DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT: Revive Us Now! #5

Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival – men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations.” -- Spurgeon, Charles
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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. -- Hab 3:2

REVIVE US NOW!
As we come to the final chapter in our series on revival, let us refresh ourselves on the type of revival that we need; a revival that would revive us and reawaken old fires, a revival that would resurrect the Church, a revival that will restore joy and victory to the child of God!

How Can We Have Revival?
We have to keep uppermost in our minds that only God can send revival, He alone is the source! Habakkuk said… “….O LORD, revive your work....” It is impossible to schedule or orchestrate a revival.

What we can do is ask God to grant revival to us. Habakkuk knew his country had sinned and would experience God’s judgement unless something happened, he knew they wouldn’t last without God’s intervention, so he pleaded with God to come upon among His people, with a fresh manifestation of His power!

We Must Pray For That Manifestation
As the very foundation of the Church is being traumatized all over the world, and trouble seems to be everywhere, we too need to plead with the Lord, to manifest Himself, His mercy and His power afresh, in order that life and revival might come to His people! Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake! For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. -- Ps 143:11


We Must Face up to Spiritual Realities.
We need to see ourselves as we really are; we must be truthful and face up to the fact that we are spiritually dry! We need to acknowledge God for Who He is, and stop performing religious plays. We must see sin for what it is, confess it, repent of it, and renounce it. "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. -- 2 Chr 7:14

We Must Desire to be Revived.
Its common knowledge that we don't want revived seriously enough, to make any difference. “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”. -- Isa 55:6-7

God wants to send revival upon those who genuinely seek it. We need a personal revival, that means individuals getting right with God. We need to see a home revival, families getting back to the place they need to be in.

Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you DAMNED?"
-- Ravenhill, Leonard

Revival is not turned on and off like a water fountain, but if we meet God's conditions He will grant it upon us. There are souls that need to be saved, lives that need to be changed, families, Churches, Communities, Cities and Countries that need to be set on fire for Jesus! 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. -- Hab 3:2

Loving Father, set me on fire, use me to change my family, my Church, my community, my City and my Country for Jesus, for His Glory. Come among us Lord with a fresh manifestation of your power! In Jesus’ wonderful and mighty name I pray! Amen!