Revival means ‘to restore to life and strength’, an awakening, and is desperately needed in our country and in the world. To revive means to bring back to life and we need God to revive His church.
When we read Matt 28:16-20, we see Jesus commissioning His disciples and despite all they had seen, there was still some doubt in their minds. After being with Jesus for the past three years and often letting Him down, perhaps they doubted that He could forgive them and use them again, but they obeyed Him and waited in prayer for the promised Holy Spirit. They might not have known exactly what they were waiting for, but when the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, He came with fire and wind and totally transformed their lives. Peter, who in weakness had previously denied Jesus, spoke out in powerful ways; there was a total transformation which enabled the disciples to face anything – persecution and even death, for Jesus’ sake.
We too wait like the disciples for an outpouring of God’s Spirit. We have received the same commission to tell the whole world the good news and to go and make disciples; we have not been left alone but have the promise of the Holy Spirit too.
We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit and we need the confidence He brings if we are to see Jesus’ prayer (John 17:1-23) fulfilled. Prayer is essential to revival in ways we can’t always fathom – not only personal prayer, but corporate prayer. All are needed; all need to be involved. As C. H. Spurgeon said, ‘How can we expect revival if we are not prepared to ask for it?’
We need to meet together urgently to pray and we must pray expecting God to come in power and move among us and in saving power. Please join with us on Thursdays at 7.30 p.m. to pray. Every revival starts with prayer. Let’s come believing God; let’s ask Him to revive us. (‘Revival’, Robin Mark)
