventy, then more... our world will be changed and your glory will shine in its midst. Come Holy Father, come Lord Jesus. Let Revival and the Return of your Son Jesus thrill our hearts and quicken our souls in faith. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, my Father, in whom I desire a revival of your Spirit, your divinity.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,”
Acts 3:19-20 ESV
Rich Forbes