What Must We Do for Revival? - The Lord's Response to Us

It is then after we have humbled ourselves, prayerfully sought the Lord, and repented from our sins that the Lord says He will respond to us.  He says He will hear from Heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.  By humbling ourselves we have placed ourselves in a position to where He can exalt us in due time. (1Peter 5:6) If we have sought Him, He will be found of us. (1Chronicles 28:9) As I previously stated, if we have confessed our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.  Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) It is then that He can remove His chastening hand from upon us, and bring healing to us and our nation.

So, this raises the question, will we have a revival in our nation again? Based off what I have covered so far, I believe it is entirely possible if we as the Church will do our part. I see nothing in Scripture that states how big or small a revival will be, so I believe we need to earnestly seek it and leave the results up to the Lord. If we think about it, why wouldn’t the Lord bring a revival if the Church humbles itself, prays and seeks the Lord, and repents from its sins? It is part of his nature. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) This nation has experienced three significant revivals, and I see no reason why another is not possible. However, history has shown true revivals are often born out of severe hardship and tribulation.

Many see a conflict between this belief and the apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2, but if we examine this passage, I do not believe there is a true conflict. David Guzek writes, “The idea of a great end-times apostasy also does not contradict the idea of a great end-times revival. Some Christians doubt the idea of great revival in the last days, or even welcome apostasy believing it signals the end. But just as the Book of Revelation describes great rejection of Jesus during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 9:20-21 and 17:2-6) and great acceptance of Him ( Revelation 7:9-14), the two can stand side-by-side.” When we examine 2 Thes 2, it describes the willing departure from the Gospel and biblical truth, and the article “the” indicates that it is the final rebellion. This is in connection with the restraining force of the Holy Spirit working through the Church being removed, and the man of sin being revealed. This then is clearly referring to the time of the tribulation. However, as we have already seen, even during the tribulation there will be a wide-spread acceptance of Jesus Christ, along with a wide-spread rejection of Him.

Will a revival make America great again? Well, that’s a different story. Even a major revival does not necessarily mean America returning to greatness. In my opinion, it is not likely for a few reasons: first, if the rapture is as close as it seems to be, there is not a lot of time to turn this ship around, and at that point, the whole world will go under the judgment of God. Second, according to biblical prophecy, the U.S. is not a major player in the end times. So, although we could see a rise from our current state, ultimately it will not last. Somehow, we are no longer a world superpower, so something happens to bring us down from that pedestal. Third, we have crossed the lines spiritually and morally that other nations have crossed in history, and they either ceased to exist or were greatly diminished. Truthfully though, we really do not know what will happen to the United states, at least in the short-term. I love this country, and I consider it a blessing and privilege to have been born and raised here; however, a revival is not about the United States. It’s about souls being won for Jesus Christ and believers becoming true disciples of Him. If America rises to greatness again before the Lord’s return, great! But if it does not, we’re still called to go into all nations. So, let’s be about His business until He does return.

 

“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:12-15

 

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…” - Jeremiah 6:16 

What Must We do for Revival? - If My People Repent

Lastly, the Lord says we need to turn from our wicked ways. Turn is another way of saying repent, and unfortunately, this is not a popular word today, even amongst many believers. When we begin talking about repentance and calls to holiness within the Church, this is when we start stepping on people’s toes. It is so easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others, rather than measuring our own lives up with the Word of God.  James says that the Word of God is like a mirror. (James 1:22-24) God’s Word gives us an accurate reflection of how our lives are measuring up to His standard.  When we prayerfully take an honest look at the Scriptures and at God’s standard of righteousness, we will then see how short we fall of that standard.  If we were to just look at the Ten Commandments, this is enough to show us how unworthy we truly are.  If we have told a lie, we have born false witness.  If we have used God’s name as a curse word, we are guilty of blasphemy.  If we have hated a brother or sister, Jesus states that we are guilty of murder.  If we have lusted in our hearts, Jesus says we are guilty of adultery.  These are only four of the Ten Commandments, but James says if we have broken the Law in one point, we are guilty of breaking the entire thing. (James 2:10) The apostle Paul said in Romans, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) The apostle John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8) There is not one of us, believer or nonbeliever that can say we are without sin.  As believers we are a new creation in Christ and are no longer under the sentence of the Law; however, we still have to deal with the sin nature.  There is a sanctification process that takes place in our lives that does not stop until we reach Heaven.  We should always be like David in asking the Lord to search our hearts (Psalms 139:23-24).  As we ask the Lord to search us, He will reveal those things that are unpleasing in His sight.

All those whom the Lord used mightily throughout history had a real sense of unworthiness, and simply had to trust in the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ.  When Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord he said, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5) Job, a man whom the Bible refers to as being perfect and upright, said the following after the Lord spoke to Him out of the whirlwind, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6) Jonathan Edwards, a man the Lord used powerfully during the first great awakening in the American colonies stated, "I am nothing, and can do nothing: I desire your prayers that I may be more sensible of it, and that God would grant me his presence and assistance, and again grant me success.” It is when we have come to an end of ourselves and trusting in our own righteousness that the Lord can truly use us for His glory and in His service.

The point in the Lord revealing our sin to us is not to condemn us, but to cleanse us of it and remove it from our lives.  The Scriptures say, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) Also, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) So then, repentance is not a bad thing, but a good thing. It is what opens the flood gates of God’s mercy and forgiveness, and restores our fellowship with the Lord. It is simply the reality of the Christian life. Jesus said to the church in Laodicea, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev 3:19)

There have been times in the past that it seemed as if there would be a revival, but it did not last because the message of repentance was missing.  For example, Churches filled shortly after 9/11 as people began to seek the Lord, but it quickly faded because the message of repentance was not being preached. A.W. Tozer said the following in his day: “Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work.” Repentance is a crucial ingredient in revival, for without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Really, if we leave out any one of these ingredients for revival, it doesn’t work. We need humility, prayer, the word of God, and repentance in order to see revival. 

What Must We Do for Revival? - A Return to the Word of God

As I previously stated, prayer is how we speak to the Lord and seek His face, and the Scriptures are the primary means by which the Holy Spirit speaks back to us. If we neglect to read the Word, we are missing out on what the Lord wants to communicate to us. Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy 2:15) And, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Every revival we have seen throughout history has always been characterized by a renewal of a hunger for the Word of God. During the First and Second Great Awakenings, people would come from all over to hear men like George Whitefield, Francis Asbury, and Charles Finney preach the word of God. The same thing happened during the Jesus Movement and the beginning of Calvary Chapel. We can see examples of this in the Word as well: in times of revival in ancient Israel they returned to reading the Law (Nehemiah 8), and in the Church the Apostles devoted themselves to the Word of God and prayer (Acts 6:2-4). It is over time that people and denominations begin to question the accuracy and authority of the Scriptures, and liberal theology begins to take over. You can see this in our own country: Most of the liberal Churches today were once solid Bible preaching Churches who gave into the pressure to become culturally relevant. As they have done so, they have lost their witness, and have become just another social organization. We need to return to the literal interpretation of the Scriptures, and not cave into the pressure to be politically correct. We need to stop picking and choosing which passages we accept and which ones we do not, and take the whole counsel of God’s Word as valid for us today, regardless of what others are saying around us. This does not mean we will agree on every point of doctrine, but that we should agree on the fundamentals that are plainly taught in the Scriptures. If we want to see revival in our nation, we need to be men and women of the Word. 

What Must We Do for Revival? - If My People Pray

 

Third, the Lord says His people need to pray and seek His face.  One of the major trends we see in Church today is that there is a huge emphasis on worship.  However, that is not the way it is emphasized in the Scriptures.  This is not to diminish worship in any way, for worship is an important part of the Christian walk.  While prayer certainly includes worship, it is much more than that.  This can be an easy trap to fall into, for prayer is probably one of the most difficult of the Christian disciplines.  It’s much easier to sing worship songs and have a feel-good experience, but prayer takes work and perseverance. Paul instructed Timothy, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1Timothy 2:8) He told the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Perhaps one of the most challenging things about prayer is that we do not know how to pray.  This was a struggle for the disciples as well, for they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.  Jesus responded to them with what we know today as the Lord’s Prayer.  “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:2-4) Jesus was laying out a pattern or model of prayer for them to follow.  We pray to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ.  We see praise (hallowed be Thy name), supplication (give us this day our daily bread), and asking forgiveness for sins. Again, this is a basic model to follow, and as we step out in faith the Lord will lead us. The Lord has never asked that our prayers be eloquent, but that we should just pray to Him from our hearts.

Prayer has been instrumental in past revivals. Consider the following quotes: “The coming revival must begin with a great revival of prayer. It is in the closet, with the door shut, that the sound of abundance of rain will first be heard. An increase of secret prayer with ministers will be the sure harbinger of blessing.” – Andrew Murray “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” - A.T. Pierson And, “All revival begins, and continues, in the prayer meeting. Some have also called prayer the "great fruit of revival." In times of revival, thousands may be found on their knees for hours, lifting up their heartfelt cries, with thanksgiving, to heaven.” - Henry Blackaby The Scriptures say that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). If we want to see revival in our lives and in our nation, we need to be men and women of prayer.