12^th December 2024

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

Theme: REVIVE US AGAIN

THEME SCRIPTURE: "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"  Psalm 85:6 AMPC

PREPARATORY QUESTION

1. What steps can you take to rekindle your personal relationship with God and experience revival in your life?

For 20 years, there had been no fellowship between God and His people, and there had been no priest to guide Israel. The struggles of the human soul continued among the children of Israel. Can you imagine your life and your fellowship with God being out of tune for a whopping 20 years? Spiritually, Israel had become dead, and their enemy, the Philistines, continued to subdue them.

Then God, who always initiates reconciliation when a man goes off course, stepped on the scene.

Samuel, the little boy, had been in preparation all the while the ark was in Kirjath-jearim. Then suddenly, this Samuel burst on the scene as a firebrand with the mandate of God. He then mobilized the house of Israel with one message, "It is time for revival" (1 Sam 7:3). Samuel then walked the nation of Israel through practical steps to ignite the revival Israel needed at that time. As individuals, a church, or even a nation, we can follow these practical steps and spark revival in our lives.

First, Samuel brought Israel together in unity for this revival (1 Sam 7:5). The divisions and jealousies of preceding years were renounced. All the various tribes came together under one command. Where there is unity, God can easily be there. But chaos and mayhem are detestable to God's Spirit. Secondly, there was a sincere confession by the people. They poured out their hearts before the living God (1 Sam 7:6). It did not end there. The people moved to abandon false gods, putting away Baalim and Ashtaroth to serve the Lord alone (1 Sam 7:4). In addition, continuous prayer is key to sustained revival. The children of Israel reminded Samuel, "Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us" (1 Sam 7:8).

In all these, if the people who seek revival do not fully yield themselves to God, the revival flames will not ignite.

Until a man truly surrenders, God cannot take over and touch that person. Precious one, when God accepted His people's return to Him, their situation began to change. Natural phenomena began to fight for them (1 Sam 7:10). They were able to overtake and subdue their enemies because God was now with them (1 Sam 7:11).

Beloved, according to our theme scripture, David cried to God in desperation for His revival: "Will You not revive us again, O Lord?" To revive is to come back to life, quicken, or recover (as from illness). There are many today who have lost touch with their Lord. It is time for a revival. Others have become so busy with so many things that they have wandered away from His presence. It is time for a revival. Some have fallen into sin, while others have looked back after putting their hands to the plough. It is time for a revival.

Beloved, because iniquity shall abound in the last days, the love of many shall wax cold. However cold we have grown, will He not revive us again? He will.

He will if only we will make our confessions before Him and abandon our gods. Money has become our god; we are always under the spell and command of money. We are daily on the run because money has called, and we have no choice but to respond. He will revive us again if only we will fully surrender to Him in prayer and in deeds. He will...so that we can rejoice in Him alone.

Remain blessed.

FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 7:3-14

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD

1. Have you wandered away from your Lord?
2. Has your zeal for the Lord diminished compared to previous years?
3. What are you going to do about it?

PRAYER

Precious Father, revive me once again so that the fiery fire of my love for you can burn hot in these last days. No matter how cold I have become or how low I have sunk, precious Lord, revive me one more time so I can rejoice in you alone. In Jesus' precious name. Hallelujah!

ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Job 14, Habakkuk 1, 1 Peter 2