Do You Want to Watch Revival Spread 

Where does revival come from and where is it born?  Does it come from churches big and small? Does it come from small group Bible studies? Does it come from hanging out with your friends at the bowling alley?  Does it start on a high school or college campus? Or can it start from somewhere, something different? Can it begin within the ashes of tragedy? Can a heart full of discouragement and exhaustion see God in a different way? 

The Book of Nehemiah describes a time of revival after the Children of Israel had returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity.

If you just read Nehemiah 8:10, you might miss the “revival” context. It is here:

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV) 

The Israelites had been back in Jerusalem and had been sort of wandering around in the dark. They were probably still somewhat filled with the discouragement and exhaustion of captivity.  Then they heard that the Book of Moses—the Law of God—had been found. They wanted it read to them. They wanted it read so badly that they stood, squeezed together in the streets for as long as it took Ezra to read it to them. The Life Application Study Bible tells us that “The people wept openly when they heard God’s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them.” 

After Nehemiah saw the reaction of the people he told them to go their way and celebrate the day. Why? You might ask. They had just realized their sin and that they were far from God. What possible reason could they find to celebrate? That was why he told them to go and celebrate. They had seen their sin. It had changed them.  The Lord saw this and it became joy in the sight of the Lord.   It became holy to the Lord because the people saw their sin and were sorry.

You can hear God’s Word every day your whole life. But if it does not cause a difference in how you live your life then it has fallen on deaf ears.  The thing that happened when the children of Israel listened to God’s Words, God’s Law, was that they did see their sin. They became repentant of their sin. There was change. They had desire to do better.  There was revival! 

As we have looked at the news headlines over the past few weeks, we have seen multiple evil, tragic events that have rocked our world. There are people, families, friends,  neighborhoods and, truly, regions around the world that are asking, “Can’t we do better than this? We must do better than this.”

This past Sunday many, many people went back to church for the first time in a long time…or possibly for the first time. People are picking up their Bibles—and actually reading them. People that have never owned a Bible are buying one. The winds are up and out to blow the embers  of desire for more, for better, into a full blown blaze that could bring in revival across our nation and possibly the world. Don’t waste this opportunity! Do NOT waste this opportunity!

The challenge this scripture shows us is that we need to deliberately be in God’s Word. We need to see our sin every day and realize that God is there and is our salvation, provider. protector, the One that revives us. We need to seek revival within our individual lives each and every day. 

So, yes! revival can come from churches big and small; from small group Bible studies; from hanging out with your friends at the bowling alley; or from the ashes of tragedy. As we revive our souls and become joyful and energized for Christ, we can then live out that revival. We can pass it on and spread it around within our families, our work place, our social circles… every relationship. 

I heard a message from Dr. Jimmy DeYoung this week. He said something that really stuck. He said that “if you belong to Christ, He owns your hands. He purchased them with His blood.” The way I see it, He owns the work that you do with your hands. This could be your ministry, vocation, family time,  school, hobbies, your leisure…anywhere your hands are!

Pray for revival. Seek revival. Work toward revival. 

Lord, allow my desire to hear Your Word and obey your Word grow and encompass my heart.  Help me to read Your Word and grow in knowledge and in grace.  Help me to seek revival in my own heart and have the desire to spread it to others. 

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“Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” Psalm 85:6 (NKJV) 

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” Psalm 80:19 (NKJV) 

“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 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)

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What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  The One Who will save you and revive you and set you on a clear path?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net