Times of waning spiritual ardor are typically accompanied by calls for "revival." Sermons are preached, workshops are conducted, methodologies are promoted and programs initiated. Anyone with meaningful pastoral experience knows the story.
A fundamental rule applies here. Apart from humble entreaty and amendment of ways on the part of God's people (II Chron. 7:14), initiative lies with God (II Chron. 29:36). This is sometimes brought home in ways that, were the matter less serious, might seem somewhat humorous.
We recall a denominational conference at which a pastor was asked to share concerning the growth and revitalization taking place in his church. Following his report the meeting's moderator enthused, "I'm sure this has all been in consequence of our nine-point program!" - to which the pastor replied: "The program had nothing to do with it. God began moving on the hearts of the people to pray and as they did things began to change." The silence was both deafening and awkward.
On another occasion regional pastors were exhorted to schedule growth and renewal seminars at their individual churches despite the fact that the churches served by the two pastors assigned to conduct the seminars were in such state that both men, themselves discouraged, soon resigned their own charges.
Again, those within the higher echelons of a denomination with which we had previously been affiliated once designated an upcoming year a "year of revival" throughout the denomination. As an assignment to both pastors and congregations, it would be expected of them that they undergo revival during the coming year. Predictably, the specified year was little distinguishable from years either preceding or following.
We would here touch on two points. A pastor once shared concerning his having prayed for revival in the community where he served. His earnestness was such, he apprised the Lord, that revival represented the utmost desire of his heart. At this point it was as if the Lord responded: "You certainly won't mind then if I send it through the church down the road, will you!" The resultant illumination was revolutionary. What, ultimately, is our objective in seeking revival?
Second, God does not see the Church in terms of our own self-imposed restrictions of focus and identity. "There is," the apostle wrote, "one body and one Spirit, one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:5-6). As such, the announcement of the aforementioned denomination that they were designating the following year a "year of revival" within their churches simply failed of a two-fold awareness: 1.) We are not God, nor do we preempt His sovereignty, and, 2.) God is not interested in serving our own limited interests to the exclusion of others within the Body of Christ.
Finally, humanly initiated endeavor is not, nor has it ever been, a viable substitute for the outworking of divine grace in relation to spiritual interests. Hence, following the greatest revival of Old Testament times, the response of the revived: "Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared [i.e., spiritually] for the people..." (II Chron. 29:36). It did not come out of a committe at headquarters.
In the words of the Psalmist: "Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your People may rejoice in You? Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation" (Psa. 85:6-7). To which we all may say "Amen."
Burl Ratzsch
