Faith For Revival, Part 2

Perhaps the area in which the Church exhibits the most glaring defect in faith relates to revival. Most believers in America have never witnessed or experienced a true revival and are therefore unable to relate to it or have any accurate conception of it. Ignorance of the history of revivals has contributed to the present-day apathy, confusion, and unbelief about the need to pray for one. We are part of a generation that has been “burned out” by “revivalism,” an effort to recover the circumstances, methods, and trappings of revival while missing the essence of it. This has led to disillusionment with the idea of revival in general.

Once we have met the necessary prerequisites of understanding what true revival is and what are the promises of God's Word that give us a warrant for faith concerning it, the need of the hour is for believers to unite in prevailing, persevering pray until God “rends the heavens” and grants another gracious outpouring of His Spirit that will purify and enlarge the Church.

We will miss the most practical and obvious application of the parable of the widow and the unjust judge unless we see the widow as the Church seeking of God redress from the oppression of her “adversary,” Satan. What a beautiful picture of corporate prayer for revival!

As believers, it is both our duty and privilege to pray for revival. “[We] have not because [we] ask not” (James 4:2). If revival is worth having, it is worth holding on to a sovereign God for!