Revival Fire: The Reviving Power of God’s Word
Psalm 119:25
My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word.
I hope this past week you accepted the challenge from last week’s blog, “drawn your circle around yourself,” and prayed with me for revival. Prayer and revival are inextricably linked together. So, too, is the Word of God.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible; it contains 176 verses. The focus of Psalm 119 is the Word of God. In fact, there is a reference to God’s Word in nearly every verse of this Psalm. Some of the terms that refer to the Word of God are law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, and judgements. It is evident that the Word of God is the theme of Psalm 119.
But there is another important word that is repeated in this Psalm.
Several verses in Psalm 119 also use the word “revive.” Revival and the Word of God are clearly tied together. Consider a few of these verses.
Psalm 119:37 - “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways.”
Psalm 119:40 - “Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me through Your righteousness.”
Psalm 119:88 - “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of your mouth.”
Psalm 119:154 - “Plead my cause and redeem me; review me according to Your word.”
As you can see the Word of God and revival are linked together. You will find the same thing in verses 107, 149, 156, and 159. So what should our response be?
Read the Word of God
If you truly desire a deep work of the Holy Spirit of God, begin reading, studying, meditating upon, memorizing, and obeying the Word of God. We will not see revival without learning and living out the truths of God’s Word. Consider Psalm 119:107, “I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.”
Return to the Word of God
Historically, when our country experiences revival, Bible sales skyrocket! When God’s Spirit moves uniquely, people become hungry for God’s Word, and as a result, chains of bondage are broken, rebellion is shaken, pride is driven out, confession becomes the norm and the Word of God is held in high esteem.
In the mid-1970’s in Memphis, Tennessee, Broadway Baptist Church called a new pastor, Dr. Bobby Moore. When Bro. Bobby, as people called him, came to serve as the pastor of the church, something unique occurred. I believe it was a true, genuine, authentic revival.
Bro. Bobby had a wonderful way of preaching and teaching God’s Word with the power of the Holy Spirit. It was fresh and alive. Truthfully, many people testify that they had just never heard the Bible preached that way. And Broadway Baptist exploded. This revival even had residual effects; other churches in the area were impacted, and the commitment to God’s Word was renewed. The truth of God’s Word had a lasting impact in the hearts and lives of the people.
There are many things I could tell you about that revival, and perhaps in future blogs, I will share more. But for today, what I hope you will hear is that God’s Word impacted that revival and spread as a result.
Why is this the case? As one pastor has said, “When you read the Word of God, it changes you because it reads you.” Last week I asked you to begin praying for revival. I know some of you are doing just that. Thank you and keep praying.
This week, I have another challenge for you. Find time everyday to read God’s Word. Psalm 119 is a great place to start. Just read a few verses each day, and begin to believe and obey what God is saying. Would you commit to this discipline, even if your schedule becomes busy or others don’t follow?
If so, I suspect that you will begin to experience revival in your heart, and maybe God will send a revival to our families, churches and our country!