REVIVAL REFLECTIONS

I Was Just Thinking About – REVIVAL REFLECTIONS.

What is the underlying basis and fact of true Biblical Revival. Many verses are cited to define what is meant by true revival. What do you mean when you use that term? The Church that announces and publicizes three days in the Fall for Revival, what does that mean? What is the expectation? What do the spiritual leaders of that particular Church anticipate happening? Is there a track record that proves an annual time for “revival” has achieved any attainable spiritual goal? Has there been – will there be any recognizable transformation in the lives of individuals; the Church; the community?

A passage that describes spiritual renewal is Isaiah 61:1 (NASB), “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.” Does that describe the “community revivals” you’ve witnessed over the years?

Isaiah 61:3 goes on the describe something very special and significant: “To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So, they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” What a beautiful picture of a potential outcome for a time of spiritual renewal. We should be taken by the last comment of the verse that describes the work that only God can do and that which will be recognized as an act of His grace and His purpose – “they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Can that occur in the twenty-first century church? It better! We need to recognize the desperateness of “business as usual” especially as we note the lack of interest in that type ministry contentment. When will here be the recognition that this “Titanic” is taking water, and will soon be nothing more than part of a debris field on the ocean’s floor – just a fading memory of what once was and that which it might have become.

What will people become when God does His work among them? What will people observe about them? Isaiah 61:10 indicates: “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult (feel elation or jubilation) in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Does this describe how we appear before a watching world today? Or, do people observe diversity, hypocrisy, selfishness, pride, stubbornness, or worldliness? The place where we need to begin is honest assessment of one’s own relationship to the Lord. Then, with humility and contriteness become desirous of the daily presence of God in one’s life. Like Jacob of old, persist (Genesis 32:26) – “I will not let You go until You bless me.”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.