Open Heaven 23 July
MEMORISE: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Psalms 85:6
BIBLE READING: Psalms 85:4-7 (KJV)
Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
In Christianity, revival generally refers to increased spiritual fervency or renewal in the congregation of believers. What happens when revival comes? According to our Bible reading of today, people turn away from their wickedness when revival comes. Salvation becomes a household commodity and the anger of God ceases to burn against the people. One pleasant thing about God concerning sinners is that He would always warn them of the dangers of a sinful life so they may repent and escape His fiery judgment. The Bible says in Ezekiel 18:21-23 :
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
Another thing that happens when revival comes is that God answers the prayers of sinners – contrary to the general opinion that He does not. However, it is the prayer of repentance from a sinner that God honours before any other, according to 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 . Revival brings about total restoration of both spiritual and physical wellbeing as seen in 2 Chronicles 33:14-15
“Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.”
The true sign of revival is a genuine departure from an ungodly lifestyle, both publicly and even when we are in our closet. This is contrary to what we experience in the Church today when people claim to be born-again but still maintain their sinful lifestyles. Manasseh died a penitent sinner and had peace, according to #2Chronicles 33:18-20. Your beginning may not matter much but your end certainly will. You shall end well in Jesus name.
ACTION POINT: If you are a sinner, pray for the salvation of your soul. If you are a backslider, pray for revival and complete restoration.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 69:1-36 , Psalms 70:1-5 , Psalms 71:1-24
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – When Revival Comes (1) – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 23 July 2021
