Revival!

 

I grew up in the 60's. Yes, I am old. I am not as old as some, but certainly a lot older than MANY. But, I remember the TENT REVIVALS of the days gone by. And for some reason the word REVIVAL has been on my mind lately. I remember those days and particularly a tent that was set up right outside my grandma and grandpa Rhoades' house in Anderson, IN. I remember the great music, the powerful preaching, and even though I was young, I remember the sense that people's lives were changed. 

I have been praying for REVIVAL. I am not sure what it will look like, when, where, and how it will come about, but I am praying for it. It might not even be connected with South Memorial. But, it might! It might not even be in this community, but it might. I haven't been praying for a specific event to happen, a one time occurrence, or something else really tangible. But, none the less, I am praying for REVIVAL. We will let God take care of the details. 

The word REVIVAL popped into my head again this morning as I was reading Isaiah. Oh, how badly Israel needed a revival that would turn their hardened hearts back to God. 

"Then I said, 'Lord, how long will this go one?' And he replied, 'Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland; until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel is deserted. It even a tenth - a remnant - survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel's stump will be a holy seed.'" (Isaiah 6:11-13, NLT)

This passage of scripture seems as hopeless as our world. The ugliness and the hardness of the hearts of people in the twenty-first century is gut-wrenching. Sometimes I feel like we are being overwhelmed by a tidal wave of evil. It is so easy to lose hope. It is so easy to throw up your hands and ask the Lord to bring the world to its end. How much more can we take. 

But, there is hope in Israel's stump, the holy seed, JESUS CHRIST. And even though the darkness is all around us, there is always hope in Jesus. We are not trying to PREACH TO THE MASSES. We are trying to reach that remnant. There are still people out there open to the power of JESUS CHRIST. All through scripture we are told of this remnant and we are seeking REVIVAL for those who will be a part of that small group of people who will be adopted into the family. 

Heavenly Father, I come to you today seeking REVIVAL in our land, REVIVAL in our community, REVIVAL within our church, and REVIVAL within our hearts. Lord, help us to look to the individual, the remnant and do our part to promote the revival starting with ONE PERSON. That is how revival begins. Help the spark of REVIVAL start within ME that my light, my spark, my love, might spread to others like a wildfire! Please Lord bring REVIVAL IN ME! Amen!