LAST LESSONS #213 — REVIVAL

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” Psalm 85:6

I have been praying for revival for years. Probably you have too. And if there was ever a need for revival, it is now. God has just now answered our prayers for a new president. He has shown us that the majority of people in the United States of America do not want to kill babies in the womb or try to change the sex that God gave to children created in his image. That is very encouraging, and God has been gracious to us. But having a particular party in power does not change people’s hearts. We can elect people, but only God can change hearts.

So, what do we do now when we want change in this country? Well, obviously we vote when we want political change. And we would naturally think that when we want moral change, we pray for revival. It is true that we should pray for revival, but we cannot bring revival by our prayers. Revival comes when God determines that it is his time for revival. Revival is a work of the Holy Spirit wherein believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and their hearts are changed and things happen. Acts 2 describes the Holy Spirit filling believers and verifying its validity by enabling them to speak in languages they had not studied. Then enabling Peter to preach so that three thousand people were saved.

In modern history there have been a number of revivals. The most well-known is the Great Awakening (Spirit produced revival) in England in the 1700’s. Many people were saved. The major leaders of this Evangelical revival were three Anglican priests: the brothers John and Charles Wesley and their friend George Whitefield. Together, they founded what would become Methodism (the Methodist Church).

There was another Great Awakening in the USA in 1730-1755 largely instigated by Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon preached in his own church Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. This revival brought many people to salvation and produced several new denominations (Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist). These revivals resulted in thousands of people being saved and whole denominations being formed, but the revivals were not permanent. They were special outpouring of the Holy Spirit for God’s own purpose.

So what does this have to do with our praying for a revival in the USA today? We surely know that we need a revival. Hatred, lies, selfishness, and anxiety show what fills the hearts of people in the USA today. We need God’s mercy. We need for his Holy Spirit to revive us.

A good change in government is important, but it is not enough. The Bible says:

“If my people who are called by my name 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

I, for one, want to repent daily of my sins and pray that God will heal our land. Will you join me?