Whether you are new to the Christian faith, or you have been loving Jesus for a long time or you are only tangentially curious about this man who millions believe is God incarnate, you have probably heard the word revival. It is one of those words that is bandied about a lot without a real definition. For the purposes of this post, we are defining revival as “an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.” We are living in arguably the most successful, technologically advanced period in human history. We are also living in some of the most unjust times in human history: racism, sexism, misogyny, wars, famine, sex trafficking, and the list could go on forever. It can get difficult to see where the good is in the world and even more difficult to believe in the redemptive message that is Christ. I have felt a range of emotions over the last month or so at the continued scourge of racism and anti-blackness in the world today. My goal for you and I at the end of this piece is simple: to point us to a God who is unsurprised by these issues and has provided for us a blueprint for revival that this world so dearly needs. Let’s walk through some stories: 

Esther 4: 12-14

“...and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

In this bible story that is the favorite of all Sunday school teachers, God is making an amazing point through Mordecai and Esther’s interactions. Esther has risen to a prestigious position but now there is an injustice being done to her people. She is so far enough removed from this that she doesn’t have to do anything. She can very well continue to live her life and ask God to save her people. Yet Mordecai makes a very bold claim in verse 14 that gives me cause to pause. In essence, he is saying: “Sure we could pray, wail and cry for a revival but what if you are the revival?” What if you - yes, you  reading this right now - are the revival your family needs; the revival your friend group needs; the revival your workplace needs? This isn’t the only time God points us to this conclusion. Let’s keep walking through one more story. 

Daniel 3: 13-28

“...they trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve any god except their own God...for no other god can save in this way”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are memorialized in the scriptures in the most amazing way possible! Imagine going into a fire 7 times the normal heat and not even getting your clothes slightly charred. I love that story but equally as important is the point God is making here by allowing us to eavesdrop on this remarkable plot. These three Hebrew boys decided to do the unthinkable: speak up against the king and stand for the one true King, God. I think the most amazing part of their story isn’t the surviving the fire piece although it is pretty awesome! The most amazing part of this story is the revival that came to Babylon because of their confidence in God which led them to speak up for Him. At the end of this story, the king of Babylon goes from having an idol made in his image for his people to worship to banning all gods and declaring Jehovah as the one true God. To understand the impact of this statement you have to look at what Babylon was as a society. Babylon had several gods and multiple different idols the people worshipped. It was the last place these Hebrew boys should have seen a revival. Yet their resolve in God brought a revival in one moment that undid centuries of idolatry. God is asking us today: if by the words of men Babylon can receive revival, how much more your community? Is it possible that there are friends whose salvation is on the other side of our conviction to speak? Is it possible that the revival of your family’s generational battle with broken relationships lies on the other side of you speaking up? If God can change a whole civilization with three young men, what is he wanting to do with you? 

The implications of doing what Esther or the three Hebrew boys did in our own personal lives is an intimidating thought (at least for me). In the context of racial justice and being one of three black people in my workplace, I did not feel confident in standing up to voice my opinions on how our team and firm could be an agent for positive change. I did not want to be “that guy”. Yet, in those moments of doubt, I was very thankful for Paul, the writer of Philippians. Paul was a man just like us and yet he spoke up often and loudly even in the face of jail and death. I have come to realize that Paul could do that because of what he shared in the book of Philippians: “it is God who works in us.”  That is the starting point of partnering with God to see revival happen. The starting point is not your fear, or your insecurities because those will often be there. Yet if we do what Paul did and start from God being our source to will and to act, then revival does not become a burden on our shoulders. Instead, it becomes an opportunity to get in a fixed fight with the undisputed champion of tough situations - God. I do not know the specific fears or insecurities that you may have but I do know I have some big ones myself. Even writing down these thoughts is way out of my comfort zone. The great news is God is standing ready to work with us in any situation we are in to bring revival. 

From Esther and the Hebrew boys, we see that God’s heart is to use the people he made in his image - that’s you and I - to bring revival. The world is in a tough place, and maybe like me you are sick of seeing your company not talk about racism, but God has you there - you are the revival. Maybe your family does not yet believe in Jesus and you are tired of talking about it, but God has you there because He wants to bring Babylon’s level of revival to your family. My prayer for you and I is that we will take up the mantle of revival in our lives and do what Paul did: lean on “God to work in you both to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”. 

We are the revival - let us lean on God.