The Cost of Revival

2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6 

“When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes…’…This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord.’”

2 Chronicles 34:19, 26, 27

King Josiah began cleansing the land of idols and rebuilding the temple even before he had read the Book of the Law. When the Book of the Law was rediscovered during the temple renovations, Josiah greatly humbled himself before the Lord. He tore his robes and wept before the Lord for his sin and the sins of his people. That is what revival looks like. We become very aware of how our sin has grieved God. When sin is tolerated in our lives and in the Church, the state of spiritual life declines. Revival is costly. Leaders must repent and humble themselves before the Lord and before others. This humility and repentance have marked every revival in church history. Without personal revival we drift spiritually, and our prayers are not heard. The cost of revival is great, but the cost of no revival is greater.

“Lord Jesus, I cry out to you for revival in my life and in the Church, for your glory.”