Reaction to asking the church to pray for revival is varied. I am sure that some people think that we are asking more of their time, talent, and/or treasure and asking them to plead with God to interrupt their schedule to get more active in the church and His service, so they are not too fond of praying for revival. Others see it as a criticism of the church and themselves and again resist the call to pray for revival. Still others do not understand what revival looks like so they are not sure what we are asking so the plea to pray for revival never catches their heart.

So what is behind the request for each member of the church to pray for revival? What is it we are asking and why?

1 Thessalonians 1:4–8 (ESV) For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

As I have pointed out in past articles, the subject of revival centers around the extraordinary way in which the Holy Spirit moves in the church, conducting His normal activities. The common working of the Holy Spirit is to bring about conviction of sin, draw to true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, to provide the blessing of assurance of salvation, encouragement over doubts and fears, power in the preaching of the Word of God, and motivation with empowerment for serving God. When revival comes, these common workings of God the Holy Spirit become endued in an extraordinary way. It’s like the difference of a campfire and a house on fire. It’s the flame of the Holy Spirit that is our power, but when He comes in revival fire the flame is greater and we are consumed. Historically, when revival comes to a church, there seems to be three major results: nominal Christians, those who profess Christ but do not really have new life, are saved; lukewarm Christians, those who match the description in Revelation 3 and are satisfied with themselves and previous growth in the faith but have lost their zeal for Christ, are set ablaze with the joy of the Lord as their strength; and those who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior are saved – particularly those outside the church who are affected by the godly lives of those who have been revived and who are drawn to come and see what the Lord is doing.

I must point out that true revival does not mean that a high level of emotionalism is present, although when you study revival work of the Holy Spirit in the past, emotions are affected in a very positive way. Revival is the working of the Holy Spirit in the heart producing an emotional response, rather than trying to work the emotions to get to the heart. Revival comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by the manipulation of man. Hence, we cannot plan a revival, only prepare for it by calling upon God in declaring our dependency upon Him and our desire that His name be honored in our church.

This brings us to the real reason behind our praying for revival – the honor of God. When the church is not making an impact in the community, when the church is not “on fire” with enthusiasm for God’s Word, when the church is not “building itself up in the faith as each member ministers to the other members of the body” (as described in Ephesians 4), then the church is not honoring God as He designed in His Word. Rather than take this as a word of criticism, let’s remember what Paul said about His own life:

Philippians 3:7–14 (ESV) But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

He was not satisfied with his own personal growth in faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ or his own spiritual maturity. In fact, he points out that those who are spiritually mature will not be satisfied with where they are. This is opposed to the Laodicean attitude in Revelation 3:

Revelation 3:14–19 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

The Laodicean attitude is being satisfied with ourselves and content with the status quo. That is why Jesus calls on those in such a lukewarm state to REPENT – to turn from where they are and return to Him.

One of the great calls in recognizing the need for and praying for revival centers around this fact that God’s name would be honored in a return to Him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Do we lack in honoring the name of God? Paul called out the church at Corinth because their Christianity was self centered and the people lost their zeal in seeing those around them come to know Christ so he told them to wake up. (Interestingly enough that it was in the midst of describing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and all the benefits that were theirs as a result that he calls them out.)

1 Corinthians 15:34 (ESV) Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Remember that the church bears the name of the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ so what we do as a church and as individual members of the church – even the way we do what we do, has the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on us. What kind of love for Him is seen in the way we care or don’t care about the condition of souls that surround us and those with whom we have contact? What kind of love for Him is seen in the way we care for each other and the property of the church grounds where we meet? What does it say about Him in the way we approach worship? It all bears His name.

If we are honest with ourselves, each other, and particularly with God, we would have to admit that we are not honoring His name in all we do. We tend to do just enough to get by, we tend to find excuses instead of opportunity, and we tend to put the Word of God on the back burner. Hence, we need reviving so the power of the Holy Spirit will bring us to repentance, show  us where we need to change, empower us to change, and move us forward carrying the banner of the King. Paul would remind us that no matter how far we have come in this area, there is still room for improvement. Are you satisfied with where we are in honoring the name of our King?
Please pray for revival that the fire from above may consume us and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be honored. When people speak of Christ Community Presbyterian Church it will not be of the doctrine - although we believe doctrine is important; it will not be of our fellowship – although our love for each other is a mark; rather it will be the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ and His name that is the basis of what we do and what we believe.

May God help us avoid the Laodicean trap of being satisfied and pray that God will revive us all to seek to learn, grow, and serve to the honor of His name.

Godspeed,
Pastor Bob
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