“…and the people did fear before the Lord.” Haggai 1:12
Dear Ones:
What is revival from the standpoint of a nation, but also, of an individual? And what are the “means” by which revival comes, and is maintained in the life? In the book of Isaiah, we read: “And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto him, and His righteousness, it sustained him.” (59:16) It is an amazing thing, but God’s primary means of reaching the hearts of others, is by men and women who are His servants, and who will do His will. What do we mean by this? Paul calls these individuals co-laborers with Christ. The Lord works with, by, and through them, to reach others. Hence, we see that He LOOKS for intercessors, those believing individuals who will intercede, pray, and offer supplication, for others in need. We have a perfect example of this in the book of Habakkuk, where judgement is coming to Israel because of her rejection of God. We find the prophet Habakkuk praying, even in the context of dire circumstances: “Revive Thy work in the midst of the years.” (3:2) Immediately after writing this prayer, Habakkuk writes: “God came…” (v.3) This declaration reveals to us the essence of revival…it is God coming, moving, working…and everybody knows it.
How does revival start? In the case of Israel in the days of Haggai, it started by “…the word of the Lord,” spoken by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The fact is God has chosen to reveal Himself to men through His word. Paul refers to this principle when he speaks of the Gospel being the power of God unto salvation. What is the Gospel? It is God speaking by and through the truths of the “good news” of Himself, and His salvation. There is power in those truths, power to change lives, power to bring new life, even revival. So, we have at the beginning of the books of Haggai and Zechariah the same introduction: “…the word of the Lord came (to) Haggai…Zechariah.” It will be by that proclamation of the word FROM God, that conviction is born in the hearts of the hearers, a conviction that changes things.
It is very important to realize here that “revival” is both an individual matter, and one of a nation. We find that the word of the Lord was addressed first to the individual, principle men of Judah at that time. God spoke to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest. The result of this specific word to the specific heart, was a conviction of such power and magnitude, that they would set themselves to “obey the word of the Lord,” even in the face of difficulty and opposition. But revival does not stop there. God’s plan is not just to “stir up” the individual, but the people. It was as Haggai and Zechariah gave forth the word of God to the people, that something occurred that changed the whole landscape with regard to their faith. Scripture tells us: “…and the people did fear before the Lord.” (1:12) What does this mean? It means that God moved upon the people, and that the consciousness and conviction of His presence and person, was such that they feared Him, were astonished and overwhelmed. In the context of this awareness, the Lord would speak through Haggai to the people, saying, “…I am with you.” The result of the conviction of the certainty of God’s presence with them, and for them, was that God did “stir up” the leaders, and the people, individually. Thus, they would come and do work on the house of the Lord, with the promise ever before them: “‘…I will fill this house with My glory,’ says the Lord.” (2:7) And, “‘…the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (2:9)
Dear Father, revive us by speaking to us individually, and together, through Your word. Grip our hearts as you did in times of old, and change the landscape of our lives for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad