Getting ready for the Rapture through REVEVAL

Getting ready for the Rapture

For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy:

“I live in a high and holy place,

but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15)

Getting ready for the Rapture through REVIVAL

(Isaiah 57:15) For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin]. [Matt. 5:3.]

The Amplified Bible (Is 57:15). (1987). The Lockman Foundation.

William J. Seymour wrote of the Azusa Street Revival: We are expecting wonderful things from the Lord for 1907. It is a jubilee year. May we all spend it at His feet, learning of Him. The closing up of the old year and beginning of the new, found us on our knees at Azusa Mission. And as the New Year was announced, such a wave of glory, divine love, and unity came over us. The meeting went on all the next day. The Lord did great things in 1906. Pentecost first fell in Los Angeles on April 9. Since then, the good tidings have spread in two hemispheres. Many are rejoicing in pardon, purity, and the power of the Holy Ghost. Wherever the work goes, souls are saved, and not only saved from hell, but through and through and prepared to meet the Lord at His coming.

Pratney, W., Hill, S., & Winslow, T. S., eds. (2010). The Revival Study Bible (p. 978). Genesis Books. Humility

The first quality of a true revival I see in the Bible is humility. This is because when God calls us to His presence, His desire is that we do so with humble hearts. The Bible tells us that God resists proud people, but provides grace to humble people (James 4:6). One of the most famous verses on humility in the Bible tells us that when we do humble ourselves before God, He will not only restore us, but he will also bless us, individually and as a community(2 Chronicles 7:14).

Repentance

A heart that is seeking true revival from God knows that the way to please God is to come to Him in repentance. The message of repentance was at the very heart of Jesus’ earthly ministry (Matthew 4:17). Why would revival require repentance? Our hearts may need reviving because we have once again sought after the enticements of this world, and God wants us to return Him to first prominence in our hearts (James 4:8). What is beautiful about repentance is that it is an agreement both to turn from our sin and to move towards holiness. Through this, we are revived (Isaiah 1:27).

Restoration

God brings us to conviction, but a revived heart is also a restored heart (Hosea 6:1-2). And this makes sense, that restoration would be another quality of a true revival. If we are coming to God in humility and repentance, when we experience His love and forgiveness, our spirits will be refreshed and renewed (Psalm 51:10). Think about a time in your walk of faith where you had really tripped up and failed Jesus Christ. Eventually you were convicted, and humbly repented to Him. As awful as the sin was that brought you to that point, the gratitude and peace that washed over you once you knew your sins were forgiven – well, that’s revival, my friend!

Commitment

As the qualities of a true revival are exhibited in our hearts and through our actions, we will be drawn to a renewed commitment to God and to authentically living our faith. We see several times in scripture where the community was put to a decision, usually calling us to decide whether we will serve the one true God, or if we will follow after other gods. Joshua, for example, calling the Israelites to decide, while he declares he has made his decision: “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). Or when Elijah took on a contest with the priests of Baal, in front of the crowds, telling them not to vacillate between 2 opinions (1Kings 18:21). True revival requires us to cast aside anything that gets in the way of wholehearted devotion to God.

Hunger for God and His Word

Another quality of a true revival is a renewed hunger for God and for scripture. The Bible testifies itself that it is valuable for living in Christ (2Timothy 3:16). The Bible connects a love for God’s word and commands with revived spirits (Psalm 19:7 )

Worship

Another quality of a true revival I see in the Bible is worship. Where the Bible reflects this quality, an elevated sense of worshipping God is present. We find that there is a sense that His people need to be revived so that they can worship God more fully(Psalm 80:14-18).

As worship is often expressed, communally, it makes sense that most of us see revival as a communal act.

In the Bible, where we do hear revival connected with worship, it is expressed that we need to be revived so that we can be enabled to worship God (Psalm 85:6). In this case, we could consider worship a lagging indicator that we have experienced true revival, rather than a leading one.

It might also confirm that charges of emotionalism in some revival settings are authentically biblical cautions. Many of us have experienced times of worship that felt intended to generate an emotional response through repetition and length. Worship does not generate revival. It is a response to revival. Worship that has been purified through revived hearts is a blessing.

Reverence

And the 7 quality of a true revival I see described in scripture is reverence for God.

When we have laid our hearts bare before God, showing He is our first love, He showers us with His mercy and grace. The result is that we are in awe of Him, and all that He has done – in general, and for us specifically (Habakkuk 3:2).

While I see this evidenced in the Bible, I might not have listed this one as easily as I did some of the other qualities of revival. But I can say first hand, this was one of the more amazing things I witnessed when I attended the Asbury Revival. There was this general sense of protectiveness over what was happening. There was no showiness, no overt displays. Just a general sense of self-control, but in a group context.