Revival – At What Price?
by Barbara Hollace
For years, many of us have prayed for revival, not only in this
area, but in this nation, and around the world. There have been
great revivals throughout history. But the magnitude of the
revival we need to turn our nation back to God still has us on our
knees in prayer.
What is the price of revival? What does it cost? I don’t mean
the price of the venue for an event, advertising, planning,
finding the right speaker, or even the spiritual battles involved.
The cost of revival is much more personal. Revival begins with
you and me.
Over the last couple of years as my husband has been recovering
from a multi-faceted illness, an attempted knock-out punch by the
enemy, God has been transforming our lives. He has been opening my
eyes to greater truth about who He is and our calling as followers
of Jesus.
One day as I was sitting with my husband in the hospital, the
Lord spoke to me about revival. God reminded me that personally I
had been praying for revival for years, and He pointed out, so had
my church family. Revival does not overtake us like an ocean wave,
it doesn’t pour down upon us like a rainstorm. We cannot run here
or there to “catch up” to the revival. Revival wells up inside of
us! Revival is like those “springs of living water” that Jesus
talked about in John 7:38, “Believe in me so that rivers of living
water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost
being, just like the Scripture says!” (The Passion Translation)
That sounds like revival to me – new life bursting forth from
within us.
Then the Lord asked me this question, “Are you willing to pay
the price? Are you willing to pay the cost of revival in your own
life?”
With tears streaming down my face, I knew He was asking me if I
was willing to walk through the refining fire with Him. Was I
willing to surrender all – my hopes and dreams, family, friends,
business, possessions – everything for the sake of the gospel? Was
I willing to lay my Isaac on the altar just like Abraham was asked
to do, so that God could do His transforming work in me? Was I
willing to pay the price so that the revival I longed to see could
begin in me?
God is a gentle Father. He will not force His love upon you.
His arms are always open wide to receive us, but we must take the
first step toward Him.
When God asked me, I replied, “Yes, Lord. I am willing. I know
the price is high, but if Jesus was willing to die on the cross
for me, how can I do anything less than give my life to You?”
My heart hungers and thirsts for His righteousness. My heart
longs for others to say “yes” to the revival in our day that we
desperately need, many so desperately want. However, it will not
happen if we watch from the bleachers. We must step into the
arena. Not to fight, but to be willing to be used where God would
have us stand for truth, and love others just as He loves them.
Our own lives have been forever changed through this health
journey, and we have seen God’s hand through it all. The miracles,
the divine appointments, the lives that have been touched because
of His love, light, and power at work in us; this was part of
God’s design. This is our path to revival.
Many years ago during an all-night prayer session at our
church, God gave me a vision. It was a large map of the United
States. There were Christians “on the move” from the West Coast
and the East Coast, the North and the South, toward the center of
the country. And as they moved forward, people were being saved,
lives changed, the light was overcoming the darkness. This is the
picture of the awakening that is coming.
The coming revival has been foretold by many prophetic voices,
but more than that, we know God’s heart through the Bible from the
beginning of time, in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him,
will not perish, but have everlasting life.” God’s heart is that
none should perish.
As we look back through history at the great revivals that have
changed the world, we see God’s faithfulness. He makes a way, even
when there seems to be no way. While the darkness seems to be
getting darker, God’s love and hope shine brighter. Lord God
Almighty does His greatest work in what looks like impossible
situations.
This is God’s question to you, “Are you willing to pay the
price? Are you willing to offer your body as a living sacrifice
(Romans 12:1), totally committed to God, and let the next revival
begin in you?”
If you are willing, God will show you the way. May the spirit
of revival spring up in you today.
|