Leadership

---

TALK OF REVIVAL commands many a conversation in Christian circles these days. And yet revival is but one of several elements of God’s plan to heal our nation. Below are seven components of healing.

REEXAMINATION. Old Testament prophets served God and their nation by placing the testimony of God’s word alongside the testimony of history. Then they called the past into account. Does God call the Church to play the same role with the nations of the world?

Before a prophetic Church can call the nation’s past to account, the Church’s prophets must call the Church’s past to account. Many things must be reevaluated. Our own attitudes, theology and behavior as well as the sins of our Christian forebears must come under the scrutiny of God’s word.

REPENTANCE. During the process of reexamination, as the Holy Spirit and the Word of God operate upon the human spirit and soul, God’s work of repentance commences. Only under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit can the soul be made aware of the darkening grip of sin.

New Testament repentance involves an informing of the mind with truth, a choice to reject an ungodly lifestyle and a God-breathed commitment to live from this moment forward in a manner pleasing to God. Repentance is more than simply being sorry for one’s sins. Repentance is a complete change of direction.

RECONCILIATION. God’s creation is diverse. He demonstrates His glory through many unique denominations, races and cultures. All made in His image are worthy of honor and respect. Jesus prayed for His Church to be one so that the world would know that He is the Christ (John 17:21).

But today’s Church is not one. We are divided along denominational, racial, and cultural lines. Jesus is calling us to abandon our prejudices, forgive those who have hurt us and respect and receive from one another. God is calling His people into genuine, practical working relationships with one another. Until Christians experience reconciliation we will fall short of God’s purposes in revival and beyond.

REVIVAL. For nearly a generation, the Church has been awaiting world-wide revival. Revival talk frequently dominates Sunday pulpit messages. But what is revival?

Although the word revival cannot be found in scripture, ancient Israel experienced revival on a number of occasions. Historically, revivals, both in Biblical and world history, are acompanied by a heightened awareness of God’s majesty and holiness, a fresh mindfulness of the depravity of human nature and the sinner’s need for God. Revivals are often accompanied by miraculous manifestations.

REFORMATION. Unless followed by reformation, God’s work in revival falls short. Diorthosis is the Greek word for reformation. It is found only once in Scripture (Heb 9:10) and means straightening out that which is crooked. Straightening refers to individual behavior as well as cultural and religious institutions.

After meeting God in revival, permanent change must occur in thinking and behavior. If revival affects a great number of people in the land, it is expected that, within a generation, the nation’s institutions and cultural mores will become reformed.

RESTITUTION. In ancient Israel, priests handled guilt offerings from those who had committed the offense of fraud Lev. 5:6-7). In addition to offering a sacrifical ram, the offenders were also required to repay those whom they had defrauded plus an additional twenty percent (Num 5:7-8).

A deep wound endures in our nation’s soul from the days when Christian men held slaves in bondage and stole land from native American tribes. The Church must find God’s wisdom and guidance for healing these long standing wounds and for repairing the breach caused by our Christian forbears. Our nation cannot be whole, cannot fully return to God, until this damage is repaired.

RESTORATION. From His first promise to a fallen Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21) to this very moment, God has been in the restoration business. Blessing and abundance are His promises to the faithful and obedient and restoration is His desire (Isa. 32:16; 35:1).

After the Church in America reexamines its selfish conduct, repents of its sin, pursues true reconciliation, experiences revival, reforms its behavior, and makes restitution to the defrauded ones, it will be God’s delight to bring restoration to the nation (Deut. 28:1-14).

An eighth R might also be considered—RENEWAL. Once the Church and the nation experience all seven rudiments, regular renewal will ensure that we continue to obey God’s commands, enabling His favor to rest upon us.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE