“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.” Psalm 138:7
When we say church revival what comes to your mind? Some that have been around over 60 might think about tent meetings, itinerant preachers preaching “fire and brimstone” messages that encouraged people to return to God (repentance) and see themselves changed, healed and filled with the Holy Spirit to tell other what God is able to do!
How do revivals begin? They start just the way God told Solomon they would, by His people humbling themselves in prayer with a contrite heart, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Here, God is giving Solomon the “recipe” for revival.
Nowadays, many Christians don’t know the meaning of a revival. A good definition is found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
1: an act or instance of reviving: the state of being revived: as
a: renewed attention to or interest in something
b: a new presentation or publication of some thing old
c: (1) : a period of renewed religious interest
(2) : an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings.
Through the Old Testament, we read about men craving for a revival in their lives and their nation. In his book, the prophet Hosea makes a call to Israel, “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3 I can imagine the prophet standing in the streets and crying out, “Come, let us return to the Lord!” while the people walked around him without paying attention, following whatever their hearts wanted to do. Captivity was at the door, along with death and destruction but not too many ears were eager to listen (pay attention) to what God had to say. They were busy giving themselves to the sexual immorality demanded by the “gods” they were serving and the desires of their own hearts. Hosea keeps on calling, “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press to acknowledge him.” In other words, remember who you belong to, don’t forget that He is your God. He blessed you and made you a great nation! But they did not want to hear from God. In their own eyes, they were all right.
“As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea was prophesying what God was going to do in answer to humble hearts seeking Him.
Do you want a revival in your life? Would you like to know where revival starts? It is very simple, draw a circle around where you are standing. Revival starts within that circle. The Hebrew word of “revive” is “chayah” and means “to be quickened, to be made alive,” and “to be restored” showing what I just said; you must first be quickened or made alive by the Spirit of God! Jesus still is standing and saying, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, who those who believed in him were later to receive. (John 7:37-39)
Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility. – Charles Finney
Revival is the moving of God’s Spirit, through the power of His Word, to the hearts of His children, that resurrects to new life those areas which have been lying stagnant, dormant, or out of balance, and that results in new love and obedience to Jesus Christ. If revival depended on you — your prayers, your faith, and your obedience — would your church ever experience revival? – Del Fehsenfeld Jr.
