We are greatly obliged by many factors to offer the Almighty God our deepest gratitude for the year 2021. This is because it is, among other things, a period which ushers us into a new decade of fresh opportunities and unimaginable possibilities. Beloved, we are forever grateful for God’s manifold and abundant blessings upon the church and us all. We in the Assemblies of God fellowship have placed our emphasis on the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the last decade, which was code-named ‘The Decade of Pentecost’. We shall continue with that mindset by highlighting the subject of divine visitation and outpouring in this new decade, which is codenamed: ‘The Decade of Revival.’ The theme for 2021 therefore is: Will You Not Revive Us Again? (Psalm 85:6).
In Psalm 85:6, the psalmist prayed one of the most beautiful prayers ever said in the history of humanity: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” What a short but loaded supplication! This godly fellow cried to God for revival so that once again the populaces could rejoice in the Lord Almighty. As short as the prayer appears, it reveals a number of things about the subject of revival. For example, the prayer in a nutshell sums up the meaning, source, nature, need, purpose, object, and results of revival.
Revival is an act or incidence of vitalizing; it is the state of being renewed. Revival comes in response to a spiritual hunger and actions that bring God’s renewed acts (moves) in the life of seeker(s). It is often an occurrence that escalates beyond the personal or group life of the seekers to affect their community, and sometimes to national or global levels. Revival is a renewal or restoration; it is a fresh flow of the life, love, and power of God. Other synonyms of the word revival include restoration, revitalization, resuscitation, awakening, renewal, rejuvenation, etc.
Psalm 85 is a local plea for nationwide favour. It teaches that through the power of intercession a few committed godly folks can make a trans-national impact. The psalm is a prayer that reflects on the past (vv. 1-3), seizes the moment (vv. 4-7), and lay hold on the future (8-13). The psalmist hungers for nothing earthly or material; he rather covets the presence, purpose, purity, power, peace, precepts and principles of God. He specifically yearns and asks for God’s mercy, peace, truth, righteousness, salvation, and glory (vv. 7-13). Beloved in the Lord, we must quit playing religion—in the face of open carnality, including other undesirable conditions and happenings within our folks, families, and fraternities—and rather cry fervently to God for genuine revival. The absence of authentic love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness in and around us should drive believers to seek the Lord till he comes and pours righteousness on us like rain (Hosea 10:12). The need for a true revival is crucial; the church needs an urgent revival that would change our attitude towards self, sin, sinners, Satan, and the Supreme Lord
The time for revival is now! According to the prophet Joel, the priests must lead the way. Leaders must devote themselves to God’s word and prayer (Acts 6:1). Pastors (all other church leaders) must weep between the porch and the altar with the pleading: “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'” (Joel 2:17).
The clarion call to seek God for another revival booms to all believers: “Now, therefore, says the Lord: turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning… Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room” (Joel 2:12-17).
Beloved in Christ, revival often begins with a people coming under deep conviction and crying out in confession and repentance for their sins. Revival does not occur outside of the atmosphere of sincere, devoted prayer. As our society drifts into gloom and darkness, let us arise and cry fervently to God: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”