Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
-Revive Us Again, William P. Mackey
Revival means nothing unless change occurs. As our congregation just had a revival, I hope to make sure I’m agreeing with the speaker of the revival when I say this. The Call of Scripture every single day is echoed in Paul’s words:
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:13-14)
And Revival should be a daily effort, not merely a special time set aside. It should occur when a congregation gathers on Sunday mornings, or when a believer rises early to read the Word and pray. The words of the Scriptures, or the words of the preacher or evangelist, or the words of a devotional, or whatever else there may be should rouse us toward change, and always in to the image of Jesus Christ. Church (and I am speaking to believers everywhere), for too long, many of us have been playing church, as kids who dress up in their parents clothes. We dress the part, talk the part, even walk the part, but we want our credentials, not Jesus to speak for us.
So you can read the Bible 4 hours a day? Great! That does not bring you closer to God unless you’re putting the words of God in to practice as you walk among the unbelieving world. So you give a lot of money, time and effort to the local congregation? Wonderful! That means nothing unless it’s because of your love of Jesus and not as a means of patting yourself on the back. So you preach the Gospel and can quote scripture back and forth (I’m looking at myself and other preachers here); what does that mean unless we’re actively seeking to let Jesus and the Holy Spirit reign over every part of our lives?
The Purpose of revival is to be brought from death to life, or, at the very least, to awaken from a spiritual stupor. The Purpose of following Jesus is to be raised from the dead. Go! He’s calling you out of the tomb! He’s calling you from death to life! Live for Him and Him alone! Love your neighbor as He loves them (and He died for them, so that’s saying much). Be revived, and walk in the Light of Life in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit to the Glory of the Father, Amen.
Ephesians 5:1-21
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
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