Some Results Of Revival Series

Revivals of the Bible Series: PSALMS 85: 8-13

SOME RESULTS OF REVIVAL

[Leviticus 26:3-13]

The Psalmist has just prayed, “Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” It is the cry of one who wanted God’s people to come alive to and in His grace and power. That is what revival is all about –the restoration of something to its true nature and purpose. We were all created to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever. Revival simply fulfills God’s desire for us to know Him in the fullness of His Spirit and declare His praise to the ends of the earth.

Few will question the need for such an awakening today. For many good people, even within the church, life has lost its meaning. There is no sparkle in the eye, no spring in the step. As the religious community flounders in mediocrity, the world plunges deeper into sin. Moral standards in public and private are debased. Everything is unsettled. Lawlessness abounds. All the while a cloud of nuclear and natural destruction gathers overhead.

The day of reckoning is sure to come. Degeneration has its limits. The crises must be resolved, revival must come, or the end may come quicker than we guess. Though our present distress calls for anguish, at the same time it calls for confident prayer. For we have a God that has entered into covenant relationship with us. With such a loving and faithful God the future can be bright for God’s people so that we might fulfill the purpose for our being created.

But what if the revival that we and the Psalmist pray for comes? What are some of the results? These beautiful words describe a people restored, forgiven and blessed. When God’s people return to Him the result is that revival’s blessings penetrates our land (C.I.T.).

I. PEACE AND GLORY IN THE LAND, 8-9.

II. THE PREPARED PATH OF DELIVERANCE, 10-13.

The desperate request for revival having been prayed, the prayer now listens for God’s response beginning in verse 8. “I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.

Having expressed His plea to God in the belief that God hears, the Psalmists now expresses the peoples’ willingness “to hear God” and abide by what He says. It is only natural that if we want God to hear us, we must listen to hear Him. We hear God most clearly, most faithfully in His Word, the Bible, which we listen to so that we might obey God’s precepts.

JOHN BUNYAN wrote his influential allegory Pilgrim’s Progress only after mastering the Scriptures and taking them into his heart. He often told people not to become discouraged if they couldn’t fully understand a particular Bible passage. He said, “Although you may have no commentaries at hand, continue to read the Word and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal received from man.” Too many are content to listen to what comes from men’s mouths, without searching and kneeling before God to know the real truth. That which we receive directly from the Lord through the study of His Word is from the ‘minting house’ itself. Even old truths are fresh if they come to us with the smell of Heaven upon them.” As Christians we must consult God’s wonderful love letter daily with receptive hearts that say I will hear what God the Lord will say.

The second clause gives the reason for this willingness of the repentant soul to hear; “for He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones.” The result of waiting on God is that God promises peace. Even though His voice is stern with rebuke when we disobey, when we are obedient our Father resumes His natural tone of gentleness and compassionate interest.

Speaking this peace is something only the Lord can do. Peace is not only protection from one’s enemies and productivity for the Lord (Lev. 26) but God’s Shalom is the result of everything that He will do for His people materially, physically, socially, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. Now this is not the me- centered message of health, wealth and prosperity. But it is what occurs in revival. Wherever God’s voice has been obeyed fully God’s people have experienced the peace of God that passes all understanding. This peace has both inner and outer aspects that cannot be compared to any get God in order to get rich program you can name and claim.

The promise is for the repentant people of God. He they are called “His people, His godly ones.” What a privilege it is to belong to God and to be chosen to be His special possession (Ex. 19:5-6), to be His godly ones or Saints. Like the N.T., the O.T. also calls His people Saints (or those set apart for God). This seems so distant from us but even the brethren in the messed-up church at Corinth were called Saints (1 Cor. 1:2).