The Path for Revival
Our homes need revival. Our churches need revival. This nation and the world need an awakening to the things of God. But, what exactly does that mean?
There are several places that we can look for principles of revival. We could look to Samuel in the days when the word of God was precious, to Elijah, or to Nehemiah and Ezra where each experienced times of revival where people were getting right with God. We could even say that John the Baptist brought in revival at his day and time, preparing people for the coming of the Lord. Instead, I want to bring you to a dark time in Israel’s history, and show you how a young king brought revival to the land, a kind by the name of Josiah.
Manasseh was a kind that did “evil in the sight of the LORD” (II Kings 21). He led Israel away so much so that the Lord had said, “And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies…because they had done that which was evil in MY sight” (II Kings 21:14-15). Amon, the son of Manasseh, was just as bad. But, thank God for a tender-hearted king who demonstrates to us how we can see revival in our own lives.
I want you to notice five things that King Josiah did that brought in a revival during his reign:
- He Received God’s Word
II Kings 22:11 – “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.” What you hear should affect your heart. The same word used for “heard” here is the same word used in Deuteronomy 6:3-4 where it says, “Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” The king heard with the intent to take heed and to do what the word of God had commanded to be done.
If you and I are going to experience revival in our lives, it will only come if we see ourselves as God sees us, and that we make ourselves accountable to HIS word. What sets it apart from everything else is that it is not the word of man, the word of a theologian, a scientist, a philosopher or philanthropist; It is the very word of God Who cannot lie; It is sure and steadfast, and we are accountable to HIM. How you respond to God’s word will affect your life, your home, your community, and nation. Obedience is better than sacrifice, my friend. Sin will take you father than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you are willing to pay. If you want the blessings of God on your life, RECEIVE HIS WORD.
- He Repented Because of God’s Word
II Kings 22:11 – “…he rent his clothes.” It would take extreme circumstances in order for a king to rend, or tear, his kingly garments, and abase himself. This was an action expressive of King Josiah’s grief and terror as a result of the word of God striking his heart as a two-edged sword that is quick and powerful, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, wielding its convicting power.
Repentance is what is missing in many churches. Repentance is turning to God from sin when it comes to your attention. The church of Corinth gives us a great example of this as they moved from contrition (sorrow) because of their sinful attitudes to clearing themselves of it. II Corinthians 7:9-11 – “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but godly sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
True repentance will make you do something about your abiding sin, whether in attitude or action. We either judge ourselves, and ask God for forgiveness, and the grace to clear ourselves of our sins, or God will hold us accountable for those sins.
- He Regarded God’s Will
II Kings 22:13 – “Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that is written concerning us.”
Once a man or a woman has received the word of God and Repented, the next step toward revival is to Regard God’s will. We need to seek HIS direction. The Bible says that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All who lean upon their own understanding will fail. On the other hand, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). God will guide you if you let HIM.
- He Reinstated Right Worship
II Kings 23:1-3 show us what King Josiah did initially after inquiring of the Lord. I want you to see verse 3 – “And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep HIS commandments and HIS testimonies and HIS statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in the book. And all the people stood to the covenant.” The king purposed in his heart to honor the Lord with his life. If you on purpose plan and decide in your heart to do something then you are more than likely to do it. You cannot stop with the repentance, or with the inquiring of what to do, no, you have to decide to follow the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. When you reinstate right worship in your life, that is when you will start making an impact for God toward others, but it has to start with you. If it is personal and real you have a better chance at seeing people saved as a result of what God has done in your life. The salvation of souls is a result of God’s people abiding in a right relationship with HIM.
- He Removed Godlessness
II Kings 23:5-7 – “And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah…And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it…And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where women wove hangings for the grove.”
King Josiah was able to experience revival because he realized that a man cannot serve two masters, it is either God or godless practices and lifestyles. He decided, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” What do you have to cast out, or to make right to experience revival?
If you do these five things: Receive God’s Word, Repent because of God’s Word, Regard God’s Will, Reinstate Right Worship, and Remove Godlessness from your life, then you will see true revival. I hope that you will begin to pray for revival not only here at First Baptist Church of Prosperity, SC, but also at your own home. God bless!