God Will Give You Faith For Revival

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
13When I shut up the heavens …14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

When we hear “Revival,” maybe you start thinking of special speakers and meetings for spiritual renewal.  But “Revival” is not encapsulated in some meetings alone. Rather it seems to begin and find its proving in the hearts of believers who are unafraid to invite the fire of God to burn, leaving nothing between the Holiness of God’s presence and themselves.  In this atmosphere the heart is uterly transformed.  Once you have walked through a personal revival you’ll never settle for anything less.  The Holy Spirit revived mind is changed.  Life is no longer something that leaves us to roll with the punches.  Rather, we become a people of the Spirit who happen to the world around us.  The Jesus in us cannot help but overflow to all that is around us.  When the Holy Spirit is given free reign:
Our thoughts are transformed. 
Our actions are transformed. 
Our vision and hearing is transformed.  
Our habits are transformed.  
Our passions and desires are transformed. 
We walk holy!
We act holy!
We talk holy!
We live holy!
We are all about gazing upon the holiness of God and the splendor of His majesty.

Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

We don’t throw things into the fire just to get them back.  No, typically we throw things into the flames because we don’t want those things taking up space in our lives.  Add to that that the energy produced from fuel being consumed gives us power for living!  Sometimes a good fire is the difference between life and death.  Friends if you are picking up what I am laying down, don’t run from the fire of the Holy Spirit…no, let's seek it out!  Do you have faith for that?  Do you have faith that will invite the Holy Spirit first?  We are far too consumed with needing to “know” first and far too disinterested with obedience to the presence of God and hunger for more of Jesus and for Jesus to have more of us.  

Our theme scripture at the beginning is from the dedication of Soloman’s Temple unto the Lord.  It is God’s reply to the wise king’s prayer of dedication.  A few verses before this we read:

2 Chronicles 7:12 ESV
12Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 

Friends if you are Christ-follower be confident of this: Your life and my life; when we are in Christ, we become the place of sacrifice chosen by God.  We become His temples of flesh, His dwelling places.  We are the places of committed worship and prayer…This is why God draws near to the prayers of people who are consumed with an unquenchable passion for Jesus.  

Revival Can Meet You Right Where You Are
Acts 3:19-20 ESV
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus… 

 If you are dry and weary, turn once again to God whole heartedly and He will bring streams of refreshing.  If you feel far from God, like there is just too much standing between you and Him for victory to be possible in your life; seek the all consuming fire of the Holy Spirit.  
Believe Him to wake you up!  
Believe Him to revive you!  
What would a revived you look like?  I ask again, what promises from God are we willing to go without?  Picture this. Revival is the Believer, thats you, filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  Biblical joy is the state of mind that results from delighting in the ways of the Lord!  Rejoicing is coming back around to the Joy of the Lord over and over again!  Are you getting the picture?  Let’s go!!!

Psalm 85:6 ESV
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

Prayer:
Ask the Lord to revive you.  Ask the Lord to refresh you.  Be real with Him about where you are spiritually and emotionally.  Don’t lie.  Don’t polish your mask.  Get desperate for Jeus.  If you lack desperation and hunger for more of Him then ask Him to make you desperate for more of Him.  If John the Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease (John 3:30), what makes us think anything else should be true of us?  Come on Christian, pour your heart out.  Empty out so he can fill you up!  Come Holy Spirit and revive us.  Refresh us as we turn to you.  Write it down.  Dig in to Jesus and go for it!  More Lord!
 

Written by Pastor James Haffener for Kingdom Venture- 21 Days of Fasting a Prayer