Walking in Revival

Several years ago I read Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala (Pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle). This book was a fresh awakening for me in leading the people of PBC to conduct Wednesday night Prayer Meetings. Words cannot accurately describe how God has moved among us.

The following is an excerpt from Pastor Jim's book:

"Whether you study the Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival, the 1906 outpouring on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, or any other period of revival, you always find men and women who first inwardly groan, longing to see the status quo changed - in themselves and in their churches. They begin to call on God with insistence; prayer begets revival, which begets more prayer...

"The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer. Only when we are full of the Spirit do we feel the need for God everywhere we turn. We can be driving a car, and spontaneously our spirit starts going up to God with needs and petitions and intercessions right there in the middle of traffic.

"If our churches don't pray, and if people don't have an appetite for God, what does it matter how many are attending the services? How would that impress God? Can you imagine the angels saying, 'Oh, your pews! We can't believe how beautiful they are! Up here in heaven, we've been talking about them for years. Your sanctuary lighting - it's so clever. The way you have the steps coming up to the pulpit - it's wonderful...'

"I don't think so.

"...I have talked with pastor after pastor, some of them prominent and 'successful,' who have told me privately, 'Jim, the truth is, I couldn't' have a real prayer meeting in my church. I'd be embarrassed at the smallness of the crowd. Unless somebody's teaching or singing or doing some kind of presentation, people just won't come. I can only get them for a one-hour service, and that only once a week.

"Is that kind of religion found anywhere in the Bible? Jesus Himself can't draw a crowd even among His own people! What a tragedy that the quality of ministry is too often measured by numbers and building size rather than by true spiritual results."

While many people may disagree with this statement, I believe that we are walking in revival right now. It looks different than the Great Awakenings and other moves of God but it is real. This current revival is happening in the lives of individuals who have been moved in their hearts to seek God in everything. They are crying out for Him to extend His hand, reveal His goodness through their lives, and change their communities. The fuel of this move of God is prayer and worship. As we continue to experience His power, we continue to pray and seek the face of God.

The "Church" as a religious organization has no part in this revival. The church as the Body of Christ does. And as long as the Body of Christ continues to pray, I have no doubts that this revival can be sustained.

We as the church need to pray: "Lord, teach us to pray."