22 November 2020

Revival

What is Revival?

"God's quickening visitation of his people, touching their hearts and deepening his work of grace in their lives." J. I. Packer

The root word for revival comes from the word revive. The prefix re meaning “again,” and vive, which derives from the Old French word vivere, meaning “to live.” So, the word revive literally means “to live again.” Revive is defined to quicken or renew the mind; bring back.

Psalm 80:18 (NIV) “Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.”

Psalm 85:6 (NIV) “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) “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.”

Habakkuk 3:2 (NKJV) “O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.”

Realise the need for revival

For revival to take place we must realise the need for revival.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “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.”

The source of revival is God, Himself! We cannot make revival happen, but we can turn to the one who desires to revive us. God is waiting for us to turn to him and is ready to move when we do. Revival brings us close to God’s heart and God’s will.

God addressed His own: “If my people…” do four things, God said, He would “heal their land.”

a. Humble themselves - Proverbs 22:4 (NIV) “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honour and life.”

b. Pray - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

c. Seek God - Psalm 105:4 (NIV) “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

d. Turn form their wicked ways - Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Revival is the restoration of God’s presence to His people.