Chapter 6—Need of a Spiritual Revival

BIBLE GEM

“Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be canceled, and that there may come seasons of refreshment from the Lord.”—Acts 3:19, WeymouthCWG 21.1

QUESTION

What is the great need of the church and how may it be met? (See Psalm 85:6; Habakkuk 3:2; Psalm 138:7; Hosea 6:1-3; Luke 24:49; Matthew 23:19, 20; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 14-18; Selected Messages 1:121-128.)CWG 21.2

ANSWER

A spiritual revival: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.”—Selected Messages 1:121CWG 21.3

Every hindrance must be removed: “There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation. If Satan had his way, there would never be another awakening, great or small, to the end of time. But we are not ignorant of his devices. It is possible to resist his power. When the way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessings will come. Satan can no more hinder a shower of blessing from descending upon God's people than he can close the windows of heaven that rain cannot come upon the earth. Wicked men and devils cannot hinder the work of God, or shut out His presence from the assemblies of His people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and put away their sins, and in faith claim His promises.”—Selected Messages 1:124CWG 21.4

In answer to prayer: “Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train.”—The Desire of Ages, 672CWG 22.1

The result: “The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that reached every heart. The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His church. It was as if for ages this influence had been held in restraint, and now Heaven rejoiced in being able to pour out upon the church the riches of the Spirit's grace. And under the influence of the Spirit, words of penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven. Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. All heaven bent low to behold and to adore the wisdom of matchless, incomprehensible love.... And what followed? The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief. Thousands were converted in a day.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 38CWG 22.2

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, please help us to be genuine when we repent. True repentance is being willing to quit all known sins, said Elder George Vandeman.CWG 22.3

When we confess in humility and repent and we are willing to give up all known sin, then fervent earnest prayer will lead the way to revival and reformation and regeneration and renewal and Satan will be powerless to stop it.CWG 22.4

Please send Your Holy Spirit, loving Father, to revive us and may Your love be visible in our words and deeds and actions and how we respond and react to other people.CWG 22.5