II Chronicles 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place
This week I am privileged to hold revival meetings in a fine church with a really good pastor. I have enjoyed the fellowship of the people here and they have had tender hearts. We have had good response in the services so far. What is this thing we often call revival? Is it possible? Who are you asking for it?
Revival is a return to Bible principles, a return to God. If I am revived, I am given life as I return to God. God is the source of life and without Him there is no life, spiritually or otherwise. Revival is not merely an emotion, feeling, or something we think is nation-wide, city-wide, or church-wide.
First, revival is a person who returns to Bible principle. If I am dishonest, then I see what the Bible says, I decide to be honest. If I am not doing right by my wife, then I see what the Bible says and respond, that is revival. Does God bless that? Yes, but the reviving is what God gives when I actually respond to Him, and then He responds to me.
Second, is it possible for you to return to God? If it is not, then revival is not possible. If it is, then revival is possible. For someone to say, “Oh God, send revival!” and then refuse to respond to the truth he hears is not consistent. But if a person hears the truth and is willing to respond, that is revival.
Third, for whom are you asking? Are you asking for a friend or for yourself? If you want revival, you may have it and you may have it now. It is not something God refuses to give.
In II Chronicles 6, Solomon prays this amazing prayer to God to dedicate the temple, and then there is a whole series of if/then propositions. He says things like, “Lord, if this happens, and we pray toward this place, then please hear from Heaven.” This is Israel, part of the covenant people. They prayed toward Jerusalem and the temple, but in each case, God is appealed to answer not from Jerusalem per se but to answer from Heaven.
Second Chronicles 7:1 says, “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” A literal fire fell from a literal Heaven and consumed a literal burnt offering in the temple, and the literal glory of the Lord filled the house. There are all kinds of analogies and applications we can to draw, but the bottom line is that God responded to the prayer of people. That is an amazing proposition, but it is true nonetheless. Can I fit all of who God is into my comprehension? No, I simply cannot. But this much is true, infinite God has chosen to respond to the agency of finite men.
The Bible says Israel dedicated the house of God, and then we find the famous reply of God to the prayer of Solomon. Verse 14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Verse 15 says, “Now mine eyes shall be open, and my ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”
We often think that revival is sorrow. That may happen between the sin that we have and the revival we need, but joy is the result of revival. Sorrow is the result of sin. Verse 10 tells us, “And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David…” So, sorrow is not a result of revival. Do you think that turning to God results in sorrow? No, sorrow is coming to grips with sin. When I do that, it is revival and it produces joy. Never think that if there is revival that it will produce sorrow. No, sin produces sorrow.
Sometimes we say that revival is sovereign. If we are talking about God being in charge, then of course God is in charge. But verses 12-13 say, “And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain…” He goes right into this conditional if/then. If my people, if this happens…if, if, if…and they pray then will I hear them, then will I establish my throne, then will I respond. Again, verses 21-22 say, “And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment [if you sin] to everyone that passeth by it; so he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus…? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD…”
It is an amazing thing that a sovereign God would choose to respond to the agency and choices of finite men, but He does. So, you see prayer, joy, and God’s response. So, think about three things in conclusion. First, we should pray for revival, but realize that if you have a heart for revival that may be revival itself. If I say, “God, please send me revival,” then I am asking God to return to Him. If I am really seeking God and praying, “God, show me the truth so I can respond to it,” then I am returning to God.
Second, stop waiting to return. Don’t keep praying, “God, please send revival.” Just revive! Just obey! Just respond to God’s truth! The Bible says in the New Testament, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” That is God’s character. God responds every time to people who return to Him. Sometimes people think, “I’m going to keep praying until I pray through and God gives me salvation.” Praying is salvation in the sense that if I am seeking God, realizing I’m a sinner, and trusting Jesus as my Savior, that is salvation. I don’t need to keeping praying until God decides to give me salvation. Likewise, God gives revival to those who have a heart to obey Him. So, pray, stop waiting to return, and just return.
Third, bring others with you. When we talk about God sending revival, we are talking about sending it to other people. That is valid. We should pray that way, but we should also obey. If we want God to revive other people, then we ought to do our part to love them, give them the truth, and depend upon the Lord to bring them with us. Last night in the revival meeting I was preaching, there was a guest who looked like he had had a rough life. We talked quite a bit before the service, and I found out that he had gone to the Christian school of this church twelve years ago. I was so thrilled he was there because whatever problems he may be facing, God has the answer. So, I was praying that God would revive. I was asking God to revive me, and if I am asking, He is reviving me. Then, I was doing my part to bring others with me.
Today, I don’t know what you need, but if we are humble, honest, realize our need, and ask God to meet it, He will every time. That is God’s will. It is not His will for me to be far from Him. God is infinite and He chooses to respond to the agency of men.