Revival can come in 2023, but only at a price. God is Holy. He calls us to holiness in this present evil world. Are you willing to pay the price for Revival?
If there is one topic that is prevalent among the preachers and churches of New England today, it is the subject of revival. It is not uncommon as we fellowship to pray and update one another as to what the Lord is doing to hear the phrase, “There is a stirring of revival in our Region right now.” There is nothing that stirs my heart more than to hear about our wonderful God working in the churches and lives across New England. Souls are being saved, churches are being started, and Christians who have not lived for God over the past years are “getting back in.”
As this stirring is taking place all around us, I pray that we will not just place emphasis on the results of revival but truly ask God to give us the Holiness of Revival in our personal lives and churches as well. Each of us could write about our perspective of revival or discuss the old accounts of revival that we have read. Here are a few of my thoughts from the Scriptures concerning the Holiness of Revival. I pray that these are the results of revival in our lives.
1. The Spirit of Revival
In I Peter 3:8-9 there is a wonderful spirit of unity described amongst the brethren. It is obvious in the Scriptures that we as believers should be in unity with each other. By no means, should we even come close to entering the ecumenical movement. It does speak to those of us who are Bible believers and hold to the Book to change lives. So many times we believe that we can have revival and at the same time be involved in criticism, jealousy, and railing on the brethren.
None of these even come close to the, “having compassion one of another, love as brethren,” statement that is made by Peter. Yes, there is a necessity for sin to be stood against and called out, but there is also a necessity to stand one with another as we fight against the evil one this day.
Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
This verse is probably one of the first that I learned going through school when I was a child. We love to quote it and emphasize it, but it really spoke to my heart several years ago when I continued to read the remaining two verses in the chapter. David goes on to directly correlate the unity of the brethren to the anointing oil and the dew of Heaven. As we study the Old Testament, we see that the oil and dew are symbolic of the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit of God.
Unity of the Brethren is necessary for the anointing and presence of God! In other words, if we are not walking in unity as believers here in New England then how can we expect God to anoint us with His power for His work. Not everything is done in the same way everywhere we go, but we must strive, work, and rejoice in Biblical unity for the true cause of Christ to accomplished and revival to be evident.
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Habakkuk 3:2
“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make known; In wrath remember mercy.”
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2. The Separating for Revival
1 Peter 3:10–11 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
There is probably not one believer who would not admit this verse refers to them. The phrases that follow the promise are a list of do’s and don’ts for us as Christians to see those good days. Yes, I still believe that we can see those good days of revival in 2023. If we did not believe this then why spend our time preaching, soul- winning, and praying asking God to do it again. Each of us desires to see the “good days.” It is simple for those good days to be seen.
We must live holy and separate ourselves from the wickedness of this world. Peter mentions things like refraining our tongues, eschewing evil, and seeking peace. The desire God has to send revival in our midst is far above our desire to receive it and be part of it. However, if God is to revive His church truly, then He will not be able to do it with a sinful, flesh-stained, worldly living believer and church.
There is a great need for pastors and laymen to live holy in this sinful world. Peter closed verse eleven by saying we should, “seek peace, and ensue it.” Go after peace with God and each other. In fact, “as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Live holy, humbly, honestly, and Godly in this world with a desire to see true revival take place in our lives and churches. What is it that we can separate from in this present world and sanctify unto God for Him to work in a greater way in our lives? Revival is worth separating from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
3. The Saviour of Revival
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
No revival throughout history or today would be possible or complete without the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse speaks of the eyes of the Lord looking over the righteous and also the ears of the Lord open to our prayers. My, oh my, what a comfort these two simple statements are in the Scriptures!
It has been said over and over that there will be no revival without the prayers of God’s people. Imagine if we spent as much time praying for revival as we do talking about revival. This, I believe, is what is causing the stirring across New England. There are pastors and churches that believe in prayer and are practicing what they believe.
Prayer meetings are taking place, and God is hearing and answering the prayers of His people. I’m thinking of just the past few weeks when there were “One Accord” prayer meetings in four different locations across New England. Through these prayer meetings, we are acknowledging our complete dependence upon God to work in our lives and send revival. God requires us to live holy, faithfully serve Him, and trust Him to work through us and send revival to His children.
Conclusion
It is my prayer that the most important part of revival would not simply be the wonderful results of revival such as souls being saved, churches growing and living holy. Also, that in revival, we would be completely surrendered to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These results will come as we surrender and follow the Spirit of God in our lives.
Revival is available and possible in 2018, but we must not forget it comes from God and causes unity amongst the brethren and separation from the sinful vices of this world. Rejoice in the revival that God is beginning and seek His face for it to continue. He is worthy of it, so let us be wanting of it.