Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Do you still believe in revival?
In Psalm 85:6 the psalmist prayed: "Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?" I wonder, do you still believe in revival? We do! While it is true that the term "revival" means different things to different people, and while it is also true that the term has even been abused, it is still a glorious term for the church in our day.
What is a revival anyway? It is not simply a week long series of services. It is not simply scheduling a special itinerant speaker for services. It is not necessarily different from evangelism/soul winning. It is not just an exciting annual or bi-annual event. What is it? In Psalm 85, the psalmist's prayer opens the door for us to understand this glorious term!
In the first three verses of the Psalm, the psalmist reminds himself that the Lord has sent revivals in the past! Six times (twice in each verse) he states that the "Lord hath" done such and such. In the context of his revival prayer, he is simply stating that the Lord has sent revivals in the past. The people wandered from God and His Word, repented of their wanderings, and the Lord restored them to their promised place in His kingdom. He forgave their sins! How many times has our God done this great work for His people. He did repeatedly throughout the Old and the New Testaments. In Nehemiah's time, for instance! And under the gentle and firm leadership of King Josiah. And for the church at Ephesus in the New Testament. The church, according to the book of Acts was started in a rather powerful and direct way. Later, when Paul wrote the Epistle of Ephesus, he wrote to them of certain changes that they yet needed (and covered everything from their personal character to their homes to their employment dealings). Later, John on the Isle of Patmos wrote that they had left their first love and were again in need of repentance and revival. God has also sent many revivals to His church throughout history. The Great Awakening in America was one such revival that had far reaching effects even into our day! Certainly, the LORD HAS SENT REVIVAL!
The Psalmist begins his prayer in Psalm 85 by reminding himself that the Lord has sent revival. He then changes tenses and asks the Lord to do it again! "Turn us," he prays! "Revive us again," he prays! The phrase "turn us" has at least two meanings. First, it means to go back to the point of departure. Are there areas in our lives where we have turned away from the Lord's will? We have lowered our standards of holiness perhaps. We are living "carnal" lives, evidenced by our irritable, short-tempered, unhappy lifestyles; instead of lives controlled by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We need to "turn." The second meaning is "turn us in the direction we ought to go." When is the last time that you have prayed for the Lord to show you any area in your life that is displeasing to Him? And when is the last time you changed something as a result. That is the first part of the psalmist's prayer, and that is revival!
The final part of the Psalmist's prayer is the the Lord would "revive us again." This phrase means "awaken us," "animate us," "give us new life." When the church is cold, carnal, and complacent, she needs revival. She needs the Holy Spirit to awaken her from her slumber. She needs to be "alive" and "animated" by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist believed in revival. Our forefathers believed in revival. We do too!
Sincerely,
The David Young Revival Team
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Previous Devotionals Sorted by Date:
Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Revival Issues - Do you still believe in revival?
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Revival Issues - From Dr. Rick Flanders on Baptists and Revival
Friday, December 25, 2009 - Soulwinning - It is Christmas Morning
Friday, December 11, 2009 - Encouragement - Thoughts about Christmas by Pastor Dan Wolvin
Monday, August 17, 2009 - Revival Issues - Transforming our Lives
Monday, May 11, 2009 - Revival Issues - What about Heritage Christian School in Findlay, Ohio
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - Encouragement - A Lesson from Some Birds
Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Revival Issues - Psalm 85:6
Friday, May 16, 2008 - Soulwinning - The Roman's Road to Heaven
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - For Ladies - For Me to Live is Christ!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Encouragement - Does God Order the Bad Steps Too?
Monday, February 4, 2008 - Encouragement - Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend by Evangelist Dave Young
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - Encouragement - Facing Life's Deeper Troubles
