IN NEED OF REVIVAL?
IN NEED OF REVIVAL? Most of us frequently are if we are being honest. When somebody told Billy Sunday that revivals weren’t necessary because they didn’t last, the evangelist replied, “A bath doesn’t last, but it’s good to have one occasionally.” So then, where do you think we could go to find the answer to the question of how we might experience revival? You might be surprised to discover that the best place is Psalm 119 which has more than 1/3 of all the uses of the word “revive” in the Bible.
Ps 119:25 My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
Ps 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.
Ps 119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.
Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.
Ps 119:88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
Ps 119:93 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.
Ps 119:107 I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
Ps 119:149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.
Ps 119:154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
Ps 119:156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your ordinances.
Ps 119:159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
As you observe those passages, do you think there is any association between personal revival and personal time in the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Pe 2:2)? As you have surmised, that is a rhetorical question! Of course there is an association, and in fact they are intimately related – read especially Ps 119:25, Ps 119:50, Ps 119:93, Ps 119:107, Ps 119:149, Ps 119:154, Ps 119:156. C H Spurgeon said “If we want revival, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.”
If God seems distant and you feel dry in your spiritual life and are in need of the times of refreshing which come from the presence of the Lord (For ultimately His Presence is the essence of revival) then purpose in your heart (Da 1:8) over the next few days or weeks to meditate on (even memorize) the passages in Psalm 119 that link revival with intake of God’s Word, beseeching God that from our “innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ (Jn 7:38). I am speaking of a renewal of that exhilarating experience when we first fell in love with Jesus when His Spirit birthed us into the Kingdom of God (cf Rev 2:4-5).
“Therefore repent (Confess any known sin. Separate and “kill” any secret sin you have been trifling with) and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jer 33:3) And then “wait for the LORD and you will gain (literally exchange your weakness for His strength – 2 Cor 12:9) new strength and will mount up with wings like eagles, will run and not get tired, and will walk and not become weary,” (Isa 40:31) “for thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isa 57:15)
God’s will for our life is revival, for when we are spiritually revived, the aroma of Christ is evident (2 Cor 2:14-16) and the Light of Jesus (Jn 8:12) is clear and bright and the Father is glorified as Jesus called for in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify (give a proper opinion of) your Father Who is in heaven.”
And so we see that the “secret” to personal revival is simply to “re-Bible!” Let me suggest that instead of reading a larger portion of Scripture (as in most reading plans where too often it is in one ear and out the other), you take smaller “bites” of Scripture, giving yourself a chance to chew on the passages as you would a bite of select prime rib. And then you will be more likely to ponder that passage as you go throughout your day.
Send a revival, O Christ, my Lord,
Let it go over the land and sea;
Send it according to Thy dear Word,
And let it begin in me.
-McKinney
May God “revive His work in the midst of the years.” (Hab 3:2) and may our prayer frequently be “Revive me according to Your Word.” (Ps 119:25) In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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