Now Let Us Pray (February 19, 2023)

So with all the hype going on with REVIVAL right now, let’s look at the Biblical Definition of REVIVAL. “Revival is divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. Revival is God revealing Himself to man in holiness, in irresistible power. Revival is such a manifest working of God that human personalities are overshadowed and human programs abandoned. Revival is man retiring in the background because God has taken the field. Revival is the Lord making bare His holy arm in working extraordinary power on the saint and sinner.” That is a quote out of a book by Arthur Wallis from 1956. And let me tell you, nothing has changed!

The meaning of REVIVAL ~ to return to life; to recover life; to bring again to life; to reanimate; to renew; to bring into action after a suspension; to revive a project that has been laid aside.

Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. In compasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness.

So, HOW DO WE GET REVIVAL? Revival comes by PRAYER!!! Now Let Us Pray!!!

Prayer is an essential link in the chain of causes that lead to revival. Prayer is God’s powerful agency for revival. No true revival has ever been given apart from prayer. Throughout the Word of God, revival is in the context of prayer.

• Habakkuk 3:1-2 ~ “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth. O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”

• Psalm 85:4-8 ~ “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.”

• Isaiah 64:1-2 ~ “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!”

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 ~ “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Biblical Models for Revival Prayers

• The Revival of Samuel at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:1-17)

• The Revival of Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:1-46)

• The Revival of Hezekiah at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 29:1-36)

• The Revival of Ezra at Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8:1-18)

Revival Praying – Prayer is the prime prerequisite for Revival; However, Revival Praying is not ordinary praying.

• Revival Praying is Spiritual Praying – Revival is a work of the Spirit and Revival Praying must be directed by the Holy Spirit; No Christian ever prays effectively unless he is directed by the Holy Spirit.

• The Spirit gives knowledge

• The Spirit intercedes

• The Spirit discerns

• The Spirit burdens

• Revival Praying is Intercessory Praying – Intercessory Praying is labor; it entails supplication and travail; it is praying on behalf of others.

• Moses’ prayer on behalf of Israel

Exodus 32:31-33 ~ “So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.”

• Paul’s prayer on behalf of his kindred

Romans 9:2-3; 10:1 ~ “that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

• Revival Praying is Prevailing Praying – The word prevail implies effectual prayer; to prevail is to be victorious and effective and to produce or achieve the desired effect.

• The result of Jacob’s prayer

Genesis 32:28 ~ “Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

• The result of Elijah’s prayer

1 Kings 18:42-46 ~ “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’ ” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”

James 5:16-18 ~ “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

• The example of the widow

Luke 18:1-8 ~ “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”