"The First Step Towards Revival"

The First Step Towards Revival

[8] And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. [9] And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.” [10] Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

[11] When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. [12] And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, [13] “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (II Kings 22:8-13, ESV)

            The biblical and historical example is that revival will not occur without the Word of God.  Unless the Word of God is read, preached, submitted to, and obeyed, God will not cause a revival in a believer, a minister, a church, a denomination, a nation, and so forth.  That is not to say that the Word of God is a magic talisman that activates God the Holy Spirit to work among the elect – no.  The point is that the Word of God is of foremost necessity in God’s choice to revive, as He is pleased and providentially moved.

            In the days of Josiah, the Word of God – the book of the Law – had gotten lost!  Can we imagine entering a church and no one knowing where a Bible could be found?  But when the Word of God was found, Josiah the king tore his robes and repented and had the Word read to the people, God was prayed to, and revival began in the nation.

            Many churches are helmed by a psychologist, a social worker, or an activist – and there is nothing necessarily wrong with any of those things.  But God calls Bible-believing, Bible-saturated men to preach His Word, not his opinion or the winds of time, and to exhibit obedience to the Word.  (Which we all fail in.)

            If we want revival in our churches and in ourselves, the first step is to read and know the Bible (or listen to an audio version of the Bible), to sit under preaching of the Bible – just the Bible, then submitting to it and obeying it.  (Application will come from the preaching and study for those who are feeling worried…)

            And then pray God will be pleased to revive us.  Pray that God will be pleased to revive us.  Pray that God will revive His Church that we would live to His Glory.