O LORD, Revive Thy Work (III)

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. … O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, …” (Habakkuk 2:20, 3:2)

In Proverbs we read: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: … The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:5,7) Hearing and understanding wise counsels always precede the gift of “the fear of the LORD.” The scourge that haunts the churches is that many have ears to hear but they refuse to hear the message sent from God; they have eyes to see but reject the testimony of God’s Word; and they are educated in the things of the world but are ignorant of the knowledge of God. Those who despise, look down on, the wisdom and instruction of the Holy Scriptures play the part of fools.

Spirit filled revivals do not come to the Lord’s churches by happenstance; there must be a determined and intentional exertion to hear the will of God. Jesus said, “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (Jn. 6:45) This is not only true in salvation, but equally so in every area of the believers’ lives. If Jesus is the Head of the church then the Lord Himself must guide every function of the body. When a church is not functioning by divine design then it is by nature sick and in need of reviving. The healing process requires listening to the Great Physician, and yielding to His directions and remedies. The church may need to return to its first love, or to restore faithfulness, or to correct its doctrinal teachings, or to get rid of some false teachers, or to hold fast and watch, or to exercise strength and courage, or to get on fire for Christ. Spirit filled revival is impossible when the sickness is not healed and the words of the Great Physician are not heeded. The patient must be determined to follow and to fulfill the prescription given by the Physician. Noncompliance is rebellion.

To all seven of the churches of Asia Jesus said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” The instigation of revival begins with hearing His message and fearing the outcome of not obeying the Head of the church.