Downpour - Revival

What is revival? First, it is a return to the Lord. To return to the Lord, you must have first turned to the Lord. Revival is for believers, who are in a dry spell spiritually. Every believer will go through dry spells. Revival is a renewal of the passion we once had for the Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "and My people humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.". Revival is not something we just ask for and receive. Revival requires action on our part and then God will respond. Revival will not take place, no matter how hard we try, without the working of God. As we look at Hosea 6:3 and think about Him coming to us like showers, it is more meaningful if we first look at Hosea 4-5. Chapters 4 and 5 are God's case against Israel. As you look at these chapters, notice how much the description of Israel looks like our land today. Hosea 4:1-2 reads, "Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.". We must first realize how sinful, and how far we are from God, before we can seek revival. As we seek to bring revival to ourselves and our churches, lets ask God to show us our sins.