RA Torrey gave this infallible prescription for revival.
“First: Let a few Christians get thoroughly right with God. If this is not done, the rest will come to nothing.
Second: Let them bind themselves together to pray for revival until God opens the windows of heaven and comes down.
Third: Let them put themselves at the disposal of God for His use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ.”
An old hymn begins,
“Awake O Lord as in the time of old! Come down O Spirit in Thy power and might!” Its fourth verse reminds us of the kinds of things that begin to happen when God sends His Holy Spirit on believers and churches.
Make us to be what we profess to be;
Let prayer be prayer and praise be heartfelt praise;
From unreality, Lord set us free,
And let our words be echoed in our ways.
When revival comes, all of a sudden, not through human effort but through the mighty hand of God, Christians become the kind of people we claim to be and want to be. Believers begin to trust God and experience His presence in new and deeper ways.
“Let prayer be prayer,” not just routine words into empty space but real two-way communication with our Loving Heavenly Father. “Let praise be heartfelt praise,” a genuine overflowing desire to praise and give thanks and express our adoration and worship to God because He is so marvellous and because He has given us so many wonderful blessings through Jesus Christ His Son.
The starting point for all these blessings is hungering and thirsting for God. We can become satisfied with our religious habits. So we all need to pray “From unreality, Lord set us free!”
Then the apostle Paul says, “Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1) In our Evening Services and in our Home Groups we have been learning about “Hearing God speak to us.” We need to learn to recognise the still small voice of the Holy Spirit as He strengthens, encourages and guides us to do the works the Father has prepared beforehand for us to do (Ephesians 2:9-10).
Lord take us beyond superficiality in worship and prayer and love and community to a deeper relationship with Yourself! Lord bring revival, and let it begin with me!
