Revivals are seen by many Christians as being the restoration of the church itself to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of decline. Revival is a specific period of increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation.

Ezekiel describes it this way: The Spirit of God led him to see the spiritually dull, spiritually dry and even spiritually dead worshipers. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out…. “People were completely dried out in their passion for Christ and anything for the Lord God – but the good news was it did not stop there because God rescued them and revived them to have passion to serve and to have lively worship.

Ezekiel’s vision teaches us the following truths

Revival begins with Acknowledgement

Ezekiel 37:1-3 (NLT)

It is an expression of token appreciation and admitting we are dependent body of Christ.

John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Acknowledge Him in every second of your life and He will direct your path.

Proverbs 3:6 (AMP) "In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."

Revival begins with a Craving desire for God's Word

Ezekiel 37:4-8 (NLT)

From this scripture is clear that words can bring to life. Words have the power to change what cannot be done in the natural to what can be done in the supernatural. Words are powerful to transform what was in darkness to light.

Genesis 1: 3 "Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light."

The Bible is reminding us “meditate on it day and night”. Joshua 1:8

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

You’ve got to put God's Word at the top of your daily 'to do' list. It is daily habit.

Ephesians. 4:14-15 (NLT)  "14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."

Revival begins by Letting the Holy Spirit lead in liberty

Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NLT)

Let the Holy Spirit leads in liberty. Look at how God planned the tabernacle in the wilderness and Solomon's temple. There were times when God's presence was so strong that the priests were unable to conduct the service as usual; all they could do was fall on their faces before Him.

2 Chronicles 5:12-14 "12 and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— 13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."

And we must pray for and welcome such times too that the Holy Spirit leads in liberty. It means that when you make Jesus 'Lord', He sets you free to enjoy His presence in church, at home, in business, at work and in every area of your life.

Revival begins with a Revival of Love

Just about everything else in life fails, but love doesn’t

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV) "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

You can score points for having high morals and have all your theological ducks in a row, but if you don't love people-in every circumstance of life-you've failed where it counts most.

1 Corinthians 13:2-3 (NLT) "2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing."

The words that you speak can either kill or give life

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) "Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit."

I believe that God has wonderful plan for this church. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts meaning if there is something that keep you from praising God start digging.

Hosea 10:12 (NLT) "I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’"

It took a lot of commitment to be a Pharisee. Living according to the Law of Moses demanded incredible discipline and dedication. Why did Jesus condemn the Pharisees so often? Because they had light in their heads but no love in their hearts!

Because of this love you can reach out to someone hurting. Because of this love you can pray for someone deep in your heart and give blessing. It is easy for you to give financial support to church because of your love to God. What more blessing can you ask for?

Finally, Ezekiel had to call on or bring the four winds (Holy Spirit) so that breathe and life could be blown into these bodies. Ezekiel by prophesy and speaking to the dry bones it came to life. Ezekiel brought the bones from death to life through the spoken words, following the command of the Lord, following the will of God. It is not written that Ezekiel doubted the possibility of the bones coming to life or that Ezekiel doubted that his words had power.

Notice the elements in a true revival: An emphasis on righteous living; acknowledging God’s presence in every situation, the Holy Spirit is leading in liberty, believing that Words have power. Would you be like Ezekiel speaking life to the dry bones! Would you be like Ezekiel believing that your words have power! Would you be like Ezekiel in letting the Holy Spirit leads the way? Would you revive love, showing mercy to one another?  May it be so! God bless you all!

[Click or Tap here to listen to the recorded Praise and Worship songs of this day]