The High Price of No Revival
A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures to a perfect original condition.
By His sovereign grace, God can bring, through the power of revival, a restoration to original condition the hearts and faith of the church.
J. Stuart Holden tells of an old Scottish mansion close to where he had his little summer home. The walls of one room were filled with sketches made by distinguished artists. The practice began after a pitcher of soda water was accidentally spilled on a freshly decorated wall and left an unsightly stain. At the time, a noted artist, Lord Landseer, was a guest in the house. One day when the family went out to the moors, he stayed behind. With a few masterful strokes of a piece of charcoal, that ugly spot became the outline of a beautiful waterfall, bordered by trees and wildlife. He turned that disfigured wall into one of his most successful depictions of Highland life.
Biblical revival is bringing back to life that which has been dulled by decline, to invigorate faith by restoring joy, to revitalize hope by renewing clarity of vision and perspective. The Apostle Peter spoke of it in:
2 Peter 1:12-13
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
Peter unapologetically reminded them that, as long as he was “in this tabernacle” (body) he would be constantly stirring them up … by reminding them of the things that had been delivered to them by the mouths of the Apostles. Peter wanted them to be assured of the foundational elements of their walk with God before his departure from this world as a martyr. He wanted them to know assuredly that he and James and John had seen Jesus transfigured, they had heard the voice of God declaring Jesus as the True Messiah and Savior and watched as Moses and Elijah met with him in great splendor. Peter was concerned that after his departure that the reality of this true story and true gospel and true doctrine would begin to be dulled by detractors. That is why he reminded them, stirred them, and brought a renewal of the reality of what they possessed.
2 Peter 1:18-19
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
The Apostle who held the keys to the Kingdom knew that yesterday’s revelation had to become today’s revelation. Yesterday’s experience must be compounded by today’s experience if we are to stand the test of time.
… Peter again in
2 Peter 3:1-2
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
To the apostle Peter, “The High Price of not Having a Revival” was more than not having a church of 1,000, or a 100 member choir, or a new sanctuary. More than just not having the promises of God or reaching their potential, Peter reminded them that after his departure there would come those who would chip away at their firm convictions with questionings, and theories, and debatings.
Where is the promise of His return?
How can you be so sure of things that you haven’t even seen?
Peter closed his final epistle reiterating why he wanted to stir them up.
Why he wanted them to have a renewing that only comes through Apostolic revival. Why he wasn’t satisfied with them having just a head knowledge.
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
It was with similar desire the Apostle Paul preached a message of revival to his young son in the Lord Timothy …
2 Tim 1:6-14
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
Where there is no revival …
Faith falters, fear gains, fires grow cold, and questions erode what was once firm resolve. Believers become questioners, relationship becomes religiosity, burning conviction becomes unbearable rules and the cross becomes too weighty.
Where there is no revival …
Community becomes conflict, thanksgiving becomes complaint, self-denial become selfishness, confidence becomes questioning and burden becomes disinterested. Ladies and gentlemen the price of not having revival is unacceptable.
Where there is no revival …
We stop seeing with Jesus eyes, stop pursuing God, stop praying, stop giving, stop committing, stop surrendering, stop believing, stop hoping, stop reaching, stop praising …
Where there is no revival …
The conviction that once took you to the inner chambers with God is blown off as immaturity or fanaticism.
I don’t know about anybody in this building but I am not willing to pay such a high price for no revival.
But where there is revival, there is the renewal of passion and purpose! Faith prevails and fear is vanquished!
Where there is revival we reinvision, refocus, and reinstate what has been discarded. We realize that we have carelessly cast away the most precious things.
Conclusion
Revival causes us to be about spiritual things like Craig Randall was in the natural. Craig Randall drives a garbage truck in Peabody, Mass. He looked into a garbage container and spotted a Wendy’s cup that someone had thrown away. The cup had a game piece on it that the person who threw the cup away had failed to peel off. The week before he had won a chicken sandwich so Randall checked hoping to find another winner. And a winner it was … a prize of $200,000 toward the construction of a new home. We are a product of revival!
