O God, Revive Us Again.
A plan
for personal revival
2
Chronicles 7: 14
If my
people, which are called
by my
name, shall humble
themselves and pray,
and
seek my face,
and
turn from their wicked ways;
Then
will I hear from heaven,
and
will forgive their sin,
And
will heal their land.
"O
GOD, REVIVE US AGAIN"
An outstanding twentieth century Christian visiting
"What do you mean by revival?" you may
ask. A fair question. It does not mean a highly
emotional hysteria where people work themselves into a frenzy
and do senseless things which bring discredit to the Lord's name. Revival is a
time Christians are restored to their first love for Christ, when sham and
hypocrisy are exposed; when bitterness and strife which exist in the body of
Christ are revealed and repented of under the pressure of the Holy Spirit's
convicting power; a time when such changes are effected in the lives of
Christians that sinners are brought to Christ in great numbers. There are
struggles and deep emotions stirred in the process of returning to our first
love.
Revival is walking in the light with Jesus and
letting Him live His life in us. The word "revive" applies to that
which has life. In this case those who already know Christ as Lord and Savior.
To revive is to come back to health and vigor, to flourish again after decline,
to come back into use, to become valid, effective, or operative again. Revival
is admitting our sins, calling out to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and being
cleansed by His blood, allowing Him to have control of every area of our lives.
God has called Christians to have a sense of
personal responsibility for the lost at home and abroad. The Word of God is not
fully presented in many churches, and when it is, it is seldom obeyed. On the
basis of God's Word, personal revival or renewal can be started at any time one
wants it badly enough to take the steps that lead to it (2 Chronicles 7:14;
Philippians 4:19). What an added impetus it is to realize that your own
personal revival may be used by God as a torch to light the fire in others'
hearts and that they in turn will reach still others.
Do you have a longing to see God work in an unusual
way? Do you covet for yourself a life of spiritual genuineness, a ministry that
is fruit-producing? When was the last time your heart was stirred for a
spiritual awakening in your life, in your church, in your community, and in the
world?
Very often the desire for revival is kindled by the
retelling of the story of another revival. History is full of such reports.
Read some of them. Sometimes the Lord has used very unlikely individuals as He
did in using Evan Roberts in the Welsh revival. Other times it has been a group
of men like the four young zealots in
We have chosen to look into a revival which
occurred in
The unassuming woman God used in this case was Miss
Aletta Jacobsz who went to
be with the Lord during World War II. The outstanding feature people remember
about her was her "rapturous love for the Lord." Her methods were
very simple: "She just brings the Bible to bear upon your life,"
asking you to be honest and heed what God says. She generally worked with the
church leaders who were dedicated and trained in the Word.
Miss Jacobsz was not
satisfied with the general confession, "I am a sinner." She would
hand you a pencil and paper and ask you to write down specific sins. Her
dealings with a prominent Presbyterian missionary were typical. On being urged
by his wife to have a talk with Miss Jacobsz he said,
"I don't need to talk to any woman about my sins."
Later, when he did consent, her gentle probing went
like this:
Miss J: Have
you considered Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the
Mr. X: Yes,
I preach on it frequently.
Miss J: Are
you willing to face this truth squarely and see if you are actually seeking
God's will first in all things?"
Mr. X:
(after reflecting) Well, I suppose I'm not seeking God first in everything.
Yes, I will have to admit I Am not always putting Christ first in my
life."
Miss J: Now,
Mr. X, since you say you have preached this truth frequently, and you now
recognize you are not fulfilling it in your life, what would you consider
anyone, who, while urging others to do something, is not doing it himself?
Mr. J: A
hypocrite.
Miss J: Will
you please write it down?
"I am a hypocrite," he wrote. Soon he had
a list of black sins which broke his heart. But how grateful
he was, after repenting, to have deep peace and a sense of forgiveness.
He was able to help others move on from being a nominal Christian to being a
normal Christian, from being a cold Christian to being a committed Christian.
If you are eager for revival, desire to be an
effective Christian, and want to walk in the light with Jesus consider doing
the following:
1. Set
aside a block of undisturbed time. If you have a busy schedule, you may have to
take an hour now and several hours later.
2. Go
alone or with one or two others who have the same longing, to a place where you
will be least likely to be disturbed.
3. Plan
a retreat and use this outline as the basis for study. If several days are
available, have some Bible messages on these steps.
4. Take
your Bible, pencil, paper, and the verses given below and follow step by step,
asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart. (Use a dictionary for words you
are not familiar with. A modern language translation of the Scriptures would be
helpful.)
GOD'S
PICTURE OF MY HEART
(What God
sees)
|
Jeremiah 17:9 |
Romans 1:21-32 |
2 Timothy 3:1-5 |
|
Matthew 23:25-28 |
Galatians 5:19-21 |
2 Peter 2:10-20 |
|
Mark 7:20-23 |
Colossians 3:5-10 |
James 3:2-18 |
1. STEP
ONE
A.
What my sin cost God
|
Isaiah 52:14; 53:1-12 |
Luke 22:44, 63-65 |
|
Matthew 26:26-31,49,56,67; 27:27-31 |
John 19:1-3, 34 |
B. Conviction (Isaiah 1:16-20)
1.
Read slowly and thoroughly all
passages listed.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to turn His
searchlight upon your past life and upon the present condition of your heart.
3. Make a list of sins, shortcomings,
failures and impurities as revealed by Him, using the following categories.(Actually sin is the lack of conformity to the will of God
as revealed in the Word of God. One kind of sin differs from another in
appearance and in intensity only, not in character or essence.)
a. Idolatry (Matthew
6:33; 22:37)
All
things I have loved, sought, or placed ahead of God: my work, family,
pleasures, myself.
b. Rebellion
(1 Corinthians 10:10; 1 Samuel 15:22-23)
All
the sins I have committed against God: murmuring, rebellion, lack of submission
to His will.
c.
Self-life
All
the features and manifestations of the self-life. Here are some:
n
a secret spirit of
pride -- an exalted feeling in view of your success, good training, appearance,
(because of your natural gifts) abilities, an important, independent spirit, an
attitude that says, "My way is best, and I am always right.
n
Love of human praise, a
secret fondness to be noticed; love of supremacy, drawing attention to self in
conversation.
n
The stirrings of anger
or impatience, which you call nervousness or holy indignation; a touchy,
sensitive spirit; a disposition to resent and retaliate when disapproved of or
contradicted; a desire to fling sharp, heated words at another.
d.
Self-will
Self-will: A stubborn, unteachable spirit; an arguing, talkative spirit; harsh,
sarcastic expressions; an unyielding, headstrong disposition; a driving,
commanding spirit; a disposition to criticize and pick flaws when set aside and
unnoticed; a peevish, fretful spirit; a disposition that loves to be coaxed and
humored.
e. Carnality
Carnal fear: a man-fearing
spirit; a shrinking from reproach and duty; a compromising spirit. A jealous
disposition; a secret spirit of envy shut up in your heart; an unpleasant
sensation in view of the success of another; a disposition to speak of the
faults and failings, rather than the gifts and virtues of those more talented
and appreciated than yourself.
f. Dishonesty
A
dishonest, deceitful disposition; the evading and covering of the truth the
covering up of your real faults; leaving a better impression of your self than
is strictly true; false humility; exaggeration; straining the truth.
g. Unbelief
Unbelief: A spirit of
discouragement in times of pressure and opposition; lack of quietness and
confidence in God; a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain,
poverty or at the dispensations of Divine providence; an over anxious feeling
how everything will turn out.
h. Formality
Formality and deadness; lack of concern for lost souls; dryness and
indifference; lack of power with God. Love of ease and love of money.
These
are some of the traits which indicate a carnal heart (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
i. Worldliness
All the things in which I
am not quite unspotted from the world, i.e. self first, worldly pleasures,
immodesty or vanity in appearance or dress (Galatians 6:14; James 1:27; 1 John
2:15-17; Joshua 4:4; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18). Worldliness is
thinking as the unsaved man thinks, (I, me, myself), which results in acting as
the unsaved man acts, rather than thinking in conformity to the will of God,
resulting in acting in accordance with His will and purpose.
j. Lovelessness
All my sins against my
neighbor -- the way I have broken God's law of love toward him (James 2:8);
resentment, criticism, impatience, deceit, unforgiveness
(John 13:34-35).
k. Defeats
All hidden defeats that have not been revealed and dealt with. (Hebrews 4:12,13; 2
Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 5:24).
l. Failures
All of my
failures in real service as a winner of individual souls, a discipler
of others, my life of service, my time in the Word and prayer.
m. Snares
If there has been any
contact with, or practice of the occult it must be repented of and forsaken;
i.e. horoscopes, Ouija boards, occult magic, T.V. and movies based on the
occult, witchcraft, etc. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12, 14; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Samuel
15:22-23).
n. Miscellaneous
All
that the Holy Spirit brings to my mind through the Word of God that does not
seem to fit under the other categories (Galatians 5:16-25). Note the catchall phrase in verse 21: "And such like, " which includes all things that are not God-honoring
or Christ-glorifying. Failing to do what God tells us to do in His Word is just
as much sin as doing what He tells us not to do. (James 4:17).
II. STEP
TWO
A. God's
standard for my life
|
Matthew 22:37-39 |
Malachi 3:10 |
1 Timothy 2:8-10 |
|
Luke 6:43-49 |
Philippians 4:4-9 |
1 Peter 1:15-16 |
|
Galatians 5:22-25 |
1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
Colossians 3:17 |
B. Repentance
1. Read carefully
the scripture verses listed above and below, asking the Holy Spirit to continue
working in your heart for His honor and glory.
2. Ponder the verses given below until
there comes upon you a sense of the sinfulness of sin.
3. Open your heart to a sense of the
horror of sin until its depths are stirred, and sorrow leads to repentance. It
will come if you honestly want God to be glorified in your life (Proverbs 20:6;
21:2).
C. Sorrow for my sin
|
Job 42:5,6 |
Isaiah 6;5-8 |
|
Psalm 34:18; 38:1-10; 40:12; 51:4 |
Luke 18:13 |
D. Cleansing
1. Read
carefully the scriptures listed.
2.
Base your confidence upon these
promises from the Word of God, and receive forgiveness and cleansing.
3. If assurance of cleansing does not spring
up in your heart, go over the passages again to discover how the Lord is
faithful to forgive us when we confess (1 John 1:9). The Holy Spirit is
specific in His conviction. Satan is general in His condemnation (1 John 3:20,
21).
4. If you do not know how to deal with
some particular sin, ask some mature Christian friend for counsel.
E. Faith for my cleansing: Romans
8:1-4
|
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 |
1 John 1:9 |
Ephesians 2:8 |
|
Hebrews 9:14 |
1 John 5:14-15 |
2 Timothy 2:21-22 |
F. Restitution
1. Check your list of things to be made
right with others. See or call that person, write that letter, restore that
thing which belongs to another. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, one step
at a time.
2. God wants us to be right with our
fellow men as well as with Him (Luke 19:8). Remember that we all naturally go
our own way. (Isaiah 53:6), and we must go His way to have fellowship with Him.
(1 John 1:3-10; Amos 3:3).
III. STEP
THREE
A. Steps in
making total dedication
Admit that God has a right to full possession of that which
he owns (1 Corinthians
3:16,17; 6:19,20).
1. Total dedication includes complete
surrender in all areas in all three tenses -- past, present, and future
(Philippians 3:7-10; Romans 12:1-3).
2. All things to go out of my life;
legitimate things but not the best for me if I am to be greatly used of God --
certain pleasures, magazines, books, amusements, certain T.V. programs, etc.
3. All the things He asks me to do for Him
I must do (things He may not necessarily ask of others). Give Him implicit
obedience (Acts 5:29; John 14:21-24).
4. All the ways in which I may pay off my
debt to those who are as sin-bound as I was. (2 Corinthians 5:10, 14-20; Romans
1:14; Ezekiel 3:17-19).
B. Have you definitely sought
forgiveness and heart cleansing by confession of your sins in detail, giving
them the names God gives them? Someone has said, "Let the circle of the
offense be the circle of confession." The hardest words
in the English language is to say are, "I was wrong," and/or
"I am sorry." We need true sorrow and humility for our sin, not for
the fact we were caught. Having been cleansed, rejoice and plan to move on one
step at a time as you daily grow more mature in Christ.
C. Determine
to make any additional restitution that the Holy Spirit brings to your
attention.
IV. STEP
FOUR:
The
life God promises, which He paid for at the cross
A. Read thoughtfully the passages listed
below, noting the life that God promises, freely offers, and commands.
B. Study these passages until the Spirit
makes clear that God plans such a life for you. Remember that privilege carries
responsibility with it (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:1).
Psalm
40:3 (A new song)
John
8:32,36 (True freedom)
Psalm
51:10 (A clean heart and a right spirit)
Ezekiel
36:25-27 (A new heart)
Romans
6:14 (Enjoying God's grace)
1
Corinthians 15:57-58 (Victory)
Romans
8:37 (More than conqueror)
Galatians
2:20 (Not I, but Christ)
Romans
12:2 (His will for me)
1
Thessalonians 5:23-24 (His work in us)
1
Corinthians 1:30 (Completeness)
1
John 1:3-9 (Fellowship with God)
2
Corinthians 2:14 (Triumph in Christ)
1
Peter 1:15,16 (His command for holiness)
V. STEP
FIVE:
Yield
to the Spirit's filling
A. "Be
filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18).
After
we have been cleansed and dedicated our lives to Him, let us go on to obey His
command:
1. Believe it is God's
commanded will for me to be filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and
therefore I have no option but to obey (Ephesians 5:18).
2. Desire to be filled with
the Spirit. This will not be easy. No one will surrender to another without a
struggle. It can be done as God works in me "to will and to do His good
purpose" (Philippians 2:13 NIV). The desire must be that Jesus Christ may
be glorified by my being filled with the Spirit, not that I may have something
to boast of or be proud about.
3. Present yourself to God
to be filled (Romans 12:1,2).
Though He commands, He
does not coerce. He waits for you, of your own volition, to lovingly give to
Him that which is already His by right of redemptive purchase (1 Peter 1:18,19; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20).
4. Ask God for this
blessing. His Word says, "You have not because you ask not" (James 4:2-3).
Ask in prayer that the indwelling Holy Spirit fill your empty, cleansed vessel.
5. Receive the infilling of
the Holy Spirit and by faith thank God audibly for filling you (1 John 5:14,15).
6. Obey the Lord moment by
moment, circumstance by circumstance (John 14:15,21,23,24).
Keep in mind that the Spirit-filled life often starts as a crisis experience
and must be followed by the process of daily obedience. No one can be truly
Spirit-filled who is not Spirit controlled.
7. Walk in the Spirit: my
will in tune with His. Then you will grow in grace and in
Christlike
maturity one step at a time.
B.
The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
1. Each
believer is blessed with the gift of love, which is the mark of the Holy Spirit
for the functioning of the body of Christ in this world.
2. It is helpful to know what additional
gift, or gifts, we have been given so that we may use and develop them. A study
of the main passages would be helpful and enlightening. (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1
Corinthians 12:7-12, 28-31; Romans 12:6-8).
3. Since gifts are sovereignly
given by the Holy Spirit, we can take no glory to ourselves for their
possession and use. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11; Colossians 3:17).
4. According to Romans 12:6-8 and 1
Corinthians 12:7 we are responsible for using our gift or gifts diligently; the
results should be the building up of the body of Christ.
5. The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence
of the inner life of the Holy Spirit. If He is not hindered by being grieved or
quenched by our sin, His fruit will appear in our daily lives.
6. The fruit of the Spirit is listed in
detail in Galatians 5:22 and 23. This may be used as a check-list to determine
whether the gift being exercised is really of the Holy Spirit. We must not
confuse the fruit and the gifts. The New Testament clearly indicates that fruit
is the sign of spirituality.
7. The fruit of the Spirit in a life
serves to draw people to Christ for He is the perfect embodiment of the gifts
of the Spirit.
VI. STEP
SIX:
The
Life of Victory
1. Believe and accept by faith the
victory that God has made possible through the sacrificial death of His Son on
the cross. (John 19:30; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Romans 8:37.
2. Understand that victory does not
lie in a system of rules, or works, but rather in a person, namely, our risen,
ascended Savior. (2 Corinthians 2:14).
3. Accept victory as a gift and
walk in the reality of it. (1 Corinthians 15:57 "giveth
us")
4. Thank Him for victory as Paul
did. "Thanks be unto God ..." (2 Corinthians
2:14 Cf.; 1 Corinthians 15:57.
5. Apply the truth of victory
daily:
a. Without
reservation, to God. (Romans 12:1).
b. In the
faithful use of God's Word. (Psalm119:105).
c. In unbroken
fellowship in prayer. (Philippians 4:4-7)
d. By walking in the Spirit. (Galatians
5:16; Romans 8:1).
6. Break sinful habit patterns and
replace them with godly habit patterns. Share your victories and defeats with
those who care. Keep short accounts with God. Do not let unconfessed
sin accumulate. If there is some sin over which you cannot seem to get victory,
keep praying. God is able as you yield that sin to Him (1 John 4:4; Romans
8:37). You may want to share your need with a friend with whom you have
confidence and then pray together. There is power in praying together (Matthew
18:19).
7. Remember that God has GIVEN. We
must TAKE and KEEP ON TAKING (John 4:14, 7:38, 10:10; Ephesians 3:16-21).
Victory is the Person of Christ living His life in and through us (1
Corinthians 15:57-58; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
VII. WORDS OF WARNING and ENCOURAGEMENT
There is no strength in a
decision. Our strength against temptation comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is always victorious (Colossians 2:6-10, 15). Temptations become sin when we
yield to them. After cleansing and dedication temptation will come as never
before ... desperate, diabolical, hellish, subtle, refined, gross, and
all fleshly temptations. We need to be on guard against spiritual pride
on the one hand, or on the other hand, against discouragement and depression
which attacks us when we yield to temptation and fall into sin. Satan will try
to keep us from a Christ honoring, God glorifying life. When we do fail and
fall into sin there should be immediate repentance and confession. Always keep
short accounts with God.
The
following Scriptures will help you claim God's provision from day to day living
in His presence. Read them, meditate on them, memorize them, and appropriate
them. Make them your own:
1
Corinthians 15:57,58
|
John 15:5 |
2 Corinthians 2:14 |
|
Romans 8:28-39 |
Philippians 1:6 |
You will
now find a fruitful and satisfying life unfolding before
you as you are
daily cleansed and walk in the light with Jesus.
REMEMBER,
God loves you!
***********************************************************
O God, Revive Us Again was originally published by Missionary Harold Voelkel as "A revival among missionaries in