Without God’s Word, There Can Be No Revival
In this blog series, we’ve reviewed how revival comes when we wholeheartedly seek Jesus as Lord of our lives. Today, we’re exploring how seeking Him through His Word brings revival.
The Role of Scripture in Revival
Scripture is to our souls as kindling is to a fire.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Just as God breathed physical life into Adam (Genesis 2), His Word breathes spiritual life into us.
Just as God breathed physical life into Adam, His Word breathes spiritual life into us.
We don’t have to wonder what God would say to us because He’s given us the Scriptures to tell us. This is not to say He doesn’t still speak to people or to discount the Holy Spirit’s promptings. But you will never hear His voice or feel His Spirit guide you towards something that is contrary to what Scripture says.
His truth–the Truth–will always lead you closer to Him and His will.
How Scripture Leads to Revival in You
We crave revival because we look around us and recognize something needs to change. Before our families and communities can change, however, we must change first. Consider the “problem” areas of your life. Align these areas with Scripture, and you’ll see how God is guiding you to modify your actions and attitudes in these areas.
Spending consistent time in His Word is like spending time with a friend. Your relationship with Him will grow not only because of what each of you says, but because of the quality time you’re spending in His presence. The more time you spend engaging in Scripture, the more you’ll learn to recognize His voice, and the more like Him you will become.
To go back to 2 Timothy 3:16, His Word will teach you so you know what righteousness looks like. The Holy Spirit will use His Word to rebuke you, so you are convicted in areas where your life does not align with His will. Scripture will correct your actions and attitudes by showing you His way over your own. It also trains us to live out His purpose for our lives.
How Scripture Leads to Revival Around You
In 2 Chronicles 34, when King Josiah takes the throne, the nation of Israel is a mess.
The people have abandoned their covenant with God, are worshiping false idols, and are struggling as a result.
This happened because they neglected Scripture. In verse 14, as Hilkiah the Priest is overseeing work to restore the temple at King Josiah’s request, he finds “the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses.” In other words, the people of Israel had lost God’s Word.
When we our lives with His Word, everything changes.
When we neglect spending time in Scripture, we, too, become at-risk of forsaking the abundant life God promised to us through salvation. We start to take control of our own lives rather than surrendering to Him. We begin pursuing things we convince ourselves will bring us satisfaction, but they only leave us empty…until we come back to God and His Word.
As we align our lives with His Word, everything changes.
2 Chronicles 34 continues by telling us King Josiah and Hilkiah the Priest, having found the Book of the Law of Moses, began reading it over the people of Israel. As people heard the Word of God, they abandoned their idols and turned back to the covenant with the One True God.
The chapter ends with verse 33, which says as long as Josiah lived, the people “did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”
Spend time in God’s Word. Align your life by what it says. It will lead you to lead others, and that’s how change in your family, community, and in our nation will come.
This post is inspired by message five of our “Awakening” sermon series entitled, “Reviving God’s Word” by Dr. Jody Ray. To help you spend regular time in God’s Word, we offer weekly, pastor-led Bible studies for both men (Mondays from 7:30am-9am ET in person) and women (Wednesdays at 10am-11:30am ET in-person and streamed online) you can join at any time.