Prayers That Ignite
TRUE REVIVAL

The word “revival” has been used so much, it has lost a great deal of its power. Now, when we hear the term, we think of a series of scheduled meetings in a church focused on encouraging a local body of believers—that may or may not be spiritually intense. However, foundationally, the word means “to raise from death to life” (re-vive = re means to restore, vive means life).

If interpreted correctly, this word implies a major manifestation of the power of God that spiritually resurrects sons and daughters of God to a higher level of intimacy with the Most High—a visitation that can ultimately overflow to impact an entire community with divine influence.

True revival on a personal level is something that affects every part of our being and overflows into every arena in our lives. Most of God’s people need to be “revived” emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually (restored from the death-dealing blows that we have all received on our journey). A nation can be changed by changing people—one at a time.

The first occurrence of this word and this concept in Scripture is significant. Most likely, the patriarch Jacob had been deeply depressed for thirteen years. He was convinced, through the deception of ten of his sons, that Joseph, their brother, had been attacked by a wild animal and killed. When he saw the coat of many colors dipped in the blood of a goat, he didn’t question the story that it was Joseph’s blood.

Little did he know that a divine plan was evolving that would rescue him and his family from a time of famine (God does those kinds of things—He is a genius at turning curses into blessings—Deuteronomy 23:5).

If you are unfamiliar with the whole story, you should read it (Genesis 37-47). When Jacob’s sons returned from Egypt with grain, they also bore amazing news to their father—Joseph was alive and had sent carts for Jacob and his family to carry all of their possessions down to Egypt. Not only was he still alive; he had been made ruler over all of Egypt under Pharaoh (how amazing is our God!!!). The Scripture records Jacob’s reaction to this unexpected report:

But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. (Genesis 45:27)

I don’t believe that short statement does justice to what really happened in Jacob’s heart: such joy must have exploded in him internally that it wrenched him free from over a decade of despair. Can you imagine the fresh hope emanating from his face? Can you see him walking more briskly? Living life with more zest from that point forward?

And here's the clincher---What God did for him, He can do for you!

I suggest you listen to the message on "Prayers That Ignite True Revival" in the AUDIO section under "TEACHINGS." Then apply that teaching to your own life personally. Be revived in Jesus’ name!!! Here are the seven prayers for revival that I expound on in depth. You should memorize them and quote them often. 

SEVEN REVIVAL PRAYERS

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your Word. 
(Psalm 119:25)

Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your judgments. (Psalm 119:156)

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. (Psalm 119:37)

Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. 
(Psalm 119:88)

Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness. 
(Psalm 119:40)

Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake! For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. (Psalm 143:11)

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice I You?
(Psalm 85:6)

REVIVE US AGAIN O GOD!!!

Here is a quote that should spur us to action:

"The Holy Ghost did not fall upon the Upper Room until they had prayed and sought God for ten long days. Daniel did not receive the outline of Israel's history from God's messenger until his twenty-first day of prayer and fasting. Saul, who later became Paul, did not receive sight for his blinded eyes until he had prayed and fasted for three days. There never has been and there never will be such a thing as a spontaneous revival. Revival did not come like that in Bible times and it will not come like that today. We may never know who prayed the revival down, but if it comes, you can be sure that somewhere a hungry soul sought God."

(James Hamby - page 171 of Inspiring Quotations by Albert M. Wells, Jr.)