Revival

For some reason or another, I’ve seldom encountered or heard any pastor or teacher preaching deep sermons about the revival of religion, other than one obscure session a few months ago in tertiary service. “Awake, awake you sleepy Christians!”  Familiar now?

Why then is revival downplayed in so many churches and among Christians? One does not need to look at the history of revival in biblical times to know that God is a God of revival. In fact, if we are to study recent Church history, there are so many fascinating accounts of God’s hand moving amidst His Church!

You can follow the article on this site by Henry T. Blackaby on some scenes of revival in history. Or if you don’t mind tiring your eyes like I did, you can check out Charles G. Finney’s lectures on Revival of Religion. Keep in mind this was written 1835! I draw most of my inspiration from these lectures. They are by no means flawless but what we can learn from these Church fathers is their heart and passion for souls.

I do not need to repeat what he and countless other champions of revival have said, but essentially revival is such an overlooked part of church culture and we have such an overwhelming need for it that I can’t help but identify with the psalmist in this part of the scripture:

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

Psalm 85:6

What I hope to answer is: is there a need for revival in our modern Church? Have you seen Christians who have turned from the ways of God and who’re in need of dire repentance and conversion from their worldly ways? To the unsaved, how dire is their state of godlessness? It occurred to me that if there’s one thing that’s vastly absent, it is God’s honour and glory among these people.