There are many today who believe our world is too far gone to experience any kind of spiritual renewal, so why bother praying for revival? But I believe now more than ever, Christian should be intentionally praying for revival. Not so that things will become easier for us, but so that the Church can once again function as it ought and boldly shine God’s light amid a perverse generation. In this video, I share about two different possible outcomes of revival, and why it’s so critical that we never stop praying for God to bring a spiritual awakening.
– Eric Ludy
Transcript
Is it realistic to pray for revival today? If I said no to that, I think you should check into everything I’ve ever stood for and see if it’s real. Of course, it’s realistic to pray for revival! I’m almost offended by the question. Revival is part and parcel of what the Church is always after. Someone mentioned to me recently that he heard a pastor say we need to pray for persecution. Well, I would say that’s a part-truth. If you pray for revival, here’s what happens. The Church is invigorated. It’s revived. It’s strengthened. What does that mean? That means it begins to go out and shine light. What does that mean? Well, one of two things. Either this world begins to revive and to change and to bend its knee to the living God, and to say, “Jesus is Lord unto the glory of God, the Father,” or they begin to erect crosses and pin us to them.
When Christianity is revived, it’s functioning as it ought to function. So of course we can pray for revival. That’s what it is. It’s the Church returning to its rightful format, to its rightful intentions, to its rightful processes. So yes, the Holy Spirit is always after revival. And those that are filled with the Spirit are always praying for that sharpness. For example, if I have a dull pencil, should I say, “Well, should I just keep it dull?” No, you should sharpen it because then what you are writing will be that much more legible. When the Church is as it ought to be, its message is clearer. It comes across more sharply. And, as a result, we should always pray for revival. However, keep in mind that revival doesn’t necessarily mean ease. Revival can oftentimes mean crosses and persecution. So I’m not going to pray for persecution. I’m going to pray for revival and let God define what comes as a result. That’s His business, not ours.
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