Revive Us Again
I began preaching in Alabama and Tennessee. The landscape was dotted with memorials to past revivals. The hills told dramatic stories of thousands turning to the Lord. The pastures remembered evangelistic sermons delivered by men illuminated past lanterns. Rivers diverted their flow to create pools for mass baptisms. Church buildings spoke of being congenital past the hands of those who worshipped in them.
I listened to the stories and dreamed of it happening once more!
An even more intense reaction happens when I read of the spiritual revivals that took place at Jerusalem's H2o Gate (Neh. eight), Mount Carmel's peak (1 Kings 18), Antioch's streets (Acts 11:19-26), and on Pentecost'due south morning time (Acts 2). Biblical history teems with examples of spiritual renewal.
I heed, dream, and pray, "God do information technology again!"
Pulling the revivals of the past into the present is the desire of the Sons of Korah in Psalm 85. Like us, their aureate age of spiritual life is not reported in the daily news, but in their history books. Merely they volition not give in to despair! They will not settle for dusting the house of God while their globe crumbles. No! They weep out, "Revive us again!" (Ps. 85:4,6). Allow us tune our hearts to bring together their song.
Subsequently all, history is full of examples of people turning to the Lord who has turned to them.
i Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you lot covered all their sin. (Psalm 85:ane–2)
The Sons of Korah plant themselves in spiritual barrenness. They just returned from Babylonian captivity. Life was hard. Faith was week. Just this is no barrier to God. By his sacrificial grace and the power of his word he causes life to spring out of death. Look, it is there in history. Expect, it is in that location in your history! God turned from his just wrath to arable grace (Ps. 85:3).
At this signal the history lesson becomes a prayer. The Sons of Korah plead,
four Restore us once again, O God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward u.s..
…
six Volition you non revive united states of america again,
that your people may rejoice in you? (Psalm 85:iv,vi)
Will yous stop and pray such a prayer? Your family unit needs it. Your church needs it. Your nation needs it. Even your own dry faith needs to cry out, "O God, our Savior turn u.s. dorsum to you, until we detect our highest joy in you!"
When you pray to a God of such amazing grace yous can lift your eyes to a hopeful future.
eight I will listen to what God the Lord volition say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints—
but let them non return to folly.
nine Surely his salvation is near those who fearfulness him,
that his glory may dwell in our country. (Psalm 85:8–9)
The future must be different from the past, or the same spiritual rot volition devour our life once again. And then, nosotros must brand a fresh commitment to listen to our Lord with reverent fear, to ruthlessly plow from sinful and foolish desires, and alive each twenty-four hour period to brandish God's glory. At that place it is! Information technology is your mission statement for spiritual revival! Because revival is more than than a prayer; it must be your passion.
Are we really happy to settle for the chaos and conflict inside us and around us? May nosotros shout, "No!" God made us for something better.
He made us to live in fruitfulness and peace. Therefore, Psalm 85 closes with the harmonious pictures of the Garden of Eden (Ps. 85:ten-thirteen). God, humanity, and cosmos coexist in cute unity. Love and faithfulness see equally long-lost friends. Righteousness and peace share the warm kiss of fellowship. Heaven and globe embrace.
Friends, that is a future worth living for. Do not settle for the style things are. Cry out, "Revive u.s. again, O God!" and turn to him who has turned to you.
Tim Jennings
timj.theway@hotmail.com
"Allow all that y'all practise be done in love" (1 Cor. 16:fourteen).
Extra $.25:
Outline of Psalm 85
Past Experience of Restoration (:one-iv)
Present Need for Restoration (:5-vii)
Present Decisions for Restoration (:viii-nine)
Future Experience of Restoration (:10-thirteen)
When you read a Psalm, it is oftentimes helpful to inquire, "What Time Is It?" Many Psalms will shift from the past, present and futurity in an orderly mode. There is a lesson in this progression. God asks us to trust Him in the futurity , based on his faithfulness in the past , and this gives us confidence in the present . Or, to put it another style, the past shows united states of america a powerful God; the present a personal God; therefore, we can trust the future to Him.
A Turn for the Ameliorate!
The concept of "turning" binds the Psalm together. Get-go , God graciously turns from his righteous judgment. Secondly , God returns life to His people. Thirdly , God'due south people must not turn again to folly.
God returned the fortunes of Jacob (:i)
By turning from his righteous wrath (:3)
So, God is asked to turn His people dorsum to himself (:4)
To return their spiritual life (:6)
The people must not return to folly (:eight)
Q: In the gospel how does God turn from his righteous judgement? (Rom. five:ix; 1 John 4:ten)
Q: In the gospel how does God requite life to his people? (John viii:12; Rom. six:3-4, 23)
Q: In the gospel how are forgiven people to live? (1 Peter i:13-21; Rom. 6:11)
A Word Do
Underline the words for "anger" and "wrath" etc. in Psalm 85.
Underline the words for "peace" "love" "faithfulness" etc. in Psalm 85.
Q: What observations tin you make by where the words are plant in the Psalm?
Something to Put into Practise
Psalm 85:8-9 nowadays a mission statement for spiritual revival. Four decisions must be fabricated for revival to occur.
A Fresh Hunger for God's Word – "I will heed to what God the Lord will say" (:8)
A New Reverence for God – "Surely his salvation is near those who fear him." (:9)
A Comprehensive Pursuit of Holiness – "Permit them not return to folly" (:8)
A Goal to Live for God'south Glory – "that his glory may dwell in our land" (:9)
List practical ways to make these decisions in your life!
Sing the Psalm
Revive Us Once more
William P. Mackay
Nosotros praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus who died,
And is now gone in a higher place.
We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who has shown united states our Savior,
And scattered our night.
All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sins,
And has cleansed every stain.
All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who has brought u.s.a., and sought us,
And guided our ways.
Revive the states again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from in a higher place.
[Refrain:]
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us over again.
Source: https://focusmagazine.org/revive-us-again-psalm-85.php
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