"Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (Rev 22:12-14) NKJV
Revival seasons are historically preceded by times of earnest prayer and soul searching. Students of revival study these times looking for keys or clues about revival which might prompt God to move in ways which to us seem extraordinary. More importantly; what causes revival to stop after a few months or years?
The Case for Revival and Restoration
REVIVAL and RESTORATION become necessary when we move away from His word through apathy or deliberation, placing us on a destructive path. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted of God", for God can't be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin when it's full grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15) NKJV
Neglect of prayer and bible reading over time will produce deadness in a believer. As long as we continue in this manner we are flowing contrary to God's plan for us, opposite revival and restoration. Outwardly we seem alive, but inwardly our spirit dies to God producing a void within us that we perceive as emptiness.
God knows at one time or another, we will all sin and be separated from Him (Romans 5:12) Sin is the biblical term for breaking Gods' laws. (1 John 3:4) Sin separates us from Him and makes us candidates for revival and restoration! What remedy does He have to cure lukewarmness and backsliding bringing us near Him again? God always does as He says in His word.
Gods' word contains many examples of revival and restoration. Revive means, "to live again". Restoration by definition is: "any act where by something is returned to it's original condition from one of change or decay."
Biblical accounts of the dead being raised, the blind seeing, healing the sick, and salvation coming to those separated from God by sin exemplify revival and restoration. These are some acts in which God restores something of His creation to His original plan and design.
The word Revive is used 20 times in the NKJV bible and is strongly connected with our return to His commandments, His statutes and His judgments. Ps 119 contains 8 of these uses in it's 176 verses; the most concentrated use of the term revive in the bible.
Biblical accounts of the dead being raised, the blind seeing, healing the sick, and salvation coming to those separated from God by sin exemplify revival and restoration. These are some acts in which God restores something of His creation to His original plan and design.
The word Revive is used 20 times in the NKJV bible and is strongly connected with our return to His commandments, His statutes and His judgments. Ps 119 contains 8 of these uses in it's 176 verses; the most concentrated use of the term revive in the bible.