I think most of us associate revival with the old tent revivals or widespread acts and gifts of the Holy Spirit. My hope is that we would seek to see the FRUIT of the Spirit even more than the GIFTS of the Spirit. One of my old pastors said this and it resonated with me so much: “The proof of a Spirit-led and sanctified life is not the gifts of the Spirit, but the fruit of the Spirit.”
We also need to remember that we don’t need to ask God to come. He’s omnipresent. He’s everywhere (geographically) all the time (past, present and future). But… we can ask him to do things he hasn’t done yet, in us, or in people around us. We can beg and plead for God to move in new ways. This is our prayer.
When I started writing this song at the end of 2019, it was an idea that came from reflecting on God’s greatness. I was reflecting on how I had seen Him do great things in my own life, things that only He can do. And, I wanted to declare that I trust Him to continue to do great things in the days to come.
Throughout the song writing process, I can remember thinking more externally to the world around me— seeking renewal, and repentance, and revival in the world, from the world, and for the world. I love to see people gather together to worship the One True King.
Seeing God move among people is powerful and there’s so much benefit from being a part of that. When people of different families, and tribes, and cultures, and subcultures can come together as ONE, it’s beautiful.
What are we really asking?
But, what was I really asking and seeking with this prayer, “God, send revival?” Was it simply that all would know Him? Of course I want the lost to know Jesus, and to believe. But it doesn’t stop there. While I still seek and desire those things, I think what God taught me most through writing this song is that revival has to start inside me first. He was drawing me constantly back to Himself.
Church, if we want to see revival, it has to start within each of us first; in our hearts, in the quiet place.
It starts in humility before God. It starts with coming before Him in complete awe of who He is. It starts by coming to the end of ourselves and completely relying on Him alone for strength to go about our days.
He’s calling us all to do this. He calls us all to surrender, and to surrender fully, to surrender it all and to withhold nothing. God wants nothing less than all of you and all of me. And we have to remember… This isn’t a suggestion! It’s a command.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. (1 Corinthians 11:1-2)
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4)
To this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
What’s our way into revival?
So… What do we have to lose? What do we have to gain? If His Story is true, everything.
If we go back to the basics of what we’re called to as Christians, and live in the way we were intended to in the first place, that would be radical in our day, wouldn’t it? Revival would naturally begin in this world if we were obedient to the commands of scripture.
How well do we know the Bible in our day? Living according to the Scripture is radical, and it’s not easy. Can you imagine if we all just followed the Ten Commandments? If you’ve lived any, then you know it’s impossible to do this, starting with the first commandment. But what if we all sought God and His Word with all of ourselves rather than just the leftovers of our life? Or maybe He doesn’t even get the leftovers?
Look back at your past week, or few months. What would you say you’ve looked to for guidance? For strength? For help? For rest? For growth? Things of this world? Or things above? His Word? Or the words of someone else or even the voice in your head?
C.S. Lewis once wrote,
“The ordinary idea which we all have is that … we have a natural self with various desires and interests … and we know something called “morality” or “decent behavior” has claim on the self … we are all hoping that when all the demands of morality and society have been met, the poor natural self will still have some chance, some time, to get on with its own life and do what it likes. In fact, we are very likely an honest man paying his taxes. He pays them, but he does hope that there will be enough left over for him to live on.
The Christian way is different – both harder and easier. Christ says, ‘Give me ALL. I don’t want just this much of your time and this much of your money and this much of your work – so that your natural self can have the rest. I want you, not your things. I have come not to torture your natural self … I will give you a new self instead. Hand over the old natural self—ALL the desires, not just the ones you think wicked but the ones you think innocent—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead.’
The almost impossibly hard thing is to hand over your whole self to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is remain what we call “ourselves”—our personal happiness centered on money or pleasure or ambition—and hoping, despite this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And that is exactly what Christ warned us you cannot do.”
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Follow Him As a Response
As the Scriptures say time and time again, Jesus commands us to follow Him. Each of us is called to surrender, and to surrender everything. Not for the sake of religion, but as a response to the grace we’ve been shown by Jesus. We don’t obey His commands and His Word so that we can be accepted (religion). Instead, we are accepted through what Christ has done for us, therefore, we obey (the gospel).
My prayer is that each of us would surrender to Jesus. My prayer is that revival would break out in each and every one of our hearts, and spread like wildfire through this city and our world. And because we’re living in true freedom, in the love of Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, those around us who don’t know Jesus would come to know Him. That the lost would be found and that the religious would come to understand the gospel, and both would truly find life.
God… for all you’ve done in our lives and for what you’re going to do in the days to come we can’t help but say, “How Great You Are!”
God Send Revival Lyrics
VERSE 1
We’re crying out
Desperate for you
As we’re waiting
Heaven breakthrough
Even when my eyes can’t see
Lord, come and help my unbelief
CHORUS
God, send revival
Come in your power
Awaken Your people
We look to You
Our faith is rising
Lord, we are trusting
Healing is coming
Holy Spirit, move
VERSE 2
Out of the darkness
Your light it shines through
Our hope forever
Jesus, it’s You
You are the Christ, the Risen Lamb
You’ve done it once, You’ll come again
BRIDGE
How Great You Are
How Great You Are
How Great You Are
Let all creation sing it
How Great You Are
Let the heavens hear it
How Great You Are
My eyes have seen it
How Great You Are
Let every heart I believe it
How Great You Are
How Great You Are
Author: Adam Kingsmore
Adam is the Worship Leader at Redemption Church. His wife and kids are awesome. He’s been leading worship for many years, and has written several of the songs we sing on Sundays, including God Send Revival! Check out our worship page here.
