Wilt Thou Not Revive Us Again?

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalms 85:6)

There is a great need for revival in our land today. We have heard about past revivals, but have not experienced what we have heard about. We say we want revival, but what are we doing to prepare for it? The kind of revival needed in our nation is a spiritual awakening. We need a genuine, God breathed revival in our church and across our land. We are so involved in every day life that we have allowed the things of God to become a duty rather than devotion.

The first litter of puppies we had any experience with was a little unusual. The first puppy was lodged, so I took our dog to the vet. The puppy was breeched and upside down. The vet said being breeched was nothing to be concerned about, but upside down was not good. He began to try to free the puppy, saying it might be dead. After some difficulty she came out, but was motionless and not breathing. The vet began to do all the things it takes to get a puppy to breath, it seemed to be of no avail. Now, while inside the womb she had been living and growing, in fact, she was the largest of the four at birth. But now she was lifeless. After what seemed to be a few seconds the vet said that she was dead. At about the same time he said dead, she coughed.
That’s one kind of revival.

I would like to see a spiritual revival in my life. I would like to see a spiritual revival in our church. I would like to see a spiritual revival in our nation.

I. REVIVAL COMES FROM GOD.

1. “Wilt thou not revive us again:”?
2. Revival comes from without to within.
3. I have told you time and again that the preacher cannot bring a revival in his briefcase, nor can he bring it in his computer, IT COMES FROM GOD.
4. God can do for you and me spiritually what happened with the puppy physically.
5. If we are to have revival God must give it.

II. SOMETIMES THE NEED OF REVIVAL COMES FROM BEING UNDER GOD’S JUDGMENT.

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. (Psalms 85:5-7)

1. When Israel sinned against God, it brought God’s anger and judgment.
   

   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. (Habakkuk 3:2)

2. Our nation has turned its back on God.
3. The need of revival reveals there is a certain amount of time that must elapse before God will remove the judgment.
   

   Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:1-2)

III. SOMETIMES THE NEED OF REVIVAL COMES FROM BEING INDIFFERENT TO GOD.

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalms 85:4, 6)

1. Before revival comes, there must be concern on our part.

2. God is a great God and deserves our best, our all.

IV. SOMETIMES THE NEED OF REVIVAL COMES FROM DISAPPOINTMENT.

1. Habakkuk prayed, “O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work..”
2. God moved in his heart to seek revival.
3. When God moves in our heart to seek revival, we can be sure He is ready to send it.
4. The question is, do we want revival?
5. To have revival, we must meet God’s standards.
   

   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 revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)

   Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

6. There is no room for pride and there is no room for self.
7. O God, will you please revive us again?