Question 1

How do I know when I need revival?

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 22:11, 13When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. . . . “the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”Acts 2:37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”God’s Word will show us God’s will for us and our need to be revived.Psalm 51:10-11Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.Psalm 119:25I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.We know we need revival when we feel far from God.Lamentations 3:40Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.Testing and examining our ways in light of God’s truth will show us when we need revival.

Question 2

What can I do to help bring personal revival?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 7:3Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods . . . Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone.”The first step for personal, spiritual revival is to get rid of all the other “gods” in our lives and to begin serving God alone.Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.Lamentations 5:21Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!Acts 3:19-20Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.To be revived spiritually, we need to humble ourselves in prayer, confessing our sins and turning to God.Hosea 10:12“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’”Ephesians 4:21-24Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.To be renewed spiritually, we need to reject our sinful inclinations and, instead, obey the Spirit who leads us God’s way.2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 15Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “. . . The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. . . .” They earnestly sought after God, and they found him.To experience spiritual revival, we need to stay close to God, sense his presence, and obey his leading.Ezekiel 36:26“I [the Lord] will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”God grants revival through his Holy Spirit working in our hearts and lives.2 Timothy 1:6Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you [Timothy] when I [Paul] laid my hands on you.Exercising our spiritual gifts can help revive our lives.

Revival