Worship Devotional XLIV
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 10/17/2020.
Worship Devotional for 10/18/20
When we pray for revival, we often have a picture in our heads of what we think it will or should look like — maybe it's based on what has happened before at various times throughout history, or maybe it's based on whatever feels spiritual to us. However, the reality is that God doesn't act according to human will or purposes or ideas; He acts in accordance with His will, His plan, and His purposes. That means that revival may not look like what we want or expect it to look like. It can be disappointing and discouraging sometimes when it feels like our prayers are not being answered. But it is in times like these when God calls us to turn to Him, to wait upon Him, to trust in Him, and to seek Him with all our hearts.
We know the truths of the gospel and of God's word that we have been taught, but sometimes we feel a lack of joy or excitement or passion like what we have experienced before. This causes us to long for something new and fresh and exciting. It is very popular and common to want such things. While it is true that the deepest joy and satisfaction are to be found in Jesus, it is also true that there is a cost to following Him. If we want to experience the deep joy and the pleasures that God offers to those who seek His kingdom, we must come before Him with repentant hearts and answer His call to holiness by surrendering the worldly things which our hearts can cling so tightly to. There is a popular movement — especially in more charismatic circles — which is defined by a romanticized picture of revival that is characterized by signs, miracles, and wonders. These are not bad things so long as they are truly of God, but they are also seen on the surface. There can be miracles and signs among us, and yet we could still miss the whole point. And this is nothing new — after all, that's how it was when Jesus walked the earth. He healed the sick and raised the dead and performed many supernatural signs and wonders and miracles, and yet the same people who witnessed those things crucified Him. So God may choose to work similar miracles among us — or He may not. Either way, He is still at work, both in and around us for His glory. We need to be willing to let go of our own ideas and purposes, and learn to trust in His good and sovereign plan as we pray for revival.
If we want to see revival in our nation, we need to mean what we pray. If we pray for righteousness and justice out there, are we willing to let go of the unrighteousness and injustice that lingers in our own hearts? If we feel grieved by the sins of the world that we see happening all around us, are we also grieved by the sins we ourselves have committed? Revival starts with repentance. Over the next couple of weeks, as we approach the November election, we will be singing about the power of God to bring revival and to work in mighty and miraculous ways. The goal, however, is humility and repentance and faith, no matter how dull or bad or discouraging things may appear. In pursuing these things, we draw closer to the Lord and are washed and renewed by the truth of His word, which ultimately results in the deepest and purest joy that can only be found in Christ. We pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that He may fill our hearts and make us more like Christ.
Here are this week's songs:
1) While I Wait by Lincoln Brewster
Have you asked God for revival or for a fresh sense of His working or for more of His goodness in your life? Have you prayed for something that only God can give, and yet felt disappointed when it didn't look like what you expected, or even didn't happen at all? The Lord has promised that He hears our prayers, but He doesn't always answer according to our expectations or ideas of how things should look or feel. When you feel disappointed or discouraged, remember that God is still in control and He is good. Trust in Him as you wait to see His plan unfold, choose to worship His name, and hold onto His promises. He is faithful.
2) Come As Close As You Want by Tim Reimherr
Hebrews 12:14:
"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord."
1 Peter 1:15-16:
"But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
We serve the one true and living God. He is holy and righteous and just. None of us can stand in His presence because we are all unclean and sinful and unholy. However, the blood of Jesus washes us and makes us clean so that — only through faith in Him — we can now live forever in the presence of God as those who have been born again and made new. For us right now, this means that we are called to sanctification (being made holy) by the Holy Spirit as we live out our time on earth. If we want revival, it starts with a desire for sanctification. This song is a prayer that God would make our wandering hearts clean and pure and that He would make us holy and more like Him so that we can dwell in His presence, for that is what we were made for.
3) Light The Fire Again by Brian Doerksen
Revelation 3:14-22 says:
"Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: 'The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne. Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
The church in America has a lot in common with the church in Laodicea. We think we are rich, and yet we hardly see the depravity among us. This song is a prayer that God would cause us to take heed of these warnings, so that we can be victorious in the end and not fall away. Lord, light Your fire in us and deliver us from our lukewarmness!
4) Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle
We need to be revived and awakened to the glorious truth of the gospel, so that we may not be those who merely hear the word, but those who act in obedience. The only One who can accomplish this in us is the Holy Spirit. Let us pray together for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit of the living God in us, with hearts that desire truth and action and not just feelings. Holy Spirit, come awaken us. Move us to be doers of Your word and not hearers only. Cause us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and to seek You with all our hearts. Sanctify us for Your glory.
Scriptures:
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Psalms 25, 27, 51, 86
Isaiah 40 (esp. vv. 28-31)
Lamentations 3:21-26
Matthew 5:6, 24:12-13
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10, 13:5
Ephesians 2, 5:6-14
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Hebrews 12
1 Peter 1, 4:7-19, 5:8-11
Revelation 2:1-7, 3:14-22
Another thing we need to be reminded of when contemplating the subject of revival is the grace of God. We are saved by His grace, we are healed by His grace, we have hope because of His grace, and we are brought to new life under His grace. Revival is already offered to us by the grace of God!
Lamentations 3:21-26:
"Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord."
Every day is a new day to worship God and to turn to Him and seek Him and forget the things of the past. If things seem dark and difficult and depressing now, remember that His mercies are new every morning. For us as believers, revival is not some far away concept, unlikely to be achieved or realized. Instead it is already given to us by grace and the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise us. Each day is a new day to surrender and follow Him. Let us pray with hope and eager expectation, because God is willing and able and ready to revive our hearts and sanctify us from within and finish the work He began in us when we first believed in His name.