The God Who Sends Revival (v6)

INTRO

We’ve all heard of celebrities and athletes who have come back from unthinkable odds to achieve success and revive their careers. In many cases the person was in decline, but their prominence was revived. That’s what revival does. It transitions us out of decline. As God’s people we find ourselves in this place from time to time don’t we? In a state of spiritual decline. This is indeed the story of Psalm 85. Psalm 85 is considered a Psalm of lament.

The Lamenting psalms express deep sorrow for the travails of a nation and records God’s people asking God for blessings and divine intervention. This Psalm is written by the sons of Korah. Psalm 85 can be divided into 3 sections: Previous Blessings, Present Danger & Coming Hope. Verse 6 outlines the beginning of the psalmist’s coming hope. I love it, because the psalmist says if there’s going to be any hope for the nation, it starts with revival. Verses 6-8 details the immediate advantages and benefits of revival.

BIG Idea: God Sends Revival (6a)

Verse 6 is the final of 3 questions in succession, which begins in verse 5. The psalmist asks God:

A. Will you be angry with us forever?

B. Will you prolong your anger?

C. Will you not revive us again?

Notice, the psalmist clearly pin points God as the SOURCE of revival. “Will YOU not revive us again”

Heres what I want you to take away from the sermon today:

Revival only takes place, if the Lord orchestrates it. Revival is not the product human ingenuity, but it is the result of HEAVENLY intervention.

The story behind Psalm 85, helps us understand why revival is requested.

The Israelites are in need of revival, because things aren’t right at home.

After 70 years of exile in Babylonian captivity, they are released and given permission to go back home, by the decree of Persian King Cyrus in 530 B.C. However, when they finally arrive home in Jerusalem, the temple is in ruin & the city’s walls have been destroyed.

Since the walls have been laid to waste, they’re taunted by other nations. The walls of the city were symbolic of the strength and fortitude of the city. The temple is also in ruin and that represented the presence of their God.

The people are lethargic. Their worship has been put on pause. They aren’t prioritizing the things of God. God’s presence & agenda is no longer #1.

Due to things being jacked up at home, the children of Israel have 1 request.

Don’t request clout

Don’t request cash

Don’t request comfort

They say, Lord we need revival! We don’t want our situation to remain the same.

Revive: to live, quicken, sustain, be restored, preserved.. “to bring back to life”.

As we sojourn through a new year, like the Israelites, we don’t want things to remain the same. That’s not just true for us as a church, but perhaps you & yours can deeply identify with this revival request.

You’re dressed well

You have the religious lingo of the day down pat

But the truth is: things are chaotic, out of place, dried up, tired out, stale and dead in different areas of your life.

Another COVID year has bulldozed the walls of confidence, faith and courage. And like the Psalmist, your request is:

Not another job

Not another car

Not another boo

Not another fake friend

Not another instagram follower

But ANOTHER REVIVAL! …

Lord revive us AGAIN.

The psalmist has faith that the Lord will bring Israel back to life now, because he knows God’s got a track record of bringing life to Israel in the past. He’s confident for revival now, because he’s aware of the revivals the Lord has sent before!

At this time, the Israelites only had their immediate history to fuel their faith for this revival request. Today you & I have the entire history of scripture to fuel our faith for revival. This part of Psalm 85:6 teaches us a powerful lesson:

Knowing God’s history, gives us faith to believe that God can & will revive and bring life to whatever is dead, dried up and dried out in our lives.

We can say with confidence, “God sends revival”, because he sent it:

In Ezekiel 37

For Abraham & Sarah

Job

Widow of Zara

Lazarus

When we look at Calvary

Based on God’s history, like the Psalmist in Psalm 85, we have faith to ask God for an ENCORE!

Psalm 85 is what I like to call, “A Lord do it again prayer”.

This aint the first time you’ve had things to dry up and die

Chaotic & crazy at home

You’ve come out of a hellish year

Kids been acting NUTS

Felt like life just could’t get right

Sin got you in trouble

You’ve made up your mind to start 2022 off right.

We ain’t wasting time nor holding no punches.

We’re headed straight into the throne of Grace by way of the blood of the Lamb and asking “Lord SEND REVIVAL!”

Our education can’t bring us back to life

Our drive

Our motivations

Revival only takes place, if the Lord orchestrates it. Revival is not the product human ingenuity, but it is the result of HEAVENLY intervention.

LORD SEND REVIVAL!

Call to action:

The psalmist asks a rhetorical question. He knows that not only will the Lord send revival, but the Lord wants to send revival. He wants to bring life to the dead spaces in our lives. John 10 Jesus says, I’ve come that you might have life…

But we don’t always think that way , do we? ......