Revival
Author: Josué Mora PeñaI think that first of all we need to know what revival means. The Websters New Collegiate Dictionary says, To live again; to return to consciousness or life; to became active or flourishing again; to reanimate; to restore from a depressed, inactive or unused state. But for me, it simply means, throw another log into the bonfire. Some of the churches have what they call revival services. The idea is to wake up the members of the congregation who, probably are very comfortable in their worshipping God and sometimes, many of them are asleep spiritual. So revival is for someone who is already alive, but they need to wake up. A dead person cannot be revived, he or she needs to be born first spiritually.
Todays Bible scripture has to do with a young king who God used to revive the people of Israel. His name was Josiah. It was during the year 640 B.C. when this happened. The last two kings of Judah were evil ones: Manasseh and Amon. Josiah was only 8-years-old when he began to reign. The revival that he brought about was when he was already an adult, probably at the age or 26 (verse 8). He reigned for 31 years and was the best king of Judah. It all began when Josiah sent someone to repair the temple of God which has been neglected. While the work was being done, Hilkiah the priest, found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses (verse 14).
When the people finished remodeling the Temple of the Lord, the Priest Hilkiah gave the book of the law to Shaphan, the scribe. He brought it to the king. Now the book of the law of the Lord was the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, known as The Torah, written by Moses. Shaphan read the book to the king because he asked him to read it to him and as he was reading it, the Spirit of God began to move in the kings heart. When was the last time you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit while reading the Bible? Without reading this Holy Book Book, theres no way God can talk to us. I have always said it, When we pray, we talk to God, when we read the Bible, God speaks to us.
What did the king do when Shaphan the scribe finished reading the book of the law? he rent his clothes (verse 19). This kind of action was a sign of sorrow, anguish for having done something evil. King Josiah realized what a great sin the people of Israel had committed: They had corrupted themselves; went back to the idols; have broken the first commandment, Thou shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20.3). The sin of Judah was a serious one.
They didnt realize how far they had strayed away from God. No human being will recognize his or her sin if they dont read their Bibles. This Holy Book will put us in contact with God who is Holy and Pure. His holiness will help us see our sinfulness. If we want to revive our lives, our churches, our family and our acquaintances, we must go back to the Bible.
What else did king Josiah do beside tearing his clothes? He sent several persons to consult the Lord about himself, the remnant of Israel (whatever was left after the 10 Northern tribes were taken captives by the Assyrians in 721 AD); and for Judah (verse 20). Verse 21 says, Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon
us. . . . The king was worried not only for himself but also for Judah and Israel. In verses 22 to 28, we find the answer of Huldah the prophetess to King Josiah. It is also found in the Second Book of Kings, chapter 22, verses 14 to 20. Read these passages to see what happened to the King and to the Nation.
Only God can revive but it is up to you and me to be revived. We can begin to be revived today. We need to read the Bible so that God will reveal Himself to us; so that He will show us the way we need to follow; so that He will show us His will and help us to do it but above all, to realize how sinful we have been, especially if we have a Bible in our homes were not reading it Bible consciously. I have always said that the greatest sin of any child of God is to have a Bible and not read it. When I used to play chess with my son, and I have to admit that he always beat me, he always reminded me that the next move was up to me and so it is with us today. Your next move is up to you and me. The best piece to move is the Bible and remember that with Christ we never loose.
josue.mora@iglesiabautista.org
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And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 