The Elements of Revival

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Insights: This week we will be in Nehemiah 8, but before we examine that passage of Scripture we need to do a brief introduction today.  Every authentic revival in history has had two major elements to them.  The first one is why I chose 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as our verses for the day.  That element is the proclamation of the Scriptures.  The Bible is preached to the Church and something amazing begins to happen.  The second element found in genuine revival is the responsiveness of the Believers.  In other words, Christ-followers heard the Word of God preached and their hearts were convicted of sin.  They would then repent from their sin and be compelled to walk in obedience to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  A revival does not directly involve the unsaved.  You can’t revive a dead person and that is exactly what lost people are.  They are dead in their trespasses and sin.  They need life and that comes only through Jesus Christ.  The revivals of the Reformation with Luther, Calvin, Zwingli brought the Bible into the language and the hands of the people of Germany and the surrounding nations, and gradually the old formalism of the church was replaced with living, vibrant and authentic worship of God.  Luther wanted two things for the church.  One, the Bible the people could read and two a hymnal the people could sing.  He said, “Let them loose [with these two things and] the flame will spread on its own.”  A few hundred years later that is exactly what John and Charles Wesley brought to their generation and revival spread throughout the world.  We have these two elements in almost every church in America today.  So, why do we not see revival fire igniting the hearts of God’s people?  Well, I think there is one more element necessary for revival fires to burn and in Friday’s Thoughts by Scott I will share that final element we find in the life of Nehemiah.  Beloved, until we get to that final element, let me encourage you to spend time with God in His Word this week and become obedient to whatever commands He gives to you as a result.  Let the Lord be glorified in your life.

Questions:

1. Do you have a passion for spending time with God in His Word?
2. Are you responsive to what you have been convicted of from His Word?

Prayer: Lord, I want to see revival fires sweep through our churches.  I want my life to be on fire for You.  Stir my heart to have a hunger for Your Word and then grant me the courage to respond obediently to Your commands.  Let my life bring You glory.   Amen.