MONDAY January 7, 2019
Spiritual Revival
And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
1 Samuel 7:5-6
Israel had fully repented of their idolatry and committed themselves only to God. They had begun to align themselves completely with God’s purposes and His will. Samuel recognized a change of heart among the people and prayed to God for them. He became an intercessor for the people.
At Mizpah, when the people poured water out of a basin before the Lord, it spoke symbolically of their consecration to God. The people had taken a step of faith. They fasted, denying their flesh, and humbled themselves before the Lord. God looked within their hearts and saw their confession and true repentance. Israel had finally accomplished what God required of them. He could now act on behalf of His people. But listen! It took twenty years for them to come to this point!
God could give Israel the victory over their enemies. Notice, when there was real repentance among the people, there was real spiritual revival in Israel. It is the same with us. When there is real repentance in our lives, there will be real spiritual revival. That is the only way God can work in our lives. Spiritual renewal comes through the confession of our sins, which, in turn, brings true spiritual revival in our lives.
Are you in need of a personal revival?
A revival does two things. First, it returns the Church from her backsliding; and second, it causes the conversion of men and women; and it always includes the conviction of sin on the part of the Church. What a spell the devil seems to cast over the Church today!
~Billy Sunday~
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