hand-pump

In recent times, there have been prophecies about a new move of God in various parts of America and beyond. Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries has written about his conviction that a revival is coming to the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Ministries on the West Coast of America have likewise prophesied about similar things. Bob Jones, before he went home to be with the Lord, spoke of revival in the Twin Cities, Minnesota areas, including the Minnesota River Valley. He saw a tornado like move of God coming down upon His people.

The question is, ‘Are we ready? Are we prepared for revival?’

PREPARING FOR REVIVAL

In the last Langstaff Letter, I wrote about the importance of preparation. How, so often in our lives, to quote Bear Bryant, ‘It is not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.’ I talked about the first and most important preparation for revival – prayer, often accompanied by fasting.

Now, let us look at other ways we can prepare.

DISCOVERING THE WORD OF GOD ANEW

This is the five hundred year anniversary of the Reformation that began with Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. With this came the rediscovery of the Word of God and in particular the doctrine of ‘justification by faith.’

At the Minneapolis Institute of Art this month, there has been a special exhibit relating to Luther and the Reformation, with items on loan from many museums. Over one hundred thousand people have seen the exhibit.

The Reformation came out of a rediscovery of the Word of God particularly the book of Romans. Chuck Swindoll makes this comment, ”More than any other book of the Bible, Romans has been the instrument God has used to save the souls and shape the minds of Christianity’s towering giants – Individuals such as Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Wesley.” It was the Word of God that brought lasting revival and reformation to the church.

We are living in a day and age where people are no longer reading, let alone studying the Word of God and consequently we have become Biblically illiterate.

There is a great need today in the church for believers to get back into the Word of God and get the Word of God back into them.

HUNGER AND THIRST FOR MORE OF GOD

Dr. David Jeremiah, well known Bible teacher writes this, “When reports of the 1857 American revival reached overseas, the Presbyterian Synod of Ireland sent two men to investigate. They returned with stories that created great hunger for revival among the Irish. In answer to that hunger, a revival broke out and 1859 became known as “God’s Year of Grace” across the Irish nation.

“One after another were gloriously saved in homes and in schoolhouses. People opened the windows so that those outside and around the buildings could hear the prayer and praise inside. Careless sinners broke down and wept like children. Drunkards were awed into solemn silence. Often people did not go to bed for two or three nights. Passersby heard people crying aloud for mercy inside their houses, calling out to God in prayer, or singing hymns and songs. Business almost came to a standstill… Prayer meetings in private homes were held at all hours of the day and night… The faces of the new converts beamed with such joy that the newly saved were easily identified.”

As he goes on to say, “Oh, that God would send such a revival to our lands today! Let’s make this our daily prayer: “Lord, revive us again!” May that be our constant prayer. “Lord, revive us again!”

ARE WE PREPARED FOR REVIVAL?

Back in the late summer, a lady in our church shared a dream she had. Dreams are one of the ways God can and does reveal His plans and purposes to us. “I dreamed I was at Church on the Hill, sitting at a table with people eating and visiting. When suddenly the doors to the church swung open, and many people walked in. I was surprised and confused. While watching them come in, a man came over to me and said, ‘I am hungry. Can I eat your food?’ I was not happy with this request, and even more confused. Then I heard the Lord say, ‘This is what you have been waiting for.’ My immediate understanding was this is the ‘explosion of people to come.’ I said, ‘Oh.’ Then the Lord continued and said, ‘Are you ready?’ I answered, ‘No.’ At that point, I woke up with a realization of God’s presence. Knowing that it wasn’t food the man was hungry for, but the knowledge of Jesus, and I felt I was unprepared for this to happen. To me, it was like a wake-up call to get ready to receive these people into our body.”

The ultimate end of revival is to reach the world for Jesus. But are we ready? A friend of mine shared that the church exists for the people who are not there yet. Are we ready?

PRIMED FOR REVIVAL

Some thirty years ago, we lived on a property in Cambridge, Minnesota. My daughter had a horse and one of her tasks each day was to feed and water him (along with the goat that kept him company). There was a well next to the barn. Before you could pump the water out by hand, you had to prime the pump. On cold, winter mornings, she would take a flask of hot water to prime the pump, causing the water to flow freely.

We need to be primed for revival. As David Jeremiah stated, “If you are in need of revival, prime the revival pump by humbling yourself before God and asking Him to revive your heart and soul.”

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in You.”  – Psalm 85:6