true revival

I want to make a confession, I don’t know what revival is!  Revival is a wonderful word that is tossed around in the body of Christ almost daily.  I hear folks tell me they go to different churches and preach revival.  Recently in a prayer meeting I told the Lord that I don’t know what a revival is.  The Lord quickly responded.
 
You will not be able to explain it, until you see it, because it is beyond what you can ask or think.
 
Having heard the Lord say this, I’m looking forward to a true revival.  Now I know you can’t revive something that was not at one time alive.  So revival is for Christians that have forsaken the fire they received at the new birth.  I truly believe that when the Christian comes back to life they will have a profound affect on the sinners.  This one thing I do know, we cannot have revival apart from the presence of God!
 
Acts 3:19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of revival shall come from the presence of the Lord.
 
When God’s people stray away from Him they disqualify themselves from His blessings but not His love.  God never stops loving people no matter how naughty they become, but He is limited in what He can do for them.  When I became rebellious against my parents they took some of my privileges away from me.  I became angry with them for what I did, the only one who rewards bad behavior is the devil.
 
Acts 3:21 Heaven will not send Jesus back for us until the restoration of all the things the prophets said God would give us.
 
Supernatural restoration of all things is a part of a true revival.  We have not seen the healing ministry or its fullness yet, nor have we seen the wealth that is laid up by the sinner for the just.  More importantly we have not experienced the manifest presence of God that is so intense it transforms lives.  I have not seen a revival and I don’t know what it looks like but I know God will manifest Himself and leave no doubt of His presence.
 
Psalm 16:11 In Your presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore.
 
A true revival will put us in the presence of the Lord, and His presence will cause a fullness of His joy.  I don’t think we have known the fullness of His joy, just a little here and a little there.  I believe His joy is many times greater than any drug an addict would use to reach nirvana, the world’s idea of joy is artificial and illegal, it does more harm than good.  Our world currently is in great chaos and rebellion, it will not affect a believer who abides in the presence of our Lord.  The world is sinking deeper and deeper into spiritual death, but the church in revival is becoming more and more alive.  The Prophet Isaiah said the light of the Lord would rise up on us and the people in darkness would see it.  Brethren hold fast to your connection with Christ, true revival is on its way and God will start in His house.