Will You Not Revive Us Again
Psalm 85:6-7 says “Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.” When you look at our Nation and college campuses, you can’t help but think the sons of Korah who wrote this prayer were in the same broken state. What is Revival? Stephen Olford’s answer is “the soverign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith and obedience.” Revival is for the Church! Revival begins with me and my choice to return to my first love. This is the number one assignment for the Church today. My honest opinion is that it is not on the radar of the majority of the Church. May we join the sons of Korah and cry out for God to revive us once again.
Do You Want Revival
The one thing lacking on the college campuses of America is a real understanding of it’s depravity. The pain is deep in the hearts of people but being numbed by the quest for entertainment, cares, and comfort has numbed our hunger for God. The pain is actually our friend because it is trying to direct us into a posture of desperation towards our only hope. Jesus Christ! What many people do when they feel pain is to take a drug to numb the pain because they don’t understand or have the courage to face it and ask why? When we are not willing to face the pain by turning to Jesus then how can we be revived? Revival is something God must orchestrate but the Body of Christ must show signs of wanting to be revived. Our generation of today has had everything handed to them and our expectation is not different in regards to God. God is asking “Do you want Revival, if so, then fight for it and pursue me.” Are you revived? Are you desperate for Jesus? Are you hungry for God’s presence?
Confess, Repent and Seek God
This process begins by confessing our sins to God daily with a desire for a clean and pure heart. I honestly believe when we turn to God in confession then God purifies us because our hearts are honest before Him. God is looking for a broken and contrite heart from us. It is not just about confession but repentance which is the act of turning our mind and thoughts away from sin and towards Jesus. Then God sees our willingness for change and our deep need for Him. God will meet us where we are at and strengthen us in Him. As we humble ourselves, pray, and seek Him then God shines His face on us. The Shine is called revival, and then we rejoice in God. Oh, that God would rend the heavens and come down by His grace and mercy. Oh come God! Help Us!
Justin Christopher
14 years agoI am re-reading “Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening” and it lists 5 steps to revival. The first is “recognizing the need.” Your first point is right. We first need to see the desperateness of our situation.
I think of Joel asking his people to look around a see what the locusts had eaten.
Brent Kanyok
14 years agoHey Justin
It was cool at the Strategy Roundtable yesterday, how we as Campus Ministers must be desperate for Jesus first before expecting that from students. My heart was right there with that conversation. I don’t think I am that desperate for God. Yet, I realize this is the first step.