What about revival?

Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John

From a recent news item, George Barna of The Barna Group (USA) says only 6% of adults today have a biblical worldview. He also says the church has "gotten off the path" God intended for it. At the same time, the leader of this well-known Christian polling organization is convinced that radical revival can still happen. Most Christians would agree; nothing is impossible for God. However, Barna says this will not be “executed by the church as a whole” but through a remnant of those who are totally sold out to Christ. He believes God will use a small group to radically change American culture and bring glory to God who richly deserves it.

The psalmist speaks of this kind of restoration for ancient Israel. He asks the Lord to restore and save them from the calamity that destroyed these once flourishing people. He rightly realizes that a revival depends on the work of God:

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalm 80:3–7)

At the end of his prayer, he speaks of the nation as God’s son. Today’s readers could easily assume he is talking about Jesus, God’s Son who is at the core of the church and God’s saving power:

But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalm 80:17–19)

I notice the psalmist realized that the power of God must first go to work. Their salvation depends on Him even though they are accountable for their failures. His plea is based on God’s restoring power. Without it, he knows they are helpless and will not be heard.

Isaiah presents another aspect of this challenge. The people in his day were stubborn and more interested in revelry than honoring God. God reached out to them but they refused to listen to Him and His messenger. When they responded this way, Isaiah told them:

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”; therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.” Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it. As often as it passes through it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message. (Isaiah 28:15–19)

In other words, those who refuse to listen will suffer dire consequences and not even realize what is happening to them. It happened then; will it happen today? It could.

My thoughts go to “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “blessed are the meek.” No one likes to feel the poverty of not being what God created us to be or the meekness that goes with that helplessness. This applies also to Christians. We are reborn and given new life in Christ, but that new life is not like a genie in a bottle. He works in us as He pleases, expecting our cooperation but we cannot push a button and make it happen. That is certainly true when it comes to revival.

God impresses me with the need in the world and the need in my own life. This is worthless unless I respond with a contrite heart and a willingness to do what He says about what He has shown me. Because a contrite heart is also “poor in spirit” and “meek” it is difficult to go there. Life has been comfortable. Most Christians want it to stay that way, not volunteer for helpless dependency on God for every detail of life. However, that is what God uses, particularly when it comes to revival.

Will revival happen? Barna hopes so. Many pastors are preaching that direction. My friends want it too. But am I willing to go there, to feel the need so deeply that I yield much of my waking hours to pray like the writer of Psalm 80 prayed?

APPLY: God keeps stirring my heart to listen and obey. I feel like I’m hidden in His hand but at the same time realize that like a sword, He can put me in His scabbard or throw me at His enemies. Either way, I’m to go willingly.