First, revival demands an admission that we have lost something which we need to restore. Sometimes we grow tired and become complacent. People who were once hot in the Lord’s service are only lukewarm. Some have even fallen through the cracks, disappeared back into the world. Yes, there is a need for revival! What must we do?

Return to a belief in the power of God. If God is the power behind the universe, He is certainly the power behind the church. We must know that we are not the ones who make things happen, but it is God providentially working in us. The Hebrew’s writer says that God is at work in us, helping us to be well pleasing in His sight. Christianity is not cold abstract facts, but a living God working in and through His people as a result of their faith.

Revival is not dependent upon some gimmick, fad, new program or human ability, but upon a return to a faith in the power of God, the power of the gospel message, power of the word, power of prayer, power of a holy life and the power of His resurrection.

Revival demands complete obedience. The acquisition of a baptismal certificate does not assure one of a place in heaven. Sitting on a soft pew three times a week with a hard heart and wandering mind does not please God who paid such an extreme price to redeem, justify and sanctify us.

Daniel Walker in his book Enemy In The Pew says we need a change from membership to discipleship in the church today. Churches have watered down membership to the point that anybody can claim it, but the demands of discipleship to Jesus remain unbent and unbendable.

Cheap grace demands no discipleship, no holiness, no revival. God’s grace has demands! For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Revival in worship. We live in a therapeutic society that is caught up in self, so all too frequently our worship services incorporate large doses of self-satisfaction and entertainment. We want our needs met, we want what makes us feel good. The preacher must be dynamic, the temperature just right with no crying babies, the sermon must be short and entertaining. You see, we have moved the focus of worship from God to the audience.

At Jacob's well, Jesus said; true, God pleasing, worship must be in spirit and in truth. What for our grandparents was exhilarating and exciting worship, became for our fathers a tradition and for many of us only a boring habit. Genuine, scriptural, revival is not changing the worship, but changing our hearts, our attitude while remaining faithful to truth.

Revival of fellowship. New Testament fellowship does not mean we must agree with one another on every point. It doesn’t mean that we always get along in perfect harmony. Check your New Testament. We have tried to make fellowship mean something that scripture never did. Paul and Barnabas didn't agree on John Mark's involvement in the second missionary journey, but they didn't split the church at Antioch. They were still in fellowship. They were still united in purpose.

Fellowship means we worship together, work together and pray for the same things. Fellowship means encouraging one another. What if David had had someone to encourage him that evening on the roof top? What if Jonah had had a brother to encourage him about God’s call to Nineveh? We need one another’s help. Lets revive fellowship in its true meaning.

Revival of the pioneer spirit. The Hebrew church had locked themselves into a prison of first principles, with no desire to press on into the meat, to new frontiers within God’s word.

Over three hundred years ago a ship load of pioneers landed in New England. Four years later the government they had established wanted to build a road five miles into the wilderness. Many said it was a waste of time and money. Amazing isn’t it, that those who could once see three thousand miles across an uncharted ocean, could now not see five miles down the road.

God help us to revive the spirit of adventure and excitement in the word, and in our faith.

—RANDALL CASELMAN