Habakkuk and a Message for Revival
Date: July 23, 2016
Audio Sermon: Click on the play button below.
Revival comes from the word “revive” which means “to bring to life again” or to “restore to health.” But revival is something that happens to those who have life already, not to something lifeless. Thus, revival is something that is directed toward those who already follow Christ and have eternal life within them. Revival is about refreshing, refocusing, restoring, and bringing to life again one’s faith and their pursuit of God.
However, revival is not primarily about renewed interest in the church, increased attendance, or overall enthusiasm of the congregation. Rather, revival is something that emerges from deep within the heart of each believer. It is something that arises from a determination and disposition of the heart that turns to God and seeks him in all things.
Concerning what it takes for revival to occur, the prophet Habakkuk has an interesting prophecy that I believe speaks into one of the critical areas that is needed to address for revival to happen in the life of the believer. Habakkuk complains to God about the coming Babylonians who are threatening to take over the land of Judah and conquer God’s people. God’s response to him is that he is doing something, something that he would not even believe if he was told it. But even after all of Habakkuk’s complaints and listening to God’s answers, Habakkuk concludes that “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (Hab 3:17-19).
One major component of revival consists of not wavering in your faith and allowing circumstances to affect your joy and confidence in God. If everything is gone, and life seems to not make sense, revival is about still rejoicing in and proclaiming the name of the Lord and trusting in whatever he is doing in your life. We must always remember that even if what we are going through doesn’t seem to make sense, God is always involved and at work for our good. If we look to him despite our situation, we will find ourselves deepening our trust and confidence in him and our faith will be strengthened and renewed. Revival is about finding new footing to rise to greater heights no matter where we are in our journey of faith.
And so, revival starts with each one of us individually turning to God and praising him even if everything might seem lost.
~JW
