There is a theme among Christians in most churches today. It goes something like this, "O Lord, Revive us!" That's an amazing thing to say for someone who has never known what which they request. God wanted his people in Amos' generation to return to faith in Him. Today, we might say they needed revival.

Revival: it's what most pray for but few have experienced. And of those who claim to have experienced it, I wonder if they've really felt the all-consuming power God sweeping over their life, home and church in a way everything changed as a result. I'm afraid most were emotional experiences, something marking a high point in their spiritual life when they were in deep need. But was it God or something else? I'm afraid most of our religious experiences are not worthy to be credited to God.

The Israelites of the Old Testament knew the power of God. But in generation after generation, the people acted like what occurred in the one before never happened or at worst, had no significance. They turned to gods of the culture in which they married and lived. They might have burned a few sacrificial animals along the way, but knowing the power of God to lead and protect them? I think not!

Those people were like us in that they needed God to move in and take over. But listen to what the prophet noted. Even though they needed revival desperately and asked for it on a regular basis, they'd likely never get it. Why?

Amos noted that God answered their prayer when he sent them to a place where His word had no respect among the people. He heard their prayer by giving them feelings of insecurity that only God could reverse. They prayed for something to make a difference in their dry spiritual life. God answered and gave them physical hunger and little food with which to satisfy their desire. They needed rain for their crops, so God dried up the clouds and consumed the crops with locusts. They had medical problems so God sent plagues to make them feel worse. They asked for protection for the sake of their children so their kids were killed.

I've got to tell you, I'm afraid I likely stop praying if that was the way God answered my prayer for revival. And that's probably why God never gave it to Amos' generation; the people turned away from God when they needed Him most.

If you think Amos' experience has no relevance in your life, answer this: If you never had a need, would you ever call on God to help? Probably not. And maybe that's the curse of our generation. We are so blessed with things, we have no real need. Even those we call indigent today are rich compared to God's people of Amos' generation.

What's required for you to turn from sin's bondage and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? If you want to know revival, the true power of God moving in your life without resistance, the Lord might have to take that very thing from you. The question remaining is whether you'll repent or blame God while turning to the world to fill what's missing.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Am. 4:1-6:14 Rv. 2:18-3:6 Ps. 130:1-8 Pr. 29:21-22 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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