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Revival ‘05 at His House

Where does “revival” start in a church? Much has been written on this subject and hopefully more will be discussed about it in the future. Most of the literature I have read says as its bottom line, “It begins with me.”

Last night for our regular Wednesday night Bible study, we were studying Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter has been called “The Roll Call of the Heroes of Faith.” If you ever are down and want a revival lift, read this whole chapter. The word “faith” is mentioned at least 24 times.

In Hebrews 11:39 we get a definition of what faith really is. It states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then in the end of the chapter in verse 12 we read, “These all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.” There is no “prosperity gospel” here, just faith.

It goes further in verses 33-39 to say, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

At our church Wednesday night, Dee and I had looked up seven scriptures all in relation to the word “revival.” The word has seven letters, and the number seven can represent “completion and power.” These seven letters in the word “revival" were placed in an acrostic with a scripture for each letter at the altar in numbered succession. Our people were asked to take their Bibles and read one of these seven scriptures and then walk around the inside of the church reading that scripture and praying for personal revival, and for our revival scheduled for Sept. 18-21. It was very moving, to say the least.

We know that the Jericho walls cam tumbling down after Joshua and the Israelites marched around it seven times. Interestingly enough, they had to do it silently. Can you imagine the murmuring and very vocal Israelites being quite that long? Can you imagine the “We The People” all with our opinions, keeping silent that long? Can you imagine our politicians keeping their “partisanship personalities” quiet that long? I think God was reminding them that they should listen to God’s voice, not their own. (There is a message in there for us somewhere also.)

It is good to periodically get out of our comfort zones and (need I say) ruts to bring us back to the realities of the faith. Come revival; come Lord Jesus!

(The church’s Web site is under construction and will be up and running shortly.)