Hosea 6:1, “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.”
The definition of revival is, “a spiritual awakening of the church in their love for God and people that impacts the community with salvation and community transformation.” Often times this kind of move of God could be seen in the Old Testament as the prophets would express the heart of God towards backslidden Israel. Like in the verse above Hosea was pleading with the people of Israel in the 8th century BC to come back to God and ask for His healing and restoration.
Hosea went on to write in the same chapter, “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” First, for something to be revived or brought back to life it must have been living. Second, revival is all about coming back to God and following His ways. Likewise, revival is not for sinners who are dead spiritually but rather it is for saints who have lost their first love.
Since the normative state of the New Testament church was to be alive the book of Acts doesn’t mention the need for the disciples to experience a spiritual revival. However, by the end of the 1st century John records in Revelation, the last written book of New Testament, that some of the churches had become so lukewarm and filled with compromise that Jesus actually threatened to spit them out of His mouth, Revelation 3:16.
Therefore, how much more do the great majority of churches in the U.S. (and many around the world) also need to be revived. Some churches have gone so far from the truth that they ordain homosexuals in the ministry. There are many churches with good doctrines but they have lost their passion to win the lost and make disciples. Many pastors are so concerned with preaching to those in the pews that they have forgotten about reaching those on the streets! Still others have polluted the pure gospel with greed, lawlessness, and entertainment so that the church cannot change the world because the world has changed the church.
I can speak personally as a leader in the U.S. that we need to see a massive awakening of the church in our country or we will lose an entire generation. Already stats point to just 7% of Americans are committed Christians and the number is a low as 4% with those under 30! At a time when we have the biggest churches, hippest music, coolest websites & videos, and the most popular speakers the gospel ship is sinking like never before. Christianity overall has declined in the U.S. while Islam and Atheism have grown exponentially. We need a move of God and we need it now. Our prayer should be, “Start in my life, family, and church!”
Here are three ways to stand for spiritual revival: (1) No matter the cost become fully obedient to Christ and live 100% for Jesus the rest of your life; (2) Join a church that desires nothing less than total obedience to God’s Word; and lastly, (3) Reach out to lukewarm Christians and inspire change by your Christ-centered life!
Reflection
Do you believe churches need to experience a spiritual revival?
Action
- Explain from the Bible why you should stand for spiritual revival.
- Pray that God will use you to reach out to local church members and leaders to encourage them to fully return to Jesus.
- For more information regarding standing for spiritual revival read the following books, “Why Revival Tarries,” by Leonard Ravenhill and “Revival Fire,” by Wesley Duewel.
