Revival

Although not as often as in days past, I still see ads for church revivals. What interests me about the ads is the notion expressed: "We are having a revival, come hear Brother So and So."  Revival is advertised as if it were something we can plan and then put on like a production of our own making.  

Nothing could be further from the truth. Revival is something that God does to those he chooses in the time and manner he decides. We, don't have the power to revive ourselves or the authority to decide when or what it will look like. We don't even have the power to decide if we will be revived. 

To decide and plan on revival would be like a Code Blue patient planning and organizing a resuscitation effort.  We would have had Lazurus sending for Jesus to come by his tomb and raise him up from the dead. Revival, resuscitation or resurrection are done to us, not by us. 

And, when The Lord chooses to revive someone, He doesn't invite, he directs. Jesus didn't ask, "Lazurus, would mind coming out of the tomb?"  Instead, he directed, "Lazurus, come out!" (John 11:43).  A surgeon, whose patient has just coded on the table, doesn't ask permission to use the fibulators, he grabs the paddles. 

We can and should pray for revival. But if God chooses, it will break out when and where and how and on whom He directs. As the Psalmist proclaimed, "Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb" (Psa 110:3).

We need not waste time, energy or resources putting up billboards, sending out invitations or preparing facilities. Instead, let us lift up our hearts and our prayers to the Father above to cause revival to break out, ready to go where he sends and do what he bids.  We won't need to invite anyone, God will direct them. Jus' Sayn.