I Want a Revival in My Soul

There was an old song that we used to sing quite frequently in The Salvation Army when I was a child.  We would sing:

I want a revival in my soul

I want a revival in my soul

I must apply to the blood of Jesus

To get a revival in my soul

Send down the rain

Send down the rain

Send down the Gospel rain

I was taught, like many of us, that revival meant having a meeting or series of meetings with special guests to get people saved or excited about coming to church.  It seemed to be a natural part of the church to do this every year.  But did you know there is no biblical support for revival meetings?  In fact the first revival meeting wasn't until the 1700's.  This actually makes sense because to be revived means that you had life but lost it.  You have reached a comatose state and need to be brought back to life.  What you need is a spiritual defibrillator.
As Christians we shouldn't need revival.  Christ has come to give us life and give it more abundantly.  We shouldn't need revival because we weren't meant to lose life.  We were already dead and Christ gave us life, new life; we were born again.  If we have life then why would we need to be revived?
Maybe it has something to do with Revelation chapter 3:1 - "I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."  The life has gone out of us.  We have become a valley of dry bones.  We have removed ourselves from the river of life and we have dried up.
Verse 3 gives us the answer to our dried up life: "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard, obey it, and repent."  This corresponds with the Lord's words to Ezekiel in 37:4 - "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!'"  The key is hearing and responding to the Word of the Lord.  It is God's Word that will revive us.  If we feel like a pile of dry bones then we need to hear and respond to the Word of the Lord.  Too many people hear sermons, week after week, year after year and still seem to be without life.  That is because they hear but do not respond to or obey God's word.  James said do not be only hearers of the word but doers.  If we want to experience the abundant life that Jesus promised, then we must obey the word of God.  I don't need a revival; Jesus has already given me life.  What I need is more of his WORD!