REVIVE Us
.....Again!
We Need a Rejuvenating, Nationwide Revival By Elder Rick Cunningham
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).
In light of the current economic conditions, we could certainly use an encouraging word from the Lord. The joy that we felt when our personal incomes were higher no longer seems to be present and there is a longing to return to the days of plenty. The desire for God to intervene and move across the land is evidenced at the altar calls of many churches. In the past we have felt the power of the Holy Spirit when God answered our cries for help and we want to feel it again.
In the 20th Century, there were four major Pentecostal revivals: the “Azusa Street Revival” in Los Angeles, California in 1906; the “Healing Revival” in the late nineteen forties early nineteen fifties; the “Latter Day Rain Revival” in Northern Canada in 1948; and the “Charismatic Renewal Movement.” These four revivals focused on speaking in tongues as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They also created a renewed desire for God’s Word, hope in the healing power of the Holy Spirit, and increased a longing for the preached Word of God. Many people who were separated by race, doctrine, and culture were united. While there have been numerous revivals since those major four, none have equaled the lon- gevity and strength, or spread as far as them. We therefore question, can another worldwide, God-sent, Holy Ghost revival occur again?
The people of God should dare to believe Him for another major outpouring and move of His Holy Spirit. It’s time for another refreshing! Scripture
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tells us that we are in the final days, further evidenced by the spiritual condition of the world. The scriptures also teach us that God has not left us without hope. His precious Word and Spirit will sweep across the land again! That which was spoken to us by the prophet Joel is being manifested: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16-18 KJV).
The need for His Spirit to saturate the land
has not gone unnoticed by God. The same directives that God gave the Israelites are still relevant to the 21st Century Christian. “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” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).
The economic realities of the world have been felt among all Believers. But we can also receive an economic revival if we will just believe God and continue to trust Him. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10 KJV). Even in our present world conditions, we can
count on God to do something powerful, demonstrating that He is yet alive and that His Spirit is yet strong and working. King David had reasons to give up hope. He was running for his natural life and reduced to sleeping in caves. That was a huge disparity from his days in the palace. David, however, clung to his belief that God would come through for him. “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). A great release of God’s spirit is not time
conditional. Throughout the Bible, God reconciled His people back to Him. However, there is a notable common denominator in every major move of God upon His people. The Israelites, for example, always acknowledged that they were out of the will of God. When they had adopted the pagan political, social, moral, and spiritual culture of the Babylonians, they recognized their sinful condition. The prophet Ezra then led them into a nationwide revival after their re- lease from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Accord- ingly, if we will recognize our need for help and our need for a change, we too can experience the same! Jesus promised us that God would send us the Holy Spirit and we know that we depend on Jesus to keep His promises. Jesus said, “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26 KJV). The Holy Spirit is not regulated to one location but has come to do a worldwide work. Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the ut-
termost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). There was a dynamic display of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. The disciples had been given instructions by Jesus, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me” (Acts 1:4). On that day, they were all focused on the same thing and were being obedient to the instruction to wait. Also, they were all praying. When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Acts 2:1 KJV). Saints, if we would also come together as a united Body of Christ, pray as a united Body of Christ, and show obedience as a united Body of Christ, we too can experience a great move of God again! The previous explosive Pentecostal revivals were awesome and had results that are still felt today. Several denominations, including the Church of God in Christ, were birthed out of the Azusa Street revival. There was a release and outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, of which the like has not been documented since. We are grateful for what God did during that era, but Saints, this is now our time. Do you want to hear from heaven again? A massive deliverance, healing, and praise revival will impact the lives of many people and it can certainly happen again! Lord, revive us again!
Elder Rick Cunningham is a member of the Southside Church of God in Chris in Jacksonville, Fl and is the Florida Central Second Jurisdiction Chairman of the Pastors and Elders Council. He is the published author of “Making Choices in Christ: Moving Beyond Self Destructive Choices and Behavior”.
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