Alva Review-Courier -

Remember the school days of physics and chemistry? There are so many formulas, laws and processes to remember. Many of us have forgotten those lessons as the years have passed. It is funny how certain things stick and remain in our brains. The laws of thermodynamics was one of those lessons that have stayed with me through the years. In simple terms, the second law of thermodynamics is that everything goes to a lower energy source. My coffee cup is slowly getting cold. My phone battery is slowly discharging. This law governs everything we experience in our world. Everything is in a state of decline.

I have been focused this week on our upcoming tent revival meeting. During prayer and contemplation, I thought of this second law of thermodynamics. This law is seen in the spiritual world as well. The entrance of sin and death brought the ever presence of this law. Sin declines and erodes the soul of man. As sin advances, death ensues. All of man is moving to a lower energy source. We are in spiritual decline and are declining to both a physical and spiritual death.

The laws of thermodynamics do not bind God. The greatest example of this is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death seemed to have won. Three days lying dead in a tomb was interrupted by His glorious resurrection. The law was canceled. Jesus brought life back to the dead. Jesus brings life through his great salvation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). I discovered this new life when He saved me. I was truly born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. The new life Jesus brings is absolutely amazing!

The struggle Christians face is that even though we have a new life in Christ, we are surrounded by a world that is declining toward death, and we still have a part of us that struggles with sin. Christians still sin, and the very presence of sin brings decline and death. The Bible describes this experience in Romans 7:21-8:1. We struggle daily with temptations and inward lusts that threaten the believer's spiritual decline. Spiritual decline is a constant threat.

This is why we need revival. Revival is seeing your spiritual decline and taking the proper steps to reverse the decline. Consider Isaiah 57:15, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah was a prophet to the nation of Israel. The nation was in a deep dive of spiritual decline. If revival did not occur, the nation faced certain doom. Isaiah heard the Lord call out for revival. This verse shows us how to pursue the Lord and find revival.

The first step of revival is to see the Lord for who He really is, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy …." All the world's distortions, Satan, sin and even our misperceptions often lead to a lower view of the Lord. We forget His glory and grandeur. We forget His authority and position. We forget the contrast that exists between our sinfulness and His authority. A low view of God leads to low living. How do you see God?

The second step of revival is revealed in the second part of the verse, "… I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit …." God invites us to dwell with Him. This dwelling occurs when we seek the presence of the Lord. We seek Him through prayer, the study of Scriptures, and personal and corporate worship. Do you pursue a presence with the Lord? When did you last seek out God and desire to be in His presence?

The final step of discovering revival in your life is found in the descriptive terms that the Lord uses to describe the heart of revival: humble and contrite. A humble person has submitted to God. Obedience to the Lord always brings revival. A contrite person is broken over his sinfulness. His sorrow and grief for sinfulness lead to repentance and revival.

We all see the need for revival. Our world is decaying at a rapid rate. Sin is rampant, and morality has died. Church pews are empty, and Christians are prayerless and powerless. What are you doing to find revival?

I would love to see you at our Old Time Tent Revival on Sept. 25-29 between Subway and McClure Insurance Agency. We will start at 6:30 each evening. Great Gospel music and Bible preaching – exactly what each of us needs. God give us revival!