Revival: an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.
Yearnings: protracted, insistent and strong desires or cravings, especially in wishing for something lost: longings for the attainment of something unfulfilled.
The Harvest is past,
The Summer is ended,
And we are not saved.
Jeremiah 8:20
I am painfully aware of the fact that I am sounding more and more like a broken record, in prayer, conversation and preaching. Not trying to be overly mysterious, but it is almost an irresistible compulsion. The driving force of my life and ministry, my dreams and my daydreams, the yearning of my innermost being is the urgent and desperate need for Revival, in my life, my family, my church, our churches, our nation and the world. Actually, the need is Revival in our churches and Spiritual Awakening in America and the world. Absolutely nothing else will suffice.
Most Christians will agree with that. Casually. But God does NOT hear our casual prayers for Revival! He hears and responds to, in His sovereign timing, our DESPERATE prayers for Revival. Apparently America is not decadent enough for us to be desperate enough. Can you imagine it getting any worse? How bad is bad enough for us to get fed up and do something? I don’t mean do something political. Yes, of course, we should vote and vote intelligently. But we are not going to elect a messiah to save America! God has already elected the Messiah. They say there are 60 million born again Christians (as if there were any other kind!) in the US. If that were true, and it’s not, we evangelicals would “own” this country politically. If that is what it was all about. But it’s not. I’m not trying to rally folks around a particular candidate. I’m trying to rally folks around the Throne of Grace and Mercy, crying out, “How long, O Lord? How long will you be angry against the prayer of Your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure. You have made us a strife to our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; look down from Heaven and see and visit this vine and the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself. Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will you be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.”
Keep in mind, this is not a prayer that lost America needs to pray. This is a prayer for the Church. Conviction. Brokenness. Confession. Restoration. Restitution. Prayer. Fasting. Crying out to God. Getting rid of bitterness, strife, pettiness in the Church. Growing up! Then the promise, “I will heal their land.” Revival, then Awakening, in that order.
In the love of Christ,
Dan Grindstaff
(Just an evangelist)