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Intention

Don’t try and put revival in a box

Scripture

“Sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord till He comes and rains righteousness upon you.”
– Hosea 10:12

“Would You not revive us again: that Your people may rejoice in You.”
– Psalm 85:6

Reflection

Revival means to recover, repair or restore, and this is what Hosea 10:12 refers to.

What is fallow ground?

It is once fruitful ground that has been ploughed over and has had no seed sown in it. It has become unproductive. Notice, there is a human emphasis in the passage: we are to break up our fallow ground.

In Psalm 85, the very word “revive” presupposes life. You can only revive what has already had vitality and has become sick, weak, or apathetic.

Revival means to revitalise and restore lost power, to recover lost energy. Whatever else we say about revival, we must recognise this: a revival is an act of mercy by a sovereign God (Acts 3:19).

There is a vast difference between revival and evangelism. When we speak of revival in Australia we think of a church advertising, “Our revival will begin next Sunday night at this time, and it is going to finish the next Sunday night that time.” Obviously, this is something purely mechanical; it is something that men have engineered.

Historically, I think that one of the offences of revival is that it cannot be organised. As Dr Tozer said, “When revival comes, it changes the moral climate of a community.”

You can have a revival that covers a church — Spurgeon had that — or an entire city. You can have a revival that covers a nation.

Revival cannot be organised — evangelism can. Revival cannot be subsidised — evangelism can. Revival cannot be advertised — evangelism can.

Why doesn’t revival need to be advertised? Because fire is the most self-advertising thing there is — whether it is a physical fire or a revival fire. It draws people like a magnet.

Sometimes revival is totally taken over by sorrow. Sometimes revival is totally taken over by joy — ecstasy ’till you don’t know whether you are in the flesh or whether you’ve gone out of the earth. Sometimes revival is taken over by stillness.

There are times when you go to a prayer meeting and the power of God is there. There is stillness and you feel it is creative. You feel, “Now something is building up around here, somebody is going to come out shortly with a heart bursting with some agonising prayer…”

Revival cannot be rationalised. Again, one of the offensive things about revival is you can’t put your finger on how or why or where it began. It is supremely an act of God.

Don’t put revival in a box.

Video

Prayer

Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You are our Helper.

We confess that we no longer want to build our Churches on human strength and intellect; we want You to have control and lead us. Come and revive us. Let the fire burn in our hearts first that will become that beacon of hope in our communities.

Revive Your gifts again. Revive a passion for Your Word again. Revive a hunger for prayer again. It is not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit, Lord. Help us to totally be dependent on You as we walk our journey. Raise up Your Church again and let the Body of Christ AWAKEN from slumber.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Author Bio

Scott and Rachael Hanzy are the Senior Ministers of Awaken Church. They have been in full-time ministry for over 20 years and remain passionate about building local churches and changing communities. Scott is the visionary leader and key preacher. He is passionate about the Holy Spirit and keeping ‘Pentecost’ alive and well until Christ’s return.

Prayer Points for 31 Days of Prayer & Fasting for Revival

1. To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. Hebrews 12:28-29
2. Pray that the Lamb who was slain might receive the reward for His suffering. Revelation 5:6-14
3. Pray for Revival for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Isaiah 64:1-2

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