It is possible to get caught up in analysing the church’s weakness and neglect to pray for her. Yes, she is sick. Much goes on within her walls that do not glorify her husband and Lord. The sheep are poorly fed, for the shepherds have largely subscribed to a false charter which ignores the original charter laid down by her King.

However, nothing would so correct the state of things as a heaven-sent revival. A revival is the unusual move of the Holy Spirit doing what Christ said he would do: convict people of sin and point them to Jesus. In a revival, people, especially those who had always been religious, are brought to see the emptiness of the lives they have been living.

Those who are so convicted are brought to see Jesus as saviour and cast themselves on him for salvation. Many who formerly had the name ‘Christian’ now genuinely sense the realities of the gospel. A deep, abiding, unexplainable joy is the result. Such a joy and delight makes nonsense of the pleasures of TV, sex, money, and others which ordinarily engage our interest.

Revival, to a great extent, renews the church, for it causes us to shun the false practices and activities which fill so much of our current church life. It draws us to focus on the Spirit and the Word of God through Preaching, Prayer, and true Worship. Much else disappears. And that is a good thing.

Not only is the activity of Preaching restored, it is purified. It is purified in its content and its tone. Away with the motivational sermon that sounds like a business chat. Away with the shallow, cliche-ridden messages that stir up men to try harder to succeed next Monday.

Revival-restored preaching is a blast from the throne of God. It is preaching as preaching is meant to be: God’s word proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit, declared under God’s authority. It is convicting, transforming, and sanctifying in its impact, redirecting its human hearers to a whole new way of being and living. Such preaching will issue in a life radically different from what obtains in the community. And by that difference, many more get to know of the Jesus who raises from the dead.

Such, and much more, we can expect when God pours out his Spirit on us.

Oh, may this be our daily prayer! Let us give God no rest until he makes his church a praise on the earth.