Prelude to Revival

 The burden is heavy. Deep seeded. A weight carried night and day. One that drives me to the prayer room. One that just compelled me to go into the sanctuary to pray some more. A yearning greater than I can put into words. To want to see the power and presence of God poured out in this church, the churches of this town, and through this community. 

Revival does not come without a cost. I'm not talking about a revival meeting where a church sets aside a few days with a guest preacher. The revival I yearn to see is much deeper. It is not scheduled. God sends it when He chooses. It could last weeks, months, and in some cases even years. A prelude to revival will always be a praying people. Prayer meetings are nearly extinct in so many places. We began Sunday night prayer meetings here a few months ago. I did not expect God would send revival right away. I know the soil of this church and community must be plowed through prayer for months or maybe years before such a move of God comes. 

There are many factors that contribute to revival. Yes, prayer must precede revival. There also has to be repentance. The people of God must be cleansed of sin. Repentance is not high on the priorities of many churches these days. It does not tickle the ears of this entertainment driven church age. The message of repentance will thin the crowds attending. Repentance has never been a popular message and never will be for that matter. It is needed. The people of God must turn from their wicked ways if they ever hope to see a real move of God. Another factor necessary for revival, is the people must hunger for God and His move among them. A hunger than transcends all other desires. A hunger that compel people to fast and pray. 

You could travel far and wide not finding churches where the people really pray, take repentance seriously, and really hunger for God to move powerfully. I think the results are self evidence. I was recently in a meeting with church consultants where they stated 90% of churches are plateaued or declining in attendance. This is a sure sign that God is not moving powerfully in the majority of congregations. I think people are content for it to be this way. Churches do not seem desperate enough to really have earnest corporate prayer meetings. When is the last time you heard of a church having a service devoted exclusively to repentance? Is repentance needed in the church today? Sure it is. When it comes to hunger, I say there are as many churches filled with people who hunger to see their children or grandchildren succeed in sports as they do to see God work powerfully in their lives, congregations, or communities. 

As long as those trends continue, there will not be great moves of God among us. I cannot accept that for the rest of my life. I know there is more. Much more. I have experienced it and I carry the burden to experience it again. Revival does not come just by wishing for it or reading a book about it. When the people of God get serious about meeting the requirements as stated in II Chronicles 7:14, God will get serious about working in transformational ways. 

There is always a prelude to revival. I'm on the front end of that here in Fritch, TX. Fritch, TX made the national news a couple of years ago with wild fires that destroyed over 200 homes. I pray for the day this community will make the national news again for the spiritual fire of God spreading through the churches here and through the whole Panhandle region. Prayer, repentance, and hunger must perseveringly come first.