What if I Don’t Really Care About Revival?
“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility.”
There are times when we do things out of raw obedience, without any emotion, whatsoever. It’s not bad or wrong. In fact, it is an important and necessary part of discipleship.
Sometimes raw obedience is the purist evidence of our being real followers of Jesus. Every believer must learn to do what is right, because it is right. Period. But having a marriage that is entirely focused on raw obedience, doing the right thing, going through the motions without any affection or interaction, eventually gets old and undesirable. It’s not Christlike as a lifestyle. Jesus had more joy than all of His disciples combined. (See Hebrews 1:9.) In Paul’s definition of the Kingdom of God— righteousness, peace, and joy—two thirds (peace and joy) of the Kingdom are felt realities. (See Romans 14:17.) While we will have situations where we are to give our all, even when there’s no feeling to back it up, we are never to settle for that as a lifestyle. Passion and affection are notable expressions consistent with following Jesus.
The most necessary catalyst to revival is prayer. But as a P.S. to that statement: The one thing that enhances prayer to a supernatural level is hunger. Society is more inclined to forgive a thief if he steals to feed his family. And while he must restore what was taken, there is a societal grace for that man because of his drive: He was hungry. We also know that unrighteous people become righteous because of their hunger for righteousness. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks of this hunger with honor, saying “they shall be filled.” (See Matthew 5:6.) This word filled is often used to describe the fattening of an animal. In other words, we are filled with abundance. Hunger alone accesses that kind of abundance.
Revival praying then is generally filled with prayers of passion, abandonment, and absolute surrender. These expressions are irreplaceable in the context of pursuing revival. But if you don’t have that kind of stirring going on inside of you, pray out of raw obedience until you do. Just be honest, and invite God to give you His heart in the matter. That willingness to obey attracts the hand of God in powerful ways. It’s also good to note for those lacking passion that you can’t interact with Him for long and not pick up His heart. He burns for us with unbridled passion. Even His eyes, that are fixed on us, burn with fire.
A key to revival, then, is not the prayer of duty, where we recite prayers because it’s the right thing to do. It is the hunger-driven cries of the heart that will not be satisfied with anything less than an ever-deepening encounter with the Almighty God. That, in essence, is revival.
Designed for Hunger
Becoming hungry is really not that hard. It is our nature in Christ. It is equally true that is in our new nature to believe God, to have faith. We often live overly aware of the old nature, so much that we shut down the reality of who we are in Christ, and who He is in us. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). It is not a vain imagination to see ourselves as a new creation. In fact, it is the new logic. Paul put it this way, “Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again . . . even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:9-11). The resurrection of Jesus, who will never die again, is the basis for the reality that I am dead to sin. I am to think of myself in this way because of His resurrection. They are equal realities.
But if I have more input from mainstream media than I do from the Word of God and the testimony of the Lord, then my discouragement and lack of focus are my own doing. I have mandated a worldly view by my self-imposed feeding ritual. You are what you eat. And when we feed on the inferior realities of this world, we cannot be surprised that we fall short of the Kingdom lifestyle we’ve been invited into.
“If I have more input from mainstream media than I do from the Word of God and the testimony of the Lord, then my discouragement and lack of focus are my own doing.”
Creating Personal Hunger
If you lack hunger for revival, acknowledge it before God. Shame won’t help, so avoid that at all costs. Thinking happy thoughts is not the cure, either. The blood of Jesus in the only answer. And confession connects us to the cleansing provided for by His forgiveness. (See 1 John 1:9.) Confession is powerful and highly valued by God. It’s valuable because it basically means we agree with Him. He points to a sin, and we agree by confessing what He pointed to. Returning to the Word of God is next. Probably most of you don’t need to return, as you never left it. Yet many read out of ritual, and not for encounter. The Word of God in print is to lead us to the Word of God in Spirit. He is a living person. That’s not to discount the printed Word, as it is the living heart of God released to bring transformation to the individual. Just read to obtain.
“The Word of God in print is to lead us to the Word of God in Spirit.”
Specifically, read about the transformation of Nineveh, one of the greatest miracles in the Bible, found in the Book of Jonah. A whole city, in fact an entire empire, repented. The prophet didn’t even tell Nineveh to repent. They simply discovered that the hand of God was against them, and they sought Him for mercy. God’s heart was so tender towards them that He forgave them and healed their land. They weren’t Jews. They were heathen. And yet God gave them something that would become common in the New Testament. Meditate on that, then consider the sin-filled cities of the world and which ones you think God would like to visit in that way.
Read of the story of the transformation that took place in Ephesus, addressed in Acts 19. This is where Paul broke into extraordinary miracles. That’s amazing, as apparently miracles had become normal, and it was time for the increased level of breakthrough that Jesus promised when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (Matt. 11:21-23). This reality of greater works started to take place in Ephesus. People touched Jesus’ garment and became healed. In Acts 19, they took articles of clothing from Paul’s body and laid them on people with disease or demons, and they were healed/delivered. Here they didn’t come to Paul. His clothing went to them. Greater works! Should these kinds of miracles and city transformations be happening today? See it. Pray it!
Prayerfully study Jesus’ warning to the cities most familiar with His ministry:
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes . . . and you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day” (Matt. 11:21-23).
Historically, the sin-filled cities mentioned in this passage have become the ultimate illustration of debauchery and evil. In Scripture, just the mention of their names evoked a context of evil that was unsurpassed in history. And yet Jesus made a startling statement here, one that should trouble every believer, that these worst of the worst would have repented, and as a result would still be among us as the great cities of the world.
Dreaming what God dreams of connects us to our purpose and destiny. Hunger is not a problem in that context. It’s natural. And yet there are still many that have been buried in bad teaching that even surpasses the devastating words and practices of the Pharisees. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were guilty of speaking truth but not living it. Today’s Pharisees contradict the truth by cancelling what Jesus taught and practiced. “Miracles are not for today, and if you pursue them you work against Christ!” To believe such nonsense, you have to remove the commissions Jesus gave His disciples and cancel His promises and His pronounced purpose for our becoming full of the Holy Spirit, which is a biblical command. And while they often point to a group of people that got it wrong to justify their beliefs, you have to leave the Gospel as Jesus taught and practiced it to get that outcome. Sometimes, it takes a while for someone raised in the environment to become hungry according to God’s design. While wrong teaching has removed many from the frontlines of the battle, disappointment is probably a greater enemy to revival. Even greater than wrong teaching. I deal with this subject much more thoroughly in my book Strengthen Yourself in the Lord. But suffice it to say, surrender your disappointment to God, and become renewed in hope again. Don’t stop pursuing Him until your heart overflows with hope. Come to grips with the fact that your being filled with hope is no one else’s responsibility. My hope is my own responsibility.
“My hope is my own responsibility.”
One of the most important things you can do to become hungry is to read about past revivals. Let me put it another way: Hunger is created whenever we expose ourselves to the miraculous testimonies of God’s supernatural invasions throughout history. The testimony prophesies hope and hunger into the human heart. I remember a pastor friend who, when he finished reading Rick Joyner’s book on the Welsh Revival, called World Aflame, couldn’t stay in his office or home. He went into the woods to pray. Something was exploding in him that could not be contained in a proper setting. It had to be expressed.
There are many great books on revival, ones that tell the stories of the miracle workings of God in the transformation of people and cities. Testimonies prophesy. It is nearly impossible to read these stories and not get hungry. In fact, we don’t even think about our need to be hungrier for God, for out of our innermost being comes a cry, almost volcanic in nature, for more of God at any price. The prayer that comes forth is not rehearsed. Nor is it written down. It is also not a rote prayer done that we might check it off the list. It is the prayer, manifesting hunger and passion, that only a Father of promises could inspire.
I have witnessed people who had zero hunger for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who witnessed a miracle in their own life, or even with a close friend, and were ignited in a moment. One pastor came to me after experiencing a creative miracle in his body that was undeniable. We both actually watched it happen over a period of about 30 seconds. In response, he told me, “I don’t believe what I just saw.” He was serious. He walked around dazed for a good half hour. After the significance of his miracle impacted his heart and mind, he came back to me and said, “I have discovered why I’m alive.” That night a fiery passion was born. Not the short-lived emotional burst. But the kind that is anchored in our purpose for being.
Proverbs and Revival
It is my personal conviction that revival starts with power, but is sustained through wisdom. I hope to make that clear throughout this book, as the need of the hour is for both power and wisdom in order to obtain and sustain all that God intends to do in our lifetime.
“Revival starts with power, but is sustained through wisdom.”
The Book of Proverbs gives us wisdom and insight for stewarding anything that God gives us, be it money, friends, family, business, or even revival. It’s really all about stewardship. I read a chapter a day of this fabulous book, according to the date. Proverbs provides us with brilliant insights that are unparalleled in the rest of Scripture. As a result, they have a place in the complete study of the great moves of God.
The primary focus of Proverbs, and thus the focus of wisdom, is to enable us to reign in life. That doesn’t mean to reign over people, in some we’re-better-than-others approach to life. It’s that in wisdom we learn to represent the Lord well in reigning over the issues of life that so many others stumble over. For example, money doesn’t control me; I control money for the glory of God.
I will admit that these principles apply to many things other than the great moves of God. My suggestion is that you read this book of wisdom as it pertains to anything God has given you to give oversight or input to. My point is that we also steward revival. Here’s one of my favorite verses in this regard.
A sated man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet (Prov. 27:7).
This statement is so profound in its application to the subject of revival that I am amazed that it wasn’t the primary purpose of the verse. People who are full (sated) can even despise good things. Satisfied people are poor judges of what God is doing. They don’t have a need or appetite for what God is doing. Not really. Hunger and the recognition of personal need are the most trusted interpreters of the moves of God. The prostitute, thief, and demonized recognized Him when He came. Why? They lived aware of their need.
But the religious leaders in Jesus’ day didn’t. Amazingly, what is sweet to everyone else in the room is distasteful to them. In fact, this kind of person becomes the restaurant critic, or dare I say revival critic. They point to countless expressions of revival, always criticizing them, saying, “That’s not revival.” I remember one guy declaring those words to me. Here is my thought, “I don’t know what’s happening in that three-foot circle you’re standing in, but in this one, I am burning with the fire of revival.” Take responsibility for your own experience, your own fire. Isn’t that the lesson of the ten virgins in Matthew 25? Five made sure they had oil for their lamps to burn, and the five foolish ran out of oil as they didn’t take personal responsibility. Make certain the fire is burning in you, it’s burning brightly, and there’s enough oil for all your days here on earth.
There are more revival critics in this day than I can imagine at any other time in history. I’m certain that it’s the use of social media that makes everyone appear to be an expert. What I’ve learned from the recent invasion of social media into many of our lives is that you no longer need insight or intelligence to have an opinion. And political correctness proves that stupidity is contagious. Wrong values appear to be wisdom. Fear always masquerades as wisdom; otherwise, it would be rejected soundly. It’s amazing how fast a lie can spread and anti-Kingdom values can be promoted as the Gospel, and living under the fear of man can be considered a virtue. The state of being deeply rooted in the Word of God and in constant fellowship with the Spirit of God is the two-edged sword that keeps us in continual safety. Walking with people of like mind helps immeasurably in the life of revival. The Word, the Spirit, and the people of God comprise the three-fold cord that is not easily broken.
How we live our lives really matters. We’re not to be controlled or influenced by what is popular or commonly believed by the masses. Jesus calls us to Himself, to be like Him. We are not culturally relevant when we mirror the culture around us. We are culturally relevant when we model the lifestyle of the Kingdom of God that the world longs to obtain. Everyone wants peace, love, and joy. When we walk in those things, regardless of circumstances, we manifest the nature of His world that cannot be shaken. I remind you: everyone wants a king like Jesus. He is the desire of the nations. “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:7 KJV). We must illustrate what it looks like to thrive in life, regardless of the conditions around us. Many at this point would think I’m referring to money. While I admit it sometimes includes money, the real issue is the prosperity of soul. (See 3 John 2.) How are we doing in our internal world? That is the real issue. In fact, our countenance is the only Gospel that many will ever read.
The psalmist put it this way, “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Ps. 67:1-2). It’s remarkable how realizing God’s face of delight over us affects our own countenance. And that becomes our witness. Notice the conclusion of this psalm is the salvation of the nations.
There are different realities, each competing for our attention, and ultimately our affection. There’s the power of darkness, filled with fear, anger, bitterness, arrogance, etc. And there’s the Kingdom of God, filled with love, joy, and peace. Our countenance will always reflect the nature of the world we are most aware of.
Hunger, the Gift from God
Hunger is a good sign. I am an extremely happy parent of three children. Each of them married godly spouses, who have in turn given Beni and me 11 grandchildren. Being a parent, and watching them grow up into God’s design for them is one of the greatest privileges we can enjoy this side of Heaven. But I remember well when they were infants. One of the ways you could tell when one of them was sick was they lost their hunger. Of course, there are fevers and other manifestations of sickness. But the one that still influences my thinking to this day is the absence of hunger. That is a sign of sickness. This is absolutely true for the followers of Jesus. The absence of hunger speaks to the heart condition that needs reviving. It needs to be warmed by the love of God that restores hope and our connection to why we’re alive.
In the same way that we can’t crave something sweet unless sweet exists, we can’t hunger for the reality of Heaven on earth unless that reality exists. Revival is such a reality. We know it exists as it was seen in Jesus’ lifestyle. We also know it is within reach because Jesus taught us to pray for it through the following Disciples’ Prayer:
Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13).
We were designed for eternity in Heaven. It is our nature to hunger for that reality now, through the various manifestations of revival and His many displays of glory. Revival is living in the glory.
