In need of revival — Part 3

I hoped that I adequately described the great need for revival and awakening of the Church of Jesus Christ in the West in the first and second parts of my “In Need of Revival” series. What can we do?

Large-scale revival and awakening always begins very locally with self. God says in the Bible, “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” And “Seek me and you will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart.” Individually we must come out of denial and admit how off we are in some areas and how undone we are. We must be willing to submit and surrender to every change He wants to make and be willing for Him to remove our character defects.

Prayer is always the beginning. Every person in church history we regard as icons of faith followed the footsteps of Jesus and were devoted to prayer. We are told in the Bible, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray.” Prayer is not giving God a laundry list of our desires or rote prayers of repetition said without intellectual engagement. Prayer that gets the attention of God comes from humble people earnestly seeking Him and willing to obey what He asks us to do. Obedience = maturity in faith and not necessarily years in the faith. Obedience is doing the good we know to do as well as not doing the evil we are not to do.

I talk to many people who say they want to know God’s will for their lives. Start by reading the Book of John in the New Testament. You can find a Bible in a readable translation for $1 at a thrift store. Obey what you understand. Give yourself to it. Pray for greater understanding and faith to trust and obey. Form a redemptive community in your family, friends and neighbors. Be thankful for God’s forgiveness and His covenant relationship through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. Live in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Pray for individual revival. You will not know God’s specific will for your life unless you’re following His general will for all people as written in the Bible first. If you devote yourself to this, then you will experience personal renewal and revival. Brace yourself for a life that you may have previously thought impossible.

Bud McConnaughey serves on the staff of North Summit Church, 201 N. Division, Sandpoint. If you want to know more about Jesus Christ and His hope, contact us www.northsummit.com. We’ll be glad to help you or refer you to numerous local congregations and pastors in Bonner and Boundary County.