Prayer For Revival

INTRO

I am excited to teach this psalm because verse 6 is the verse about revival. We are Revive School—it’s just exciting! This psalm is written by the sons of Korah. The sons of Korah were entrusted with the holy objects, the best of the best. They eventually turned against the Lord. Those writing these psalms were the remnants who still obeyed the Lord. Who better to write about a need for revival? Who better to understand the need for family redemption?

This psalm was probably written after the Jewish people returned to their land after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29). They had experienced captivity and now they were experiencing freedom.

TEACHING

Psalm 85:1-3: The first thing the psalmist did was give thanks to the Lord. This is key to the area of revival. Once you have been set free you have to thank the Lord for it. Thankfulness helps you to overcome the mentality of staying in bondage. When you have a heart of gratitude it keeps you from going back to the captive mentality. When you thank the Lord, it helps to fight all the things of the past.

God was giving the Promised Land back to the Israelites. The people were given their land and their identity back. Their guilt had been taken away. The crazy thing was that all of this was predicted in Isaiah 40:1–2. Obviously, these words were intended for the Israelites, but when was the last time you thanked God for your salvation or your house. If you want to understand true revival, it’s a heart of thankfulness.

Psalm 85:4–7: Wiersbe stated that in these verses, the psalmist asked for renewed life.¹ Even though the Israelites were now free they still needed restoration and revival. Nelson’s Commentary states, “God’s anger had turned away from the people. Yet until the restoration is complete, the people still feel the effects of God’s wrath . . . the people’s troubles were due to their own sin disciplined by God.”² The psalmist asked, “Will you not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in you?” Revive means to live again, to be renewed in life. Charles G. Finny wrote, “Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility.”³

We all need to be revived again continually. It is a constant cycle. This is why Paul would go to the same cities over and over again. There are a lot of believers who claim to be Christians in the United States who say 'we used to do that' or 'we use to read this'. My calling is to fan that flame so Christians will fall in love again with the gospel.

Revelation 3:2–3, “Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you.”

Revival happens when you realize God’s given you something but you’re not doing anything with it. I think this an incredible picture of the church.

Psalm 85:8–13: The psalmist vowed to listen for God’s words. Once you’ve been renewed, you ask God for direction and listen to His message.

CLOSING

Kyle closed in prayer:

"Lord, I want to pray that You would just allow us to see what we’ve been given. Open our eyes and our ears to the truth. Thank You for salvation of me, my family, and my team. Thank You for Jesus dying on the cross! Going through the death, burial, and resurrection. We would not be here today without You. Because of who I am in Christ I need to be renewed and revived every day. God, may I not become stagnant or worldly. May I not give into the ways of Satan. May I truly be revived by You. That is what I am asking for, for all those listening, or reading this now. May we realize what we’ve been given, and that time is too short. I ask that You awaken the spirit and the soul of man. I ask please renew us, so we can reflect You! Revive the students of Revive School! May we have a spirit of thankfulness. Take away the barriers and the wall and speak to us."

"True revival is when the church listens to the Holy Spirit. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, I truly believe we will do what You’ve asked us to do. Father God, forgive us for not doing the things You’ve told us to do. Forgive us for holding onto the gospel. Forgive us for holding on to Jesus. We know that You have clearly asked us to share the truth. I ask for forgiveness for the church. Awaken us to the truth of the gospel. May we be people who share what we’ve been given. Holy Spirit, speak to any one of us and show us what You want us to do. Father, please direct us. May we be like the sons of Korah, learning from the past and not giving into the ways of the world. Father, we need help and direction."

"Oh God, revive us again! Our nation needs a revival. I don’t know what it is going to take, but I am asking for a national move of Your Spirit. May it start with me, my team, and those listening. I long to see a third great awakening. If there is any way any of us can see or experience that, I ask it would happen. Not for selfish motives but for the harvest. God revive this country and start with the church. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”