Revival By Andrea Edmundson
I have heard this word many times within the last two weeks and I was inspired to write about it. So, I decided to look up what the root meanings within the word revival meant and it yielded some interesting results.
RE-VIV-AL
“Re” refers to going back, or doing something again
“Viv” means alive or life
“Al” is defined as a noun: action, result of action
When you think about revival, what is the first thing that crosses your mind? You think, “Man, I remember this good services from two plus years ago.” or, “Wow, remember that tent revival from such and such a time?” We think about past times and how wonderful it would be to experience God how we did at that time, and relive it.
As many of us do, we get caught up in our own affairs and forget just how important and iatrical God is within all of that. We get ourselves stuck into a “spiritual quicksand” if you please. Allow me a little imagination… The more we try to dig ourselves out, the faster we sink. Soon, we have ourselves in so deep that only the hand of God can save us. Think to yourself about how close you used to be to God; how you prayed without fail whenever you had the chance. How you weren’t ashamed at work when people asked what you did over the weekend, to tell them that God moved in your church and people received Christ. It almost seems as if these are two different people. So we say things like, “I need to get back closer to God again. I need to start this again.” To me this is what “Re” means. Go back to what you left in Gods hands pick it up and never put it down again.
As formerly stated “Viv” is defined as being alive, or life. The bible says that if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things become new. I can think of so many things when I say the word new. Babies being born untainted and unspoiled, springtime which brings blossoming flowers and sunshine, and waking up every day and opening your eyes to another day made by our Lord. There is richness in new that cannot be rivaled. The word says that God is the same today, yesterday and forever. He has been God longer than human minds can conceive mentally, and yet he still exists. He has not changed yet he robed himself in flesh and walked on this Earth to show the way to true salvation. Even with serving such a timeless God, he has kept it new and fresh. Every time I feel his presence, it’s new to me. To become comfortable and accustomed to such a brilliance and radiance which is Christ Jesus is horrendous.
How can you read of just how wonderful he is and then to not be renewed by that? What he affects becomes effected! Think about a fire where a metal piece is placed; within a matter of minutes, that metal is hot to the touch. You can’t be in God’s presence and not be renewed. If you can do that, I pray you have not been given over to a reprobate mind, but that you will recognize the plan of the enemy and let God touch the ice within your soul.
Finally, “Al” is defined as a noun: an action or the result of action. When my eyes first grazed this word they hung on to noun. A noun is a person, place, thing or idea. We are God’s vessels which he puts into ACTION or use. He takes us as nouns and makes us verbs. He takes his people and puts them into use. He wants us to be people of action who are ready to do his will, who are not content to withdraw from action and merely retire to collect dust. I remember an old song that talks about fire being shut up in our bones. Ring a bell? That fire shouldn’t allow us to be contented.
In conclusion, revival put together means to go back and bring back to life what should have never stopped! Bring it back! Read your Bible, lay hands on the sick, go back to fasting, pray without being shameful. With all of these things, YOU can bring revival to your church.
Sleep. Play with kids. Blog. Visit antique stores. Lounge around in my Pj’s.
