Revival and Justice

Do we need revival today? Do we need change? Are things going ok in the nation and around the world? Are things going to get better if we do nothing? The history of revival shows us that God often produces and maintains revival with humble and unimportant people; at least they seem unimportant by the world’s standards. Many times what we tend to see in the church is a couple of people who are ministering to the rest of us. We basically sit there in church and don’t do much because in all honesty we have been trained to do that. Put another way, our pastor and leaders do all the work of ministering, the preaching, teaching and praying, and for the most part all of us regular people feel there is really nothing for us to do. We have been trained to think that it is the professional minister’s job to do everything in the church. This is likely a misunderstanding on both sides. But in the end, the real question is what does the New Testament tell us? What does the Bible say? And it is really quite clear! Ephesians 4 tells us that the 4 or 5 fold ministry or leadership of the church equips the saints for the work of ministry. In I Corinthians 12 where it describes spiritual gifts, the Bible tells us that there is one body but many members. It also states that those members of the body we think are less honorable are to be treated with special honor. God has given many members and all are important and necessary. We should have equal concern for each other. When one suffers, we all suffer. When one is honored we all rejoice because we are all one body under the headship of Jesus Christ!

Revival often coincides with revelation. As we seek God, he renews our spirit and gives us divine revelation. And by God’s great mercy, he has in the past and certainly continues to work miracles. In Mark chapter 9 the text tells us Jesus took Peter, James and John and went up a high mountain. And Jesus was transfigured before them; his clothes became blindingly white like snow and were shining brightly before them. And in verse 7 it tells us that a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is my beloved son, listen to him.” So, for just a few minutes the three disciples were able to see Jesus as he truly is in all his glory. And this is my prayer, that the church would experience Jesus as he truly is in all his glory. Would this not revive our hearts and minds? Would this not spring us into action with love and adoration for who God truly is? He is majestic, powerful and sovereign.

So, let’s step back a moment and consider what actually happened on the mountain. The text tells us Jesus was transfigured. In the original language, the word is, “metamorphoo” which means to change into another form. He changed into his true glorious divine likeness. In the ESV translation, it uses the words “radiant and intensely white” to describe the clothes of Jesus. The Greek the word here for radiant is “stilbo”, which means to shine or glisten. Like the glitter of gold or a bright shining light. In the Old Testament this term is used to refer to shining metal, such as in Ezekiel 21 where you have a sword that flashes like lightning. You get the picture. Jesus is like a brilliant light, shining in all his glory for just a few minutes.

As the disciples and Jesus are coming down the mountain, Jesus orders them not to tell anyone what they had just seen until after he has risen from the dead. So, do you think this confirmed the identity and divinity of Jesus? Friends, this is a picture of revival – to see Jesus for all that he is – for God to speak from heaven. But mark this, that is not the end of the story. Right when the three joined the other disciples, they find out that a man brought his son to be healed of an evil spirit to Jesus’ disciples but they could not drive out the spirit. This what the text says:

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:17-29

The very end of the passage is critically important where Jesus says, “this kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” And I think this text identifies the problem. The church, like the disciples, try to drive out evil and deal with all the wickedness of our day. And yet, no revival comes, nothing changes. Because the kind we are dealing with only comes out with prayer. It is a different kind of spirit and a different day. We must travail in prayer to see change.

Let us consider for a moment the great issues of our day, the sin and iniquity. The problem of our nation being led down a dark path. How we have turned away from God and the consequences for doing so. When we look at all this – sometimes we are beside ourselves with grief. And rightly so. We often wonder what is to be done, what can we do? How do we go about fixing all these issues plaguing our cities, states and nations? The real question as Christians is, what should we do? And the truth is, we come up with our plan to solve the problem. We talk about all that is going on, we complain about it. We wonder how our nation got to this point. We might even employee some efforts to combat the culture. We might organize; go to meetings, even going about doing all kinds of good. But here is my question, with all the organizing, meetings, and good the church is doing, is it really changing things? I mean is it changing the direction of the nation, even on a very basic level. Is it actually pushing back the enemy? Are we actually gaining any ground? Yes, there are good things happening – wherever Christians are, there will be good things going on – we have Christ. But for all our good, are we really changing the fundamental direction of our nation? Obviously the nation is headed in the wrong direction, and there are demonic strongholds that have gripped the high places. What on earth can change that? Where is the power to change things? Well, Jesus in Mark 9 went up on a mountain and became his true self for a few minutes so that 3 of his disciples would know who he is and would listen to him. Meanwhile the other disciples could not heal a boy. And because why? They lacked in prayer, yes but what else? What else is said and implied? Jesus says, “O unbelieving generation” … The boy’s fathers says, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” And how does Jesus respond to this. If I can? If I can? Everything is possible for him who believes. Then Jesus commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy and never enter him again!

So, what is missing according to Jesus - belief, prayer and the power of God. We need an intense focus on these things, belief that all things are possible with God. We need intense and focused prayer. Then we will see the God we know move in power to heal and destroy strongholds. We are way too focused on meetings, agendas, organization, and a host of other things that are not belief, prayer and the power of God. For example, many Christians get so excited when a celebrity says something about God. Or maybe we learn that a leading scientist or academic believes in God. These are good things, but we have to be very careful not pin too much on these things. People can become idols and so can many other things. We need to focus on Christ! God hears our prayers. And what do we believe? Do we really believe God can change our leaders? That he really can change our nation and the world? Have you read the book of Daniel lately? God is sovereign, he can and will change leaders and nations. But as his people, we need to focus on the right things. Political leaders will not save this nation – God can! Business people will not save this nation – but God can! Religious leaders will not save this nation either – but God can! We must focus – we must believe God can and will change things. We must pray into our belief.

The best way to know for sure what God can do is to study the Bible, look at what he has done in the past. God has a great track record. You may remember Jonathan Edwards from history. We know him from his great theological and philosophical works, but also because he was instrumental in the First Great Awakening. Most of us know at least a little bit about the Great Awakenings, but you may not know that Edwards’ father, Timothy Edwards was a revival preacher and his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, who Jonathan co-pastored with for a season, also saw many local awakenings. When Jonathan was nine years old, after his father had preached, an awakening began in Jonathan. And at nine he was praying five times a day and organized prayer meetings with other boys his age. Edwards became a great intellectual, fighting many battles on that front, however he was also a man of prayer. And we should note that much preaching and prayer occurred before the First Great Awakening came to be. And certainly Edwards was not the only figure in the mix. There were many other preachers, such as George Whitefield. And let’s not kid ourselves; the First Great Awakening was a major event in our history. It started in the 1730s and did not end until the 1770s, and the revival was experienced by all the American colonies. Interestingly enough the awakening preceded America breaking with Britain and declaring its independence. Reformation and change in people’s hearts and minds does change the culture. And there are times it can change things immensely on a nation-wide or even world-wide scale.

Francis Schaeffer in his book, How Should We Then Live? writes, “Wherever the biblical teaching has gone, even though it has always been marred by men, it not only has told of an open approach to God through the work of Christ, but also has brought peripheral results in society, including political institutions. Secondary results are produced by the preaching of the gospel in both the arts and political affairs.” Schaeffer continues by saying, “The Reformation did not bring social or political perfection, but it did gradually bring forth a vast and unique improvement. What the Reformation’s return to biblical teaching gave society was the opportunity for tremendous freedom, but without chaos.” Schaeffer also mentions a 1905 mural by Paul Robert, which is in the former Supreme Court Building in Switzerland. The name of the painting is “Justice Lifts the Nations.” Justice is personified by a lady dressed in white with scales in her right hand. Her head is shining in light to symbolize divine illumination. In her left hand she holds a sword that points to a Bible and she is surrounded by judges. The painting was on the stairway where the judges had to pass when going to court. It was a reminder that the Bible was the basis not just for morals but also the law.

When we as a nation return to God and get serious about our faith. We will again see his power. When we return to belief and prayer, then we will see reformation. When we return to Christ we will see revival and change.

What is the answer according to Jesus? Belief and prayer, and these produce, as God wills, the power of God with healing and miracles. And eventually if we follow this biblical instruction faithfully, it will change not just one or two lives, but our entire nation, purging our institutions and setting our foundations back in place.

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:19-29