Until a few years ago, I thought revivals were an EXTRA-special outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, whereby he ordained things normal Christians are not called to experience. Yet through prayerful reflection and reading some of the greats on this topic, my thinking is now different. The marks of a Christian revival are actually quite ordinary, such as (i) mourning over sin, (ii) deep repentance, (iii) joyous worship, (iv) a humble and vigorous prayer life, (v) restored relationships, (vi) a deep desire for fellowship, (vii) renewed obedience, and (viii) a heart for the lost.
While these things sound ordinary, most Christians find them difficult to achieve. Yet we should not think they are beyond our abilities, for (a) the Bible wouldn’t rebuke us for failing to achieve them if we couldn’t, and (b) many pockets of the church have achieved them in past revivals.
To accomplish this though, we need the Spirit to awaken these qualities in us. So let us pray! Yet as we wait for God to answer, James 4:8 gives us something else to do. In chapter 4, James outlines a number of sins all too common in the church; (i) broken fellowship, (ii) earthly desires, (iii) lack of prayer, (iv) pride, (v) lack of submission to God, etc. These things are the opposite of a revival. Then in v. 8 he calls us to ‘draw near to God, and He will draw near to us’. Drawing near to God means wanting more of God; wanting a closer relationship with God, or as Carson says ‘seeking God’s face’.
Whether God answers our prayers for a revival or not, James chapter 4 commands Christians to be seeking the marks of a revival in their lives. We do this by actively seeking a deeper relationship with God. Can I encourage you to start praying that God will help you draw near to him.
