~ A restoration to use, acceptance, and activity after a period of obscurity; A reawakening of interest in serving the Living God ~
We read in Acts 2:1, "When the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
Revival can only come when a person is ready and willing to be to changed or be revived, when they realize that they are going in the wrong direction and when they have become sick and tired of that state that they are in.
In Genesis 35:2 we read, "Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:"
To have Revival there is something that the individual needs to do; they need to make proper preparations that will show their intent to be changed. Change in and of itself is difficult at best therefore, there needs to be a determining intent of the one desiring Revival.
When an Addict or a Drunk realizes that they have a problem they have made the first step towards achieving recovery.
The Prophet Joel in Joel 2:28-29 wrote, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: *And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
There is a way whereby Revival is made more achievable and that way is in, through and by the Power of the Holy Ghost ~
Another thing that is good for Revival is to change bad habits for good ones like: start reading the Bible on at least a daily basis, not just select passages, but start at the beginning and read the whole Book and also pick a Biblical Topic and thoroughly study that subject.
We read in Habakkuk 3:2, "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."
We have already mentioned that the Holy Ghost is the One that brings Revival but God “YHWH” is the One that must have Mercy on the Souls of mankind then, He sends the Holy Spirit to do the work that is essential to bring about Revival.
The Holy Ghost Instructs in All Truth and Righteousness, Empowers / Strengthens, Leads, Guides and Directs the Spirit, Soul and Body of the Saints / Believers.
An effective Prescription for Revival:
This Prescription is the Testimony of one Effective Evangelist.
First, let a few Born Again Believers “Saints” (they need not be many) Get Thoroughly Right With God “YHWH” themselves. This is the Prime Essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing.
Second, let them “the Saints” bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for Revival until God Opens the Windows of Heavens and Comes Down with Great Power and His Glory fills the place where they are.
Third, let them “the Saints” put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all!
This is sure to bring Revival to any Body of Believers “Saints” or Community.
In no instance where this Prescription has been used has it ever failed to produce Revival ~
The Prophet Samuel in 1st Samuel 7:3 wrote, "And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, (“Ashtaroth is the goddess of sexuality”) and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
The devil implemented his plan for the destruction of mankind a long time ago. His intent has always been to get the mind of the Soul to doubt God “YHWH,” to get them to turn away from following the Commandments or Will of God and get their minds on themselves; on looks good, feels good, smells good, taste good.
Therefore, in order for a Soul to have or experience True Revival they MUST turn away from self and turn back to God ~
In Acts 4:31 we read, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
The Revival of the Holy Ghost in the life of the Believer / Saint is the Power to bring about a willingness to change thus, True Revival will happen.
If you don’t have the Gift of the Holy Ghost or you’re not sure if you have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. You should study the Scriptures in the Bible, Holy Written Word of God “YHWH” and earnestly pray and seek the In-filling of the Holy Ghost.
The Baptism and In-filling of the Holy Ghost was so important that Jesus instructed His Disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received it.
Need I remind you that these men walked with Jesus during His entire Ministry and they had already received Authority and Power from Jesus during their time with Him? Yet, He told them to wait for it, the Holy Ghost.
Jesus told the Apostle Peter that once he was Converted to strengthen the Brethren. St. Luke 22:32. The only thing that I change in Peter that I have been able to find in the Holy Scriptures is that he received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
My, my what a change, from being somewhat of a coward, when challenged about being a Follower of Jesus, to Great Boldness to Preach the Word of God even to severe punishment, imprisonment and death. What a change; a change from glory to Glory. Praise the Name of the Lord!
In Isaiah 57:15, the Prophet Isaiah wrote, "For thus saith the High and Lofty One that Inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy; I Dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, *(“To be Contrite is to be repentant of sin”) *to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones “Saints.”
Do you really want to have Revival? If you do then, humble yourself before the Lord and ask God “YHWH” for Christ sake to forgive you of All unrighteousness and Covenant with Him to Read and Observe His Holy Written Word the Bible.
Begin to Praise the Lord for that which He is about to do. And you don’t have a clue what it will be but know this, EVERY Good and Perfect Gift cometh down from the Father of Lights. Look for and expect to be Richly Blessed.
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org