Revival: Yearning

One of the biggest causes of revival is spiritual hunger.  When there is yearning for Christ, He makes Himself evident.  Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,' declares the Lord."

A question that often pops up in conversations with unbelievers is, "How could God let people who do not know Him and have never heard His Name go to hell?"  While this is a big question that cannot be answered in a single blog post, one thing I must say is this: I have never heard a story of someone who sought out God with all their hearts and did not find Him.

The problem is that not many actually do seek the Lord.  Romans 3:10-11 says, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God."  As humans, we are so often consumed with the problems in our lives: with materialism, trials, death, wealth, food, worry, work, relationships.

But when we realize how sinful and dark we are without Christ, that nothing we ever do on our own is enough, that we have a purpose beyond what we could ever dream for ourselves, when we seek the Lord, He reveals Himself.  Psalm 14:2 says, "The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."  He is eager to have a relationship with every person on this earth.  His love is relentless and unfailing. 

Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."  The Lord desires to show Himself to us.  In Hosea 7:13, the Lord says, "I long to redeem them."  Our purpose on this earth is to glorify God and share His love with all creation.  He wants us to know Him. 

Look at Acts 8:26-40.  An Ethiopian man began to truly yearn to know who the Lord was and what His Word meant, perhaps for the first time in his life.  The Spirit led Philip to approach the Ethiopian man and share the Gospel with him.  The Lord quickly and beautifully made Himself known. 

When there are hearts truly yearning to know Christ, revival happens.

I encourage you to spend time asking the Lord to make His presence known on your campus.  Daily seek His presence at your school.  In your quiet time, ask the Lord to bring conversations into your day where you can share His Word with someone who is seeking Him.  Ask for hearts to be opened to the Gospel.  Ask for a yearning and a hunger to arise on your campus. 

Also, listen to the Spirit moving in your heart.  There will be moments when the Lord will use you to share the truth of the Gospel with another, just like He used Philip; be willing to be used.

The Gospel carries so much power.  When it is spoken, hearts are changed.  The more the Gospel is shared on your campus, the more revival will happen.  Follow the pressings of the Spirit upon your heart.  Share the Gospel with those around you.  Speak the truth of Christ aloud.  Even if those who already know the Lord hear the Gospel, it still carries power, truth, and encouragement.  The Gospel is beautiful!  

In my university, an apparent hunger is beginning to grow.  Small Bible studies have erupted, filled with curious, hungry students.  Breakaway, the largest college Bible study in the nation, is packed out every week.  Impact, a freshman ministry, is successful and growing.  Prayer and worship movements are exploding throughout our city, beginning with three or four students and growing to hundreds.  The Lord is evidently working and moving on my campus.  His hand is beautiful.  And students are finally seeking Him and asking Him to move.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  The Lord is merciful.  He forgives sins and offers a powerful, astonishing grace to us.  However, He is not frustrated or ashamed to offer us His love.  He desires to bless us.  He desires for us to seek Him.  He desires to love on us and give us good gifts that glorify Him.  

Let me encourage you in your journey towards revival.  Spend time daily in worship and prayer, asking the Lord to move in your campus, in your city, and in your personal life.  He hears our cries.  He answers our prayers.  He desires for us to seek Him.  Luke 12:31-32 says, "But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."  It pleases the Lord to respond to our prayers.  He loves us so much.  The students on your campus are precious to Him.

God is worthy to be praised, so let's give glory to Him daily.

Seek Him with all your heart today. 

Luke 11:9-10
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.