Revivals

 

No - that's not the brush arbor our Youth Pastor, T. N. Terry built years ago, we had better seating, but the shading structure was similar. There were many of these where people heard the gospel message from time immemorial. But when I think of a brush arbor, I do think of revivals.

You may have been invited to a church revival, complete with visiting evangelist. I've attended many over the years, but having specific church services are not necessary for a revival of a church - or an individual.

Almost a year ago our Pastor preached on the subject of revival. I believe our church has been experiencing one for some time, based on:

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalms 85:6 KJV)

You see, we have continued to rejoice about what has been doing within our congregation for a couple of decades. As a congregation, there has always been times of sorrow, but the majority of these past years, I've seen expressions of gratitude for what God has provided:

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. (Psalms 9:1-2 KJV)

When we rejoice in the Lord, we acknowledge His place in our lives. We share with others what He means to us on a personal level, that seeking Him is worth their time and effort - not only speaking of what has been done for us, but what He can do for them.

First of all, He is available to everyone who seeks Him:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV)

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalms 9:10 KJV)

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)

If we seek to know more about God, we will hear it, even if it is not believable.  Many will tell you that the Bible is confused, contradictory, and condemning, and use that as a reason for not learning more I do not find that to be true:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV)

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Romans 12:16 KJV)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17 KJV)

These are not the only verses - I've limited myself to three in each followup. God is shown to so love this world that He gave Himself in His plan of salvation:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

I and my Father are one. (John 10:30 KJV)

It takes faith to believe God planned all the way from creation of the universe, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, the death of Jesus, through the end of time. Yet we are asked to do so throughout the Bible:

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Genesis 18:18 KJV)

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:5, 8-9 KJV)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

And I've gone down a rabbit track - the focus should be on reviving the joy in our lives that we understood from our own salvation:

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:12 KJV)

That is part of King David's prayer of contrition after sinning grievously. Betrayal, lies, seduction, adultery, murder. Very deep personal sinfulness that determines the future of other people, as well as himself. The knowledge of this sin is made evident in II Kings chapter 11, and the consequences in chapter 12. Psalm 51 is David's prayer to God, after the consequences of his sinfulness was to be made public, to not only all of his Israeli subjects - but for us, too:

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. (2 Samuel 12:12 KJV)

Even then, David sought the Lord to restore the joy of his salvation, to be experience a revival. Another Psalm by the Temple's musicians, also asks:

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalms 85:6 KJV)

Don't wait for a revival - be one. You will find that you are part one one as those around you see the joy of your salvation. It is truly a joy to be a child of God, to read of His promises, to worship with those who are also seeking to know Him through His word. 

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. (Psalms 85:8 KJV)