Revival
The greatest need in our churches is spiritual revival. We need new life individually and as a church. As a dry ground is revived by rain, so we need to be revived by the showers of blessing that the Lord has promised to His people.
“I will cause the showers to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Ezek. 35:26.
“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” Rev. & Her., March 22, 1887.
Satan is working with all his deceiving power to bring into the church cold formalism which in return will bring spiritual weakness. It is not so much a lack of knowledge but not practising it nor transmitting it to others. Many possess a self-complacent feeling that all is well with them; that they are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” They may have good intentions and a desire to do good, but are waiting for better opportunities, which may never come. Because they are not responding to the present needs, it will be said to them, “Ye knew your Master’s will, yet did it not.”
When this deadly formalism enters into the church, the missionary spirit dies out also. The spirit of sacrifice and -denial will be gone and also difficulties between the members will arise and then the unity in the church will be lost. When the love between members dies out the spirit of accusation and fault finding enters in. Similar to Adam and Eve, when their love to one another died as a result of their sin, they started accusing each other. Only remedy to this kind of spiritual sickness is a new spiritual revival. David asked in prayer, “Wilt thou revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?” Ps. 85:6.
A true revival is a work of God. Without the Holy Spirit a revival is not possible. But there are conditions that we must fulfill in order to have a revival in our personal life as well as in the church.
“I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa. 57:15.
The first requirement is to have a humble and contrite spirit. When we realize our helpless condition, that alone we can do nothing, then all human greatness and pride will disappear and deep humility will take place.
The second condition for true revival is prayer. “But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be accepted only in answer to prayer.” 1 Sel. Mess. P. 121.
In our prayer meetings and in private prayers we are to plead earnestly for the revival.
“I saw some with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God.
Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive in their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in then- countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.” EW p. 269.
She continues that the ones who did not participate in this agonizing prayer were left alone by th e angels and darkness covered them in.
The third condition that we must fulfill is repentance, and confessing our sins.
“Repen therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. Even the little sins can hinder the revival that we need. For this we need deep heart searching to find out any hidden sins that we may not be aware of.
The fourth condition is unity in the church and in the family. Before the early rain was poured out, the church was in perfect unity. This requires effort and work by every member in the church. We need to make sure that we are not the Aachan’s that may keep the blessings away from the church.
When all this is done we can expect the revival to take place in our churches.
There are also false revivals which are not from the Holy Spirit. There may be seen excitement and emotional arousals. The truth and error are mixed together and people accept the errors because they think that God is working among them causing this emotional excitement.
How can we tell the difference from the false revival brought about by Satan and true revival that is by the Holy Spirit?
False revival dies out after a while and no change is seen in the life of the people.
True revival always goes together with reformation. “A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.” Rev. & Her., Feb. 25, 1902.
“Everyone needs now to seek the Lord. God’s people will not endure the test unless there is a revival and reformation. The Lord will not admit into the mansions He is preparing for the righteous, one soul who is self-sufficient.” Test. Vol. 7, p. 285.
We need revival and reformation or therwise all will be lost. The Lord is waiting for us to do our part, and then He will surely pour out a blessing upon us as a rain and a new power will take hold of us. Then our missionary work will bring results. Souls will be converted and great joy and peace will fill every heart. Let us not wait any longer but start preparing for the great spiritual revival and then our reformation will not be in the name only but in reality. May the Lord help each one of us in this.
AMEN.