“The high and lofty One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.’” (Isaiah 57:15 NLT)
The term “Revival” isn’t a word we use or even hear much these days, but it’s needed more now than perhaps any other time in history. Revival, on some levels, is a “neutral” term. It literally means “to restore to life, to cause to grow, or to give life,” but that can have reference to an old photo or to an antique car.
But when God uses it, He has reference to His life in us. In the original language of the Old Testament the term meant “to quicken, revive, refresh, to cause to grow.” Growth is God’s plan for each of us who believe. But growth doesn’t happen accidentally. Growth is VERY intentional. To not be intentional about spiritual growth is to intentionally choose spiritual death.
Being a Jesus follower is a decision that requires action. It’s like saying: “I’m buying a new car; would you like to come with me to pick it out?” It’s a decision that results in practical change that, over time, affects every area of our lives.
Revival has at least two dimensions. Our part and God’s part. Leonard Ravenhill wrote: “The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.” If we’re honest, most professing believers never give revival a thought, largely because we don’t understand how badly we need it.
Have you ever been a part of a true, Spirit-led move of God? I have and it can’t be faked or falsified. The Spirit speaks, people listen and respond. There’s little or no preaching and very little singing, except as the Spirit leads. People respond to the Spirit, then share what He’s saying. It’s genuine, Spirit-led, Bible-based confession, repentance, restoration of relationships with God and others that can’t be described or explained in any other way than God did it.
The actual “Revival” may only last a few days or a few months, but the launch of God’s Spirit in people’s lives as He awakens and ignites their spirit to love and serve Him will live on throughout eternity. I’m forever changed for having been a part of such a move of God and I long for that in the lives of others today.
The irony is God will not force His Spirit upon us. He’s a gentleman and will only go where invited and welcomed. He will make His presence known and will flood our hearts with Himself where He sees an openness and honesty that genuinely desires and longs for Him alone. And when there is a group of believers longing for that to happen, not for any ulterior motive or desire for personal recognition or gain, He will respond in miraculous ways.
Do you hunger for His presence? Do you long to see your life exude love that is beyond anything you could “muster up” or fake? Are your prayers focused on the salvation of your lost loved ones and friends, or on things that are more centered on your needs? And please understand, I’m not saying it’s either or, but it must be both.
Some who profess Jesus don’t need revival, they need salvation. They have a pretense of spiritual fervor for what it can do for them, when what they need is to be cleansed of their sin and filled with God’s Spirit.
When enough people stop pretending and start begging God for His presence, the Spirit may see fit to bring revival. Until we demonstrate through our lives that we’re longing for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do in and among us, there will likely be none.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 