A Love Invasion

“Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.”

Song of Songs 1:4

I am believing God for revival? Yes, loved one, if I am convinced of anything in my own spiritual journey it is the need for revival both in my own heart and life as well as in the life of the church, and not just the one where I am privileged to serve as a pastor. We need revival throughout the land!

What exactly is “revival” one might ask? Stephen Olford says, “Revival is an invasion from heaven that brings a conscious awareness of God.”  I love the mental image of an invasion from heaven bringing revival. Vance Havner once said that, “Revival is the church falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Oh, that you and I might fall in love with Jesus all over again today! We can because His mercies are new every morning!

Some will say we are past the era of revivals and see little use for them in society today. The story is told of a lady who asked the great evangelist Billy Sunday, “Why do you keep having revivals?” Billy Sunday responded to her question with a question, “Why do you keep taking baths?” I would have liked to see the expression on her face. The answer is clear, we need revival!

Psalm 85 is a prayer to God asking for revival. We learn in this psalm how to prepare ourselves and be ready for when revival comes. The question that begs to be asked today is do you recognize the need for revival in your life? My prayer is that each of us could say yes! Read Psalm 85 and see if you can pick out the way to prepare your own heart for revival.

Psalm 85

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. LORD, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.”

Here are some things to consider in preparing our hearts for revival that we find as we read through Psalm 85.

1. We must recognize the need revival. Verse 6 tells us, “Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” There will never be any revival until we are willing to admit our desperate need for it.

2. We must believe revival is possible. Are we convinced that revival is possible? The psalmist was! Six times in verses 1-3 he reminded God of what He had done, – “You showed, You restored“. And the fact that God has sent revival in the past demonstrates the possibility of revival coming again.

Verses 1-3: “1. Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; 2. You have covered all their sin. Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.”

3. We must recognize the source of revival. God Himself is the source of revival. Verse 7 says, “Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.” Every good gift comes from above. We can’t revive ourselves, only God can.

4. We must believe in the means of revival. Prayer, crying out and asking God to do what only He can do. 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, “if My people who are called by My name will 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”

5. We must understand the obstacles of revival. Verse 8: “I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.” You and I are the obstacle of revival. We often times resist and reject the desire of God for our lives. Many years ago D. L. Moody heard Henry Varley say, “The world has yet to see what God will do with one man who is fully surrendered to Him.” Moody responded to that challenge by declaring, “By God’s grace, I’ll be that man”.

The only thing preventing revival from coming to this land is me and you! Revival starts with me and you, right here right now. Amos 3:3 makes it clear, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Agree with God today, loved one, set your heart to seek and pray for revival. Don’t stop praying for it or seeking it until you receive it.

6. We must receive the gifts of revival. You will know when revival has come to your life as you will be changed and the world around you will be changed too. What was dead is now alive, what was cold is now hot with passion again. Oh to be revived! Notice the gifts that come with revival. Salvation and glory, unity and abundance, provision and a clear direction as well as a future and a hope. Oh that we would experience a “Love Invasion” from heaven today! Make it your aim today, loved one, fall in love with Jesus all over again by allowing Him to draw you away.

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Jeremiah 31:3

I LOVE YOU!