A True Call for Revival

--by Henry T. Blackaby

I've heard many "calls" for revival recently but with very little teaching and exposition on revival. It seems that in these urgent days there are too few leaders who actually are leading God's people corporately to repent, pray, seek holiness and return to God.

Do we not realize that scripturally it is impossible to have a call for revival without a call for repentance? This has always been God's requirement for His people. The passionate, unceasing corporate prayer that is always present in revival is desperately lacking as well. In short, I see little evidence of sincere brokenness among God's people for our present condition or the condition of our nation.

We call for revival without actually crying with tears and brokenness for revival. The "call for revival" seems almost like a spiritual fad, with no true passion and sincerity of heart. Many will say "amen" when they hear mention of the need for revival. But the "call" is fleeting and soon passes away. And then we quickly move on to other activity and return to our business as usual with no follow-through by the leaders of God's people.

We must understand that a true call for revival is first and foremost a recognition that we've departed from God. It demands a radical response from God's leaders and His people. Revival has always been, and remains to this day, God dealing with the sin of His own -– not the world.

Therefore, if we never recognize our need for repentance of sin, then our "call" for revival is in vain. Isaiah warned God's people: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you; so that He will not hear"(Isaiah 59:1-2).

This lack of recognition among God's people to see their present spiritual condition frightens me. The continued neglect of dealing with the sin of God's people is both obvious and appalling. Have we moved so far from God that we remain content in our sin? Do we not fear the judgment of God? Week after week, wherever I go, I hear no mention of our desperate need of God. There's no spontaneous concern or cry to God. It's simply not on the minds and hearts of God's people -– at least where I am and where I travel.

Let me draw to your attention to several things that God's people must do immediately.

First, we must seek God to grant us broken and contrite hearts. "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones'" (Isaiah 57:15).

And again, "On him will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:2).

Next, spiritual leaders must "return to Lord" –- and stay there. (Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:1-7; Acts 6:1-4).

Third, the people of God must pray corporately with one heart and one mind. (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1; Acts 4:31).

Fourth, God's people must be immediately obedient to all God reveals to them. (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Then, continually bear witness to God's people of all that God is doing. (Acts 1:8; Acts 14:21-22, 26-27)

Finally, we should expect and experience Christ's fullness of joy. Jesus said: "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:9-11).

The immediate need for revival among God's people is "life and death" for our nation. Apparently, there are too many of us who simply don't believe that, and there are far too few who sense the awful judgment that is to come if we do not see revival.

Believe Christ's warning: "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Let us, therefore, repent and return quickly to the Lord.

I've sat under revival tents as a child into my teens. The expectancy on the people's faces was always great, but it always faded the next day or later that week.
I've heard the word used so loosely, that at 23yrs old I'm still waiting for this revival among God's people.

It's 2009, marking almost 11yrs since I've been saved and I want this revival. The begining of this year I made a vow to really get into the word and seek after God. Find out what it takes to obtain this revival within myself not just the church.

The past weeks that I've been missing from this site the Holy Spirit keeps telling me..

Holiness, Holiness

Separate yourself from this world

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ..Colossians 2:8

I take notes every time I go church and I remember this one sermon some years ago on '' The Principles of Revival '

1. Dependancy of the Holy Spirit
2. The necessity of Prayer
3. The necessity of unity
4. The presentation of the truth
5. Responsibility before God
6. Confronting sin
7. The Issue of the heart.

I've had this written at the back of my bible for God knows how long, it's pretty straight forward, yet it's only now I truly understand how to apply it.

Sister this was a great post.

Quote:

The immediate need for revival among God's people is "life and death" for our nation. Apparently, there are too many of us who simply don't believe that, and there are far too few who sense the awful judgment that is to come if we do not see revival.

I've been saved for almost 11yrs and I'm woman enough to say...yes I need a revival. It doesn't mean I've fallen away from God or living in sin.....I'm just tired of living a simple life, I don't want to be a bench warmer or the lover of feel good sermons that bring no convictions.

I want to live Holy, separate from this world...when people look at me I should draw them to God without speaking. I must stand out, not blend in...100% anticonformity.
My words must bring forth life not death, my thougths must be on God. I should operate each day in the fruits of the spirit.

You don't have to wait for a revival tent, or night at your church it starts within you.

God bless.

I have come not to like the word "revival" much, I think it is desired by Gods children, like children desire a new toy, or teenagers the latest fad...

I wonder what the people of God think will happen when true revival comes...

I liked this message too. To sum it up I believe when the children of God will stop seeking a 'thing' and seek God, revival comes...individually...filling the body with Himself.

Praise His glory!

Amen Coconut, a heart that is seeking after God and His kingdom is a revived heart.

Revival begins in the hearts of God's people. When the hearts are ready...and willing to be totally broken before God...then revival comes.

Revive means to activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew.

Renew our minds oh Lord. Set in motion the things of Your heart! Show us how to activate our faith! Guide us as we take up our cross, our faith, our hopes and let You move in us!

I heartily agree. My church doesn't hold revival meetings. We urge people to lean into God all day every day. Holding revival meetings is like trying to inflate a leaky tire by pumping lots of air into it. The tire stays inflated for awhile, but it doesn't last.

SLE

My home church has been in revival for about 10 years. That is in revival not holding"revival meetings. Over 3/4's of a million have come to Christ and the Fire of God is burning in every heart. I can think of nothing I love more than the manifest presence of God,

Artist: Carman

Weve turned from Your ways
Lord Your fruit weve ceased to bear
We lack the power we once knew in our prayers
That gentle voice from heaven
We cease to hear and know
The fact that He has risen no longer stirs our soul
Revive us oh Lord
Revive us oh Lord
And cleanse us from our impurities
And make us holy
Hear our cry
And revive us oh Lord
Though weve been unfaithful
We have never been disowned
The spirit that raised Christ from the dead
Compels us to His thrown
Revive us oh Lord
Revive us oh Lord
And cleanse us from our impurities
And make us holy
Hear our cry
And revive
Revive us oh Lord
Revive us oh Lord
And cleanse us from our impurities
And make us holy
Hear our cry
And revive us
Revive us oh Lord
Revive us oh Lord
And cleanse us from our impurities

I had to run yesterday, and so didnt finish with my line of thought...but you guys have put it very well!

The reason I liked this message, is found in this statement:

This shows the lack of understanding among Gods children about the difference between relationship and religiosity. Perhaps the genuine desire for something, but not understanding what that something is...


Revival is not a need for more exciting church services, or about how many are seeking after God in any given time or place, or even about how we 'feel'...rather it IS a need to say I DO to Christ, and mean it! Thats it.

Tomorrow Fellowservant and I will have been married 26 years...and nothing about our relationship is influenced by exciting gifts or goings or good times, or by family, or how we feel at any given time. How silly would it be for me to pray to my husband to revive our relationship ....you dont need to revive relationships unless you have become separated from one another...have we separated from God? Then yes we need revival. And how do we get that?> Draw near to me says God, and I will draw near to you. Could the answer be any more simple?

GNB Isa 29:13 The Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.

Heb 10:22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

Truth is, God is no less interested in our relationship with Him than He ever was (he is not unfaithful like men and women can be in a relationship) And God is no less present-loving -giving - than in the day we said I DO to Him. So if we are crying out to God for revival, what is it we are asking Him for? He has given everything of Himself, and all that He is, and all that He has is ours. What is it we want from Him? Draw near.