PRAYING FOR
REVIVAL
“REVIVE US
AGAIN”
PSALM 85:1-7
Psalm 85 is
a prayer for revival. The writer of this
Psalm looked back and he knew what God had done in the past. He began to look to the future and the
possibility of God sending revival.
Revival, a real revival, a God sent revival!
I don't know of a greater need before us today. As a country, as a community, as a church,
our greatest need is revival.
As I look at our nation I see only three
possibilities.
· Number one, the judgment of God.
Twenty years ago, people were saying that our nation today
is ripe for judgment. Today, I believe we are experiencing that judgment. A verse
that you need to remember says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell
and all the nations that forget God." Our nation is forgetting God.
· A second possibility is that Jesus may return.
There are the return of our Lord may be very near and
our prayer ought to be the same as John in Revelation 22:20 "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
· Still a third possibility is for America to experience
a great revival.
We need a sweeping, cleansing, purifying revival to
move across our land. Our cry should be
the same of the Psalmist, "Will you not revive us again?"
I don't know whether or not revival will come to our
nation. But I do know if churches today
want to experience revival then they can.
What is revival?
I asked the church staff for their answers and here is what they said,
Wes –
revival occurs when we collide with God’s glory. We die to sin and self and
begin living passionately for the Lord.
Elisha - revival
is the reigniting of your passion to live every moment for the cause of Christ.
Jonathan –
revival is a period of time in which Christians have a renewed conviction of
sin, a renewed awe of the holiness of God, followed by an intense desire to
live in obedience.
Angela – an
awakening of our souls, a time of repentance of sin and the renewing of our
faith.
Mine - it's
you getting right with God. As a
Christian, it's returning God in repentance and commitment.
Charles Finney, said one time, “Revival is a new
beginning of obedience to God.”
I believe that from time to time God's people need a
new experience with Him -- a new experience of His glory. Keep in mind that
revival is something that can only happen to God's people. Revival is not
something that can take place with lost people for revival is living again. It
is a rekindling of fires that have burned low. It is something that can only
happen among God's people. So revival is a new experience of the presence of
God among His people.
A biblical definition of revival is 2
Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will
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.”
I. Source of
Revival
The writer recognized that the true source of revival
was God. In these six verses we find him
saying, "You showed favor; you
forgave and covered their sins; you set aside your wrath, O God restore us
again," and then the question is asked, "Will
you revive us again?"
The prophet Habakkuk prayed, "O Lord, revive thy work in
the midst of the years." Listen
to the breaking heart of Isaiah, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens
and come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence."
See revival is something God does; you can't work up a
revival. We can do the physical
preparation for revival but we can't bring revival. We plan a series of meetings, invite a
preacher and song leader but that's not revival. We can organize and publicize but we cannot
bring revival. If real revival comes, it
is something God does.
As you and I consider the seriousness of our day, our
prayer ought to be "Will You send revival, Oh Lord?"
Our country is in serious trouble. Do you know where
our hope is? It’s not in the government.
It’s not in the military. It’s
not with the economy. Where is our
hope? Our hope is not with the politicians. We don’t need to give our hopes to either one. Our only hope is in God!
Where is the problem in America? It may not be where you think it is. It is
right here in this room. “Wilt
thou not revive us again.” God’s people. Revival must come from
God for only He can solve the serious trouble we are in today.
II.
Opportunity of Revival
"Will you not revive us again?" The
emphasis is upon the word "us." Though it is God and God alone who sends
revival, there is some personal responsibility.
God wants to work in your life.
God wants to speak to your heart.
That's the neat thing about God. If you are the only one in the church who
needs revival, you can get revived.
Likewise, if you are the only one in the church who desires revival, you
can get revived. And don't think that
every person has to get right with God before God send revival. But if just a few people will get right with
God, then God will move in. If you today
will say "O let the revival start in my life today," then revival
will come.
But it's not automatic; to have revival God's people
have to meet the conditions of revival.
There are certain steps laid out in the Bible and they are best put
together in 2 Chronicles 7:14
1.
Humble Yourself
This first condition is certainly not an easy one to
meet. It's not easy to admit to
ourselves and to God that we are not where we ought to be with Him. Was there ever a time when you were more
committed than you are not? Was there
ever a time when you loved Christ more than you do now? If so, you need a revival. So humble yourself, come before God and admit
you are not where you ought to be.
2. Pray
Revival never comes without prayer. The reason churches are not revived and
people are not revived is the lack of prayer. Now you can see why all the emphases
I am putting on prayer.
3.
Seek God's face
That is, you need to become interested in God
again. That takes laying aside your
desires, your plans, and your entertainment so that you can seek God.
4.
Repent
Revival is turning away from things that displease
God. Repentance is usually a result of
praying. As you pray, God brings to your
mind things in your life that ought not to be there. Things like … bitterness, resentment, habits, anger, secret
sins, public sins. As God brings these
to your attention, you confess and repent of these sins. But keep in mind, you must be willing for God to work you over
if revival is to ever come to your life.
Everyone says they want revival. We want to feel the presence of God; we want
to see our building full and people getting saved. But there will never be revival, a mighty
movement of God until you meet these four conditions.
But if you are willing to meet God's conditions for
revival, then pay particular attention to the result. "That your people may rejoice in
you." When revival comes to
a church, then that church becomes a happy church full of love and joy.
The fellowship so sweet, the singing is from the heart
and there is hunger for the Word of God. When revival comes .. the work of God
that once trickled will become like an overflowing river.
Your assignment, create your own definition
of revival, find scripture to match it and then begin praying for it.
Will your prayer today be, "Oh Lord, will you revive us again and let it begin with me!"
