The topic for this Saturday’s Bible seminar, “A Prayer for Revival”, is a subject that we can no longer ignore or neglect. Christians and churches everywhere are slipping into dangerous spiritual slumber. Many are under the narcotizing effects of false doctrines, selflove, materialism and carnality. Frighteningly, the spiritual battle may be lost even without a fight! Unfortunately, our church is not spared from this spiritual malady. Unless the Spirit of God awakens us out of our spiritual slumber, I fear that many Christian homes and churches of our time will soon be swallowed up by the fast spreading spiritual delusion of our time!
It is high time for all of us to watch unto prayer that our lives may be renewed and revived to passionately live godly and consecrated lives. Lack of spiritual discernment is causing many to think that there is no need for a revival. Many are much like the church of Sardis to which Christ has written: “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Revelation 3:1). He has no pleasure in such a state of affairs in the church. So He calls them to be awakened unto renewal – “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2).
The Lord not only calls us to a renewed and revived life, but also sternly warns us of dire consequences if it goes unheeded. “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Revelation 3:3).
Will the Lord’s warning and call to be revived go unheeded? All genuine churches and Christians will take heed to their Lord’s call. The Lord says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:6).
How would we respond to the Lord’s call to be revived? We must respond with ardent pleading and prayer, and with willing submission to His Word. There should be no place for spiritual apathy and prayerlessness in our church, homes and lives.
We must plead for a greater work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that we may love Him fervently and relentlessly. We must pray for holiness and zeal to declare His saving name everywhere. There must be ceaseless prayers, individually and corporately as a church, for the refreshing mercies of God to fall upon us.
Let us pray like the prophet Habakkuk, “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
The Lord will revive us if we humbly seek Him, for He has promised so. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). Jesus said, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13).
So I call every worshipper to come this Saturday to learn from the example of the psalmist, who prayed for revival – “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” (Psalm 85:6,7).
Dear Pastor Koshy,
We are so blessed to be able to attend the Wednesday Lunchtime Bible Study at the Bible Witness Bookroom. We have learnt so much in just a few lessons. We pray to be able to continue to study with you and the class.
Thank you for your unambiguous affirmation that God’s Word is holy and infallible, and that it is to be accepted by faith. Certainly, man’s scientific observations are imperfect and even flawed, at best. We are truly edified.
Our friend, Bro Yee, wishes to attend your church service this Sun; we will accompany him. We pray that he will find GBPC the church for him and his family.
In Christ,
Rob (a recent regular worshipper)
Dear Pastor,
Thank you very much for your prayers and your words of encouragement. I have been meditating on the Word of God, especially on the sermon you preached last evening (Tuesday night prayer meeting), which has greatly encouraged me to love my Lord more fervently. I praise the Lord for impressing on your heart to teach us on the “Names of Christ”. I am very excited and am looking forward to this new series of messages, where we can learn and appreciate all the Names of Jesus. Surely, this will help us to worship Him better, for many a times our words are too weak and faint to express the magnificence and glory of His name.
I know my Saviour, the great Physician, will undertake to see me through. We will be praying for you as you labour hard to prepare all the messages. I always thank God for such spiritual nourishment He has blessed us with through you.
I pray that the Lord will grant me my heart’s desire to go to His house to worship Him this Lord’s Day.
Stephanie Lee
Youths encouraging their peers through GYBH WHATSAPP
Having listened to Pastor’s daily devotions yesterday and today (10th and 11th Sept), I am most comforted by the exhortations from Revelation 12:11. It tells us about the Christians going through persecution, who “overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.”
I felt greatly moved when the realisation dawned upon me that in the midst of our trials, we have Christ who will look after us and give us boldness to live a faithful and fervent life for Him.
Zacharias
Hi Bro, Thank you for sharing :-). May God help us to live selflessly and bear His name fearlessly.
Dorcas