Ephesians 5:18-21

Have you ever looked in the Word of God to see if revivals are a Biblical tradition? Maybe you haven’t ever thought about it, or even considered it. What exactly is the purpose of a revival? Where does the place of revival begin?

Look at our text verses:

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:18-21)

Now back to our questions, I believe we will be surprised to find that revival is not an annual event, where they choose three to five days out of a particular week to stir the fire in the heart of a saint; the fire that should always be burning. But instead, revival is a spiritual walk within the life of a believer every day. We shouldn’t be going to a church building for revival. We should be carrying revival to a church building.

Revival is a lifestyle; and if we, as saints of God, want to enjoy the glory of this experience, we must be encouraged to live out being filled with the Spirit which will be evidenced by:

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (verse 19)

Now I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a revived saint of God to me. What do you think? This blessed Child of Grace has given up the blues, turned off the rock-n-roll, and turned away from country music. This individual can now say with King David, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God…” (Psalms 40:3a). And because of his praise, “…many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” (Psalms 40:3b).

Church, this saint is a walking revival in his relationship with God, walking in the fulness of his inheritance.

Secondly, this revived saint, who is walking being filled with the Sprit, is:

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (verse 20)

No wonder we need so many revivals throughout a year. We tend to complain about everything. This displeases the Lord, as Numbers 11:1-3 shows us. God will not fill a saint’s spirit with the Holy Spirit if the saint fails to see that, “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We must learn to trust Jesus no matter what our situation or circumstances may look like. Then, and only then, will we experience a life of revival in the Glory of God.

Finally, saints in such fellowship with the Father, in the name of Jesus, through the Power of the anointing Holy Spirit, or Glory of God, will submit themselves “…one to another in the fear of God” (verse 21).

I fervently believe with all my heart that this particular attribute of a revived, Spirit-filled believer is what is lacking in the modern-day churches. It’s a shame that we as believers can’t come together and set aside our own personal agendas to deliver the Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

When you see a believer who is showing Spirit-led submissiveness; I can assure you he is a revived saint enjoying the fellowship of God through the Spirit, and reaping the benefits of the unity of the Kingdom of God. This Child of God is revived and is Spirit-filled, and is like a watered garden. He is truly leading a life of revival.

Do these three points that Paul speaks of, evidencing a Spirit-filled life, describe your walk with God? Or are you like a desert land waiting on a scheduled event six months from now in order to enjoy what could be yours today?

If this doesn’t describe your walk with the Lord, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to fix your heart. And I assure you, He can do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in you. Amen!!