Revive Us Again! Part 2

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

(Psalm 51:10-12 KJV)

Note:  On March 12, 2017, I was blessed to lead worship at my church—the title of my sermon was Revive Us Again! 

This is the second post in a short series sharing a heavily edited version of my sermon by the same title.  In the future, there may be an audio or video of this sermon which will enhance what I will be sharing in writing.  To enhance your understanding I recommend you read the first post here:  Revive Us Again!

From  https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-51-10_Inspirational_Image/

Starting with our own sinful nature, crying out to God in humility, as David did in Psalm 51 is a great place to start.  Revival starts with individuals and spreads.  In Psalm 51 David cries out for mercy, for forgiveness, asking God to cleanse his iniquity—God is the only one who can do this.  In confessing our sins and seeking forgiveness from God, our hearts are purged (cleaned, emptied out—complete thorough cleaning process), we are washed in the blood of the Lamb—the blood of Jesus and made whiter than snow.  A clean, renewed heart wholly devoted to God alone. 

From  https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-51-11_Inspirational_Image/

In revival, we are restored to a right relationship with God.  This causes us to rejoice!  Revival is a blessing from God—it is not a given in every generation, nor is it a cure-all for all that ails us.  Revival—true revival changes us and shakes things up.  Revival should fill us with a passion to share the gospel with everyone!  Revival without obedience to God is a mockery, a disservice to God—honestly, I am not sure how that can even be called a revival!

From https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-51-12_Inspirational_Image/

For several suggestions on praying for revival, I offer to you the following links that contain solid information on praying for revival:

How to Pray for Revival

Ten Prayers for Revival and Spiritual Awakening

In summary, all our prayers for revival should start with our own hearts and lives—seeking God for a renewed sensitivity to sin and deepening of love for God.  It is from there the biggest changes occur and we are changed, as well as those around us.

If you decide to pray for revival, be prepared for change—change in how we worship and do what we do--music; for example, changes through revivals.  Consider the music Charles Wesley wrote—he used contemporary tunes to turn his poetry into hymns, many of which are still sung today…or consider the contemporary worship music influenced by the Jesus People/Charismatic Movement of the late 1960s/1970s.  Expecting revival without change will not work.  In revival the church is changed; then society changes.  Sadly, this did not happen in the Charismatic/Jesus People Movement—while many people came to faith, society grew more and more liberal (this was the time of prayer being removed from schools and the legalization of abortion).

Where do we start?  We start with our own heart—searching it and confessing our sins, seeking forgiveness from God.  Then we can pray for those around us and the rampant sin in our society.  Ask God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out His Spirit.  O that God might have mercy on us and send revival before things get really bad!

Nevertheless, may the cry of all our hearts echo the cry in a contemporary worship song from the early 1990s, Cry of My Heart:  

The hymn I selected to close the service, Revive Us Again, comes from a renewed, revived heart—from one who was a prodigal but returned home to the Lord.  May the words ring true for us as we live each day for the Lord.

Amen!

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, through Your Holy Spirit stir-up in us the embers of faith that are beginning to die, so that we may see our hearts as You see them.  As we cry out to You, in faith, realizing the depth of our how lost we are, we know that You will be faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us anew.  Cause us to be sensitive to the sin in our lives and to confess and receive forgiveness, moving on in faith to all that You have for us.  Open us to the variety of changes revival will bring our way—changes within us and within our churches.  Empower us to change our society through a revival of Your work within and around us.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim