Heading into the Easter season, I am often reminded of new beginnings. This year I’m thinking about revival. The word revive means to bring back to life. In context, revival means renewal or reawakening.
Revival is meant to bring spirituality back to our life, our church, and our community. For the believer, revival is meant to bring renewed spiritual awareness. It is a spiritual reawakening with renewed love for God, His word, and His church. Revival invigorates our faith. It is a fresh start. It is a new beginning.
Spiritual revival of church members revitalizes the local church. Therefore, revival is also a time to bring spiritual awakening to the community. Ideally, revival would flow from individual church members to the church congregation, and then into our local, national, and global communities.
The evidence of revival is changed lives.
Psalm 85:6 – “Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?”
The need for revival is evident. The world gone haywire – it needs revival. The church has grown indifferent – it needs revival. Each of us has grown spiritually tired – we need revival.
What does God’s Word say?
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7
John’s Revelation is addressed to the seven churches in Asia Minor, which are known as the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. We must note that these are seven actual/historical churches; nevertheless, each represents a type of church that will exist throughout this age.
What Jesus says to these seven churches is relevant to the contemporary global church. It is relevant to the local church. It is relevant to our church here in Pie Town.
Verse 1: To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches of the Apocalypse (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea), and the seven stars are the seven angels - or - messengers of the seven churches (Rev 1:20). He that holds the seven stars among the seven lampstands is Jesus Christ (Rev 1:18).
Verse 2: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
“I know your works,” is a phrase that is found in each letter to each individual church. We should recognize this statement coming from the all-knowing and every-present judge. Jesus knows every detail of the church. He knows every detail of every church member.
Jesus praises the Ephesian church for its spiritual discernment. He notes that they recognized evil and deceit in those that falsely claimed spiritual leadership.
Verse 3: and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
Jesus praises the church for working hard and persevering through hardship. He praises them for remaining faithful. The Ephesians were driven by the right motives – Christ’s name and reputation.
Verse 4: Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
In the first three verses, Jesus acknowledges the accomplishments of the church. Now, however, he points out what they are doing wrong. He tells them, “you have left your first love.” The term “your first love” should be recognized as meaning the “most important” love.
What does that mean?
Matthew 22:37 – ”Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
Here’s the problem.
The Ephesian’s passion for Christ was growing cold and their worship was becoming mechanical. Yes, they had stayed true to doctrine. Yes, they had maintained moral purity. Yes, they had remained true to disciplined service. Nonetheless, these good things do not make up for the love of Christ they are slowly forsaking.
Verse 5: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Under a threat of judgment, the church is to repent and return to their first love. This is a call to be convicted of wrongdoing. This is a call to repent. This is a call to revival. This is a call for spiritual reawakening from a state of stagnation. This is a call for the church to rekindle its love for God and for His Word.
Verse 6: But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Nicolaitans were heretics that plagued some of the seven churches. Jesus commends the Ephesians for standing strong against these heretics. He commends the Ephesians for keeping the heretics out of their ranks.
Verse 7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
“He who has an ear, let him hear” fundamentally means that we need to pay attention. In particular, we need to pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Christians are overcomers. Effective Christians overcome the world and its evil influence. As overcomers, we need to keep moving forward in our Christian walk - not falling back and not growing stagnant.
The ultimate level of revival, of course, is salvation. Jesus has overcome the world and we abide in Jesus; therefore, we too are overcomers. We “will” eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
Here’s the main point.
The church can be doing well. In fact, it can be exceeding in many areas while at the same time its “spiritual vitality” is diminishing. Periodically, we need to intentionally refresh that spiritual vitality that brought us together in the first place.
Revival is part of God’s divine plan.
How do we apply this lesson to our church? Well, we are a strong church. We are a dedicated church. We are like the church in Ephesus. Even though we are doing well in so many different areas – we need revival.
The last few years have been long and hard, but we have endured. We are learning, we are growing, we are succeeding, and we are overcoming.
Nevertheless, whether we realize it or not, this has all been a drain on our individual spirituality. Each of us needs to recharge our spiritual batteries. Each one of us needs to restore our first love and passion for Christ. Each one of us needs personal revival. Then we can bring revival into our church and into our community.
What is the next step?
Psalm 80:18 – “Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.”
There is rarely a week that goes by that we do not pray for revival in our church, our nation, and our world. The need is great, and we recognize that it will require supernatural intervention from God to turn things around; nevertheless, God wants us to do our part.
Psalm 119:88 - “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.”
We plan to host an Old Time Revival this year. In the meantime, we need to work on our personal revival. How? Well, it starts with prayer. Andrew Murray says, “The coming revival must begin with a great revival of prayer.” Prayer opens communication with God so that He can work in us and through us. Each one of us needs to pray individually and corporately for revival in our personal life, church, community, and the world.
Next, we need to commit to Bible study on a personal level and on a small group level. Bible study provides the best spiritual nourishment for learning and growing.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We also need to commit to corporate worship, which are essential to the spiritual health of the individual Christian. God did not intend for us to have a solitary Christian walk. The metaphors in the Bible that describe believers are all plural, such as “a body” and a “holy nation.” Besides, if we want to reach out to the community, then we must demonstrate that we not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.
We look around the world and we see the need is great. We want to bring revival into the world. The Scriptures show that revival is part of God’s overarching plan. We need to be spiritually charged up before we can bring revival to our community. We need to rekindle our first love so that we can share it with the world.
God desires revival and it starts with us.
Comments