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“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. ¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17.14-21

The Bible provides many examples that reveal the need for revival. The exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt and their migration through the wilderness reveals numerous illustrations that called for revival. Further, the times after the occupation of the land as recorded in Judges disclose their sins that establish the need for revival. The sinful rule of the kings of Israel furnishes abundant examples of the need for revival and God’s movement in revival.

However, none more graphically describes the current condition of the Church and its desperate need for revival than this passage does. It recounts an incident following the transfiguration of Christ.

A distraught father had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples for help. When they attempted to cast out the demon, they failed. As Jesus came down the mountain, He saw the crowd and questioned the father, whereupon He then healed the boy.

This striking account provides a setting that pictures the crises that the contemporary Christian Church faces today. (1) For example, the demon-possessed child represents the world. The bystanders depict the religious leaders of our day. The disciples who attempted to cast out the demon depict the Church.

As the disciples had no affect upon the boy and his dreadful condition, so the Church has no affect upon the world today. With this passage as a backdrop, the following studies will examine the crises, which the Church confronts that confirm its need for spiritual revival. In addition, these studies will describe how Christ-followers must respond to our predicament to seek God's face to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us.

I pray that these truths will overcome your doubts and questions about the Church’s and perhaps your need for revival and lead to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and Christ-followers. I pray that the Holy Spirit will clarify for you the truth, convict you of its need in your life and the Church, and correct you to bring about repentance and revival that will revolutionize and transform the Church and your life.

References

1. Martin Lloyd-Jones, M. D.. Revival. Crossway Books, Westchester, IL; 1987. p. 9.