Conditions For Revival (I)

[Apost.Prophetic Cassandra Lai]

Conditions For Revival 

by J. Edwin Orr

Part (I)

          " IF My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" ~ 2 Chronicle 7:14.

          The word  "revival", in its ordinary sense, means the coming of life and renewal to something that has already possessed life.

         Let us take an example in nature. We walk into the garden during the winter season, and there we see the old oak tree-leafless. There it has stood, for several months, a sorry sight - a few withered leaves hanging on empty branches as if in self-pity. To all outward appearances  it is dead. BUT come back again with me next month and I will show you a wondrous thing - little buds of beautiful, delicate green pushing their way upwards towards the light of a springtime sun, breaking through the relics of their winter prison. Soon the tree is in the glory of its leafy splendor. It is a seasonal marvel, this renewal of spring, when all that seemed dead becomes alive before our wondering eyes. What has happened ? There has come about a revival of the old tree.

        It is the same in the spiritual realm. Revival, primarily, is the renewal of life in something that has already possessed life. It is impossible to revive something that has never been alive. But there is one important difference - the dying of the summer life of the tree is due to natural causes, and the same causes bring about the springtime awakening. Spiritual death, on the other hand, is due to the disease of sin.

         The best definition of "revival"  is the phrase : "  Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord "~ Acts 3:19.  Beginning with the understanding that a revival is an awakening among Christian people, let us study the conditions under which revival is given. The prayer of the psalmist. " Wilt Thou not revive us again ?" (Psalm 85:6), teaches us that God is the source of revival.

 

         It is easy to make the bible our textbook in this study, for it abounds in examples of revival. In the Old Testament, one of the best studies is found in the story of the revival at Mizpeh.

        The antecedents of the story recounted in the first Book of Samuel, chapter 7, are important. It is clear that a period of confusion and anarchy was brought about by the spiritual disobedience of God's people. Point by point, we may compare this state of affairs with the present day - is it not true that spiritual disobedience has caused a great decline today ?

        As a result, defeat came on every hand, and after that a period of eclipse. The Ark of the Covenant, that sacred possession of the children of Israel, was lost to their bitterest enemies - and, comparing it with today, the Ark may be considered as the symbol of the mighty presence of the Lord. And we know that we have lost such glory has departed.  

     

     
The Church must First Repent by J.Edwin Orr.

CONDITIONS FOR REVIVAL fr. Herald of His Coming