For the last few days of our fast, we will continue to pray for Revival.  Revival in every dead, stunted or struggling area of our lives. We will pray that God would show us the battle plan to take the city and that He would prepare our hearts to receive what we pray for.  Last week, we defined revival as an improvement in the condition or strength of something. However, according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, revival is also “a return to a state of activity,” “a renewed attention to spiritual matters and concerns,” and “recovery of life after death.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 says this “if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This scripture serves as a timeless roadmap for revival. It begins with it, a call to humility—an acknowledgment that we are entirely dependent on the grace and mercy of our Creator. Revival starts with a posture of humility, a recognition of our need for God’s intervention in our lives, communities, and the world around us.

Step 1: Humility. Humility is the fertile soil from which revival grows. It involves recognizing our shortcomings, repenting of our sins, and surrendering our will to God. As we humble ourselves, we create space for God’s glory to shine through our lives.

Step 2: Prayer. Prayer is the heartbeat of revival. It’s more than a list of requests; it’s a genuine conversation with the Almighty. Revival is birthed in the secret place of prayer, where we commune with God, pour out our hearts, and align our desires with His. As we pray, we invite God to move in miraculous ways.

Step 3: Seeking God’s Face. Revival is an intimate encounter with the living God. It’s not merely about seeking His hand for blessings but earnestly desiring His face. In the quiet moments of seeking, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of God’s love, grace, and transformative power.

Step 4: Turning from Wicked Ways. Revival demands change. It requires a turning away from the things that separate us from God. Identifying and repenting of sinful patterns in our lives is crucial for revival to take root. God’s promise of forgiveness and healing is intricately linked to our willingness to turn away from disobedience.

Even as we consider the importance of these steps in personal revival, we cannot forget the importance of others. At its core, revival is about impacting people and bringing them into relationship with God.

Last night, Bro Barnswell Dennis delivered a message “Go and Tell”. He took his text from St Mark 5 and recounted how Jesus restored a man that had been possessed with legions of demons and in verse 19 when the man formerly called Legions was healed and in his right mind, Jesus told him to “Go and… tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Later, in chapter 6 and verse 53, we can see that people had heard about Jesus and they sought Him out. Simply put, our obligation is to share what the Lord has done for us, the word of our testimony is an important tool to bring the revival that we seek.

As we embark on this journey of revival, let us approach it with expectation and anticipation. Revival is not a distant dream; it is a present reality awaiting our response. May our hearts be stirred with a hunger for God’s presence, and may our lives be marked by a renewed passion for Him.