Revive Us Again

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"

Psalm 85:6

The psalmist penned this rhetorical question he believed God would answer in the affirmative.  During a time of prayer last night the Holy Spirit brought this verse to remembrance and shed light on the subject of revival.  God is the source of all life, and He has promised to provide eternal life to all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  Having been born again by the Gospel, we are spiritually made alive by the Holy Spirit within us.  One fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and therefore rejoicing ought to mark our lives and personalities as children of God.

During my Christian pilgrimage I have enjoyed fellowship with people of various backgrounds and different doctrinal points of emphasis.  Some are especially enamoured with the subject of "revival" and a fervent desire to see or experience a revival of religion.  Some read solid books like Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill (yes, it is in my library!) and read of notable revivals which have occurred over the years all over the globe.  They pray often for revival as a cure for all ills, something that happens "out there" when revival is needed in our own hearts first.  See what the psalmist said:  "Revive us again!"  Like the new life God gives us, revival is not enduring and perpetual.  We will always need revival again even as our physical bodies daily need to drink water.  Would to God He revive us, but revival must never be our desired end:  God must be our end, for in Him is life, fruitfulness, and salvation.  Jesus Christ must be our chief and only pursuit, and we will find ourselves revived when we follow Him.

Do you desire revival?  Why might that be?  Would you ask revival for yourself, for others, or for God's sake?  Is it so people will be more committed or serious in their Christian walks or so masses will descend upon church gatherings begging, "What must I do to be saved?"  Revival is not something to helplessly long for but is ours when we respond to Jesus Christ in faith.  There have been times even the world took notice of the move of the Holy Spirit in the church with wonderment, but genuine revival is not measured by numbers of converts, increased church attendance, interviews, or news articles.  Revivals among God's people occur when they, in brokenness for sin repent, cleanse themselves of idols, seek the LORD, and walk humbly before God in obedience.  Prayer paves the way for revival but it is not a formulaic means to some experience.  It is not increased church attendance or faithful servants which are the results of revival, but as Psalm 85:6 says it is rejoicing in God!  What else should our redeemed lives be but joyful praise and thanksgiving unto our God?

Consider Psalm 85:7-9 as the song continues:  "Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. ⁸ I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. ⁹ Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land."  Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Is He incapable of saving or delivering those who fear God and cry out to Him?  Of course not!  Verse 8 contains a warning we ought all to take to heart, that after we have been born again we would turn back to folly.  When we turn back to folly it is little wonder we are cold, listless, paralysed, and hopeless.  Imagine that, a hopeless Christian!  Friends, we have all been there; I have been there.  God will revive all those who fear and seek Him.  His salvation is near to us "...that glory may dwell in our land."  Who is more glorious than our God?