At the very end of the 7th
century and beginning of the 6th century B.C. a prophet by the name
of Habakkuk served in Judah. Lamenting the wicked state of the nation he
served, the people who were supposed to be a source of blessing to the nations
(Habakkuk 1:2-4), the man of God received an answer that shook him to the very
core: God would send the Babylonians upon Judah to reprove this stubborn people
(Hab. 1:5-11). “How could the holy LORD use
this wicked nation to judge Judah?” Habakkuk complained (Hab. 1:2-17). Things
were not getting better, they were getting worse! God’s response this time was that
he would do what is right—to judge the wicked and reward the righteous. In fact
there will even come a day when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of
the glory of the LORD as the waters cover
the sea,” so what anyone must do is simple: Acknowledge and trust in the true
God, not false gods (Hab. 2:1-20).
God’s reminder to his spokesman brought
great comfort and a renewed perspective. Not only did Habakkuk affirm that no
matter how difficult things are he will trust in and find joy in God (3:17-19),
but he also was moved to pray for revival. Consider how he words this prayer
(3:2): “O LORD, I have heard the report
of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy.”
I can identify with the prophet.
I have read about God’s great movements through the history of the church
whereby he has brought renewed life, holiness, and strength to his people, but
also wherein he has worked through Christians to bring scores of people to
salvation in Jesus Christ. Such intense times of the outpouring of God’s
blessing have been known throughout the world and in every generation
somewhere. Yet, most of us living in the United States in 2014 have not
experienced such an enlarged and powerful divine work. But we need it!
That is why I am echoing the
prayer of Habakkuk for this year: “God I have read reports of your amazing
life-changing, eternity-impacting glorious movements. In the midst of the turning
of the calendar, the passing days, another year coming on, make yourself known
in Minden, Nebraska and throughout the United States, to an extent that we have
yet to see!
In my next blog post I want to
begin to discuss what such a revival might look like. Yet, as I close out this one
I want to do just one thing: Call us to pray for revival as did Habakkuk. I don’t
think the prophet’s prayer was answered fully until six centuries later. Ten
days after the resurrected Jesus ascended back to heaven and fifty days after
he went to the cross, a group of about 120 believers was praying in an upper
room in Jerusalem, pleading with and waiting upon God for the very thing he had
promised would happen, namely that he would pour out the Holy Spirit upon them
(see Acts 1:3-5, 8, 12-14; 2:1-13). The result was what we often see in Acts
when the Spirit fills and empowers: The Word was mightily preached and lives
were changed—in this instance about 3,000 people were saved!
What we see exemplified in the
life of Habakkuk and the early New Testament Church is that God brings revival
in response to prayer. Prayer does not guarantee it, but revival does not come
apart from times of extended personal and corporate prayer. The late Bible
teacher and author, Roger Nicole, explained:
It is in keeping
with Reformed thought that revival should be grounded in prayer, because in
prayer we acknowledge God’s sovereignty…. In Scripture, prayer is presented as
a prerequisite for revival. It is a
prelude. If you study the history of
revivals, you will find that they are best documented not only in their effects
but also in their preparatory prayer periods…. It must be believing prayer…; it
must be submissive prayer…; it must be persistent prayer…; it must be
consistent prayer.[1]
Though we cannot guarantee
revival, we can be ready for it, expecting it, and asking the Lord to send it.
That is my greatest prayer for 2014 and beyond—either until God pours out the
floodwaters of his Spirit upon us or until he takes me home to be with Jesus
Christ. I invite you to join me in that prayer. May we “seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence
continually” (Psalm 105:4).
Next week I will begin to outline
the kinds of things asked for in prayer for revival.
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