Need for Revival

Aquick survey of all of our own churches shows the need for revival. How many souls were born again among us in recent years? How often did we hear the anguished cry of the distressed conscience, “What must I do to be saved?” How many do we find weeping about being dead in Adam instead of talking about it? How many do we find rejoicing in the gospel of free and sovereign grace after having been led out of bondage?

Even though death in Adam is preached, the glory of the Law is upheld, the beauty of life in Christ is proclaimed, and the work of the Holy Spirit is emphasized, the fruit upon this preaching among us is lean at best. How many of the Lord’s people glory in tribulation, experiencing the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given them? Where are the fresh testimonies such as the one we find in John 1:14b, “And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father”?

We need a fresh revival on the pulpits and in the pews. As churches we bear the evidences that God is angry with us. God’s anger is not always revealed in fierce and fiery judgments. More often God’s anger is revealed in His withholding Himself. He withholds the fruit upon the ministry of His Word. When the power of Holy Ghost is missing, multitudes will remain comfortably unconverted and unconcerned. Likewise, God’s own people are not filled with joy and peace in believing the riches of God’s Word through the power of the Holy Ghost. Though they are not strangers of the beginnings of God’s grace, so many of the Lord’s people remain unassured, in doubt, weak in faith, and filled with fear. How can it be that Christ is so hidden to so many who confess themselves no strangers of His grace? Why is the Father not revealing Him to the babes in grace so that they may grow in Him? Why are so few blessed with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ?

The poet of Psalm 85 also noticed these things. He could not deny that the Lord had shown His undeserved favor to His people in returning them from captivity (verse 1). He even acknowledged the beautiful truth of God’s pardoning grace (verses 2&3). Yet, he sensed all was not right with God’s people. Something was missing. His heart poured out, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” The joy of salvation was not experienced (Psalm 51:12). The love of God was not shed abroad in their hearts (Romans 5:5). They were not rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

Did the poet also observe multitudes coming to church, satisfied with their outward religious habits but devoid of spiritual hunger and thirst after the righteousness in Jesus Christ? Did he also notice that the effects of God’s Word were temporary ripples instead of broken hearts? Did he hear sermons discussed, analyzed, compared and criticized yet not regenerating the lost, not feeding hungry souls, not leading broken sinners to the cross, not sanctifying lives? Did he also miss reflections in his own heart like those expressed by John Newton as he heard George Whitefield preach? Newton said, “The power, experience, warmth with which he preached the Word, I can by no means express though I hope I feel the influence of it. Still, my heart was greatly impressed, and I had little relish either for company or food all day.” Did he also miss what A.A. Hodge shared in one of his memoirs about a woman he knew in his congregation? He wrote, “She seemed to walk upon the verge of heaven. Sometimes when the service was over and the congregation dispersed, she would still be found sitting absorbed in her pew. Then, startled by her pastor’s voice, she cried instantly, ‘Is He not holy? Is He not glorious? Is He not beautiful? Is He not infinite?’”

There is no time for complacency, for the present condition does not only affect us, it also has its fruit in our youth and the future generations: “Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?” There is no greater judgment for a church than having young people grow up into adults without experiencing the power of the Word of God in their hearts and lives. Outward conformity and confession of what we teach is still a world apart from being living members united to Christ, bearing fruit to the glory of God.

As we gather for our prayer services, let it be our con viction as preachers and hearers that nothing is more needed than the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. This is a gift the ascended Saviour is willing to give to His Church. Without pretending to understand all that is meant by this baptism with the Spirit and power, we may conclude that it would be something like what was witnessed on the day of Pentecost. The sermons of Peter on that day and the days following were clear evidences that he was baptized with the Spirit. His sermons were Spirit-filled, Christexalting, sinner-abasing and flesh-withering. The preaching brought forth conviction of sin. Sinners came to repentance toward God and received faith in Jesus Christ. Believers grew in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As the Church grew, God drew multitudes of sinners to bow the knee to Christ and confess His name to the glory of God the Father. The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).

The poet felt God’s anger. If God is angry, then there is sin. And there are more sins than we see: covetousness, self-righteousness, complacency, haughtiness, materialism, judgmentalism, hypocrisy, formalism, having a name to live without the power, luke warmness, spiritual decay, impurity, self-righteousness. Yet worst of all is the mother-sin of those listed: unbelief. Only God’s reviving power can move us from preaching or hearing about sin to breaking our hearts away from sin and granting us the gift to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 11:17).

The poet, as well as so many others in the Psalms, took this need in earnest prayer to God. Facing the increasing wicked conditions within our nations and the increasing weakening of the Christian cause, let us despair of our efforts but appeal to God to lift up His hand to save us once more.

The only hope that remains true is expressed in Moses’ ancient words, “For the LORD shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left” (Deuteronomy 32:36). He remains faithful to His cause and kingdom. Such truth gives ground to sing—despite all the dismal, depressing, and discouraging facts—the words of Psalter 422:1&2:

My mouth shall sing for aye Thy tender mercies, Lord.

To every age will I Thy faithfulness record;

I know how firm and sure Thy wondrous grace is founded,

Established in the skies by love that is unbounded.

As Thy celestial throne shall never sway, no never,

So shall Thy truth endure forever and forever.

“With My own chosen One, even David,” God affirmed,

“I’ve made a covenant, with sacred oath confirmed.

I’ve sworn in truth to Him, My servant: ‘I will surely

Build up Thy lustrous throne through every age securely;

Forever will Thy seed, in spite of degradation,

Endure upon Thy throne through every generation.’” p

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