"Religion is just the work of man. Everyone has some sort of religion or rules they live by, but this is a trap for Christians. Its a trap because its all by Gods work and grace that we are saved and live as Christians! Thats why Habakkuk said O Lord, revive your work, because we cant live this Christian life properly without be fully alive! So lets have a look at what revival really is all about:
WHAT ISNT REVIVAL?
Revival isnt some freak miracle that happens to us without our seeking. In fact, the way to revival is paved with someone seeking Him for it. Dont get me wrong, we cant have a revival without God working in and through us. But at the same time, God cant work a revival in us until we do some things that pave the way (e.g. A lot of prayer for revival)
Imagine this: Australias farmers are working hard at the moment. But at a farmers convention they are all told that God is sovereign and only gives crops when it pleases Him. So if they plant crops and work hard, that means its taking the work out of Gods hands and doing it on their own strength and there is no connection between their work and their crops! What would happen if the farmers believed this? Theyd starve! Along with a lot of other Aussies.
Its the same with us and God. If we just sit back and do nothing and trust God to bring us a revival and to bring in new believers, many more would go to hell! If we want revival, we have to get out there and like the farmer, do some work! Toil on our knees! God wants to work a revival; its up to us to make a way for it.
Oh and by the way, revival isnt just heaps of new people becoming Christians either. Think of the word: Revive. It means to wake up! So when we talk about a revival, we dont mean a lot of decisions for Christ, or even a really good rally night at our youth group. Its when God works in Christians hearts to wake them up to Him, His power, and His calling. (Then they evangelise with a new passion and power and more souls saved!).
SO WHAT ACTUALLY IS REVIVAL?
Revival is our love for God being renewed, then sinners being saved, then the community waking up to God, and then backsliders being claimed back. It sort of implies that the Christians are a bit backslidden, or have gotten too comfortable or complacent.
When a genuine revival happens, the Christians are always going to have a bit of conviction of sin. People search deep in their hearts and drag sins into the light.
Also, backsliders repent and turn to God again. Revival is really just starting a new beginning of obedience. So backsliders are broken down into humility and forsake their sins and seek God again.
In a revival, our faith is renewed. When a Christian isnt revived, they seem blind to how important souls are. They dont really care a whole lot for someones salvation, or the state of sinners. To them, truth seems more like a dream, of course they say yeah I believe that! but their lives dont match up, and it has no effect on eternity.
But in a revival they see things clearly and work hard to see the lost saved. They get sad when people dont love God, and they are filled with a tender and burning love for souls! Because they have a renewed love for God, they have a renewed love for men. They will pray hard for their friends and enemies, asking God to save them. They will do all they can to save souls from hell.
In a time when we see advertising everywhere, it seems like we are always being reminded of the world. A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. They dont care for the latest fashions, and they dont entertain themselves through sin. They get a taste of heaven and nothing else beats that! The power of sin is overcome because they now long for God more.
After all that happens to the Christians, sinners get saved! They go through the same motions of being convicted and repenting and falling in love with God. Only there is a difference: They are helped by the prayers and preaching of all the revived Christians. When a revival happens, you see many really hard and sinful people being softened and saved and transformed.
By the grace of the Holy Spirit, people live holy lives & bring God more glory. Then the church works like God intended and many are saved.
I hope this helps to get rid of some confusion, and helps us to know more on what to pray for. Lord, send revival" |
