Do You Really Want Revival?
George Stiekes
O Lord, revive thy work Habakkuk 3:2
It has been stressed that prayer is the major key to revival — serious, intense, persistent prayer. Prayer is our spiritual strength and it generates strength. It strengthens our relationship with God and generates both vision and power. This is why Satan strives to keep the believer from prayer. It is crucial that we understand that no Christian is greater than his prayer life. Jesus prayed at His baptism, at His transfiguration, in the early mornings before others were awake, and just before going to Calvary’s cross. His earthly existence was bathed in prayer. Should we even consider praying less than He prayed?
Nehemiah illustrates the kind of prayer that precedes revival. His heart was broken over the condition of Jerusalem and the people there. He wept and mourned many days, fasting and praying concerning the great need back where he grew up (Nehemiah 1:4). When is the last time you prayed that way over the conditions in our land, in our churches and even in our homes? Parents: When is the last time you had this kind of a burden for your own children?
We recognize how God worked in Babylon and Persia through the life and ministry of Daniel but Daniel himself made clear why God so intervened in the lives of many in that land. And I set my face unto the LORD God, to SEEK by PRAYER and SUPPLICATION, with FASTING, and sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:3).
The key word is SEEK. It is God’s will that we seek Him in prayer. 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).
Ruth Green wrote the words and music to a song asking this question: “Do You Really Want Revival?” The question is forthright and sincere. Do you really want God’s power? Do you really want His Spirit to control your life this hour? Are you praying for God’s power? Are you praying for His Spirit to control your life this hour? It is amazing how we can sing songs like this without giving any heed to the exhortation in them!
SEEK the LORD and His strength, SEEK His face continually (I Chronicles 16:11). And ye shall SEEK Me, and find Me, when ye shall SEARCH for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). I love them that love Me; and those that SEEK Me earl shall find me (Proverbs 8:17). Ask and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7).
One of the aspects of revival is its orderly disorder. In other words, the Spirit of God may move in people’s lives differently than we normally see. So many are the stories of people going home from church meetings only to get out of bed and return to the church at all hours of the night — only to find people still there meeting with God. Evan Roberts spoke of one couple in Wales who went home and retired and then rose up two hours later and returned to the church in slippers to receive Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. All kinds of interesting disorderliness like this is known to take place when genuine revival happens.
Does it not bother you that we have to read about revival in church history? Perhaps we should be asking God to burden our hearts with the need for revival? Again: Do you really want revival?
George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.