REVIVAL, NOT AS EASY AS WE THINK
MERRY WEDNESDAY– Parris Bailey
“And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.” Neh.12;27
There is nothing more exciting than revival and when people come together. The book of Nehemiah is filled with all sorts of drama. The wall of Jerusalem is in disrepair and Nehemiah steps up to the challenge to rebuild it. He goes through all kinds of hassle but in the end the wall is built. The people broke out in singing and thanksgiving and I bet Nehemiah is thinking that his job is finally done. But then we read this, “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.”
Thats the crazy thing about revival, it has a way of bringing up whatever is happening way down in your belly. For awhile people love the concept of revival but eventually God begins to clean up “our acts” after His precious rain. If we don’t watch out, we will lose our hunger, convince ourselves that our jobs and duties are getting neglected and grow accustomed to seeing the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear. Even worse we start speaking the language of the world. Bitterness, stress, worry and offense seeps back into our lives wrecking havoc. All this makes for a very toxic atmosphere and the Holy Spirit is grieved. I can still remember when The Lord gave me this scripture during revival. “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps.126:1
Spurgeon in the Treasury of David says, “At our first conversion what a turning again of captivity we experienced. Never shall that hour be forgotten. Joy! Joy! Joy! Since then, from multiplied troubles, from depression of spirit, from miserable backsliding, from grievous doubt, we have been emancipated, and we are not able to describe the bliss which followed each emancipation.”
I believe revival can start anew and afresh in us each and every day, it’s learning to wake up everyday and realize we are indeed living our dream——-breathe deep and learn to laugh LOUD!