“For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15 (NRS)
Think about what revival would mean to you. What would it mean to your family? What would revival do for your community? How would revival change your church? Assuming that we all need to be spiritually revived, the question is: do we truly want to be revived? God promises revival to those who have an humble spirit and a contrite heart.
Last evening in our International Assembly, Bishop Vitally Vozsnuk of the Ukraine challenged the church to awaken to revival. The following are some powerful thoughts from his sermon. “To live in the past we need much boldness. To live in the future, we need much faith.” Revival does not reside in the past. It will only come as we move into our future. “One can get imparted fire, which comes from other people, or one can get real fire, which comes from God.” I want the real revival fire, don’t you?
Bishop Vozsnuk said, “Revival will cost you a lot. It will cost you everything.” The Cross of Calvary was not a place to receive. It was a place to die. In order to have true revival we must die with Christ. We must die to self. Revival will cost us everything. “If you cannot give in the little things, you will not receive the big things.”
Like the prophet’s widow, in 2 Kings 4:3-6, who went and borrowed vessels from her neighbors, Bishop Vozsnuk said, “we should find people who are empty and begin filling them.” Revival already resides in us since our salvation. We simply need to let God work through us. Let us note from this narrative that “the oil stopped flowing when the empty vessels stopped coming.” We must “go from waiting for revival to doing something to get revival.”
Dear Father, thank you for your promises to us. Revive us again, O Lord! Revive us again! Empower us with an humble spirit and a repentant heart. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in a personal revival,