Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. (Isaiah 58:3)
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: (Luke 15:29)
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:9-12)
Why is it that we have prayer meetings and revival meetings and optional fasting and yet revival has not come? Revival and reformation. A great theme for a church to have at any time. People love revival, from what we have heard (because surely we've never experienced a real one) revivals are exiting and blissful. Revivals bring solutions to all our problems and more willing converts than we can deal with. That is what we have heard anyway.
What about reformation? I am glad not all church leaders have forgotten about reformation in the endless proclamation of revival. In my insignificant opinion, revival and reformation cannot exist in isolation from each other. What is reformation? Reform; turning from our wicked and lawless ways back to Jesus' way. It means tithing, soul-winning, health-reforming, dress-reforming, temperance, daily devotions, free-will offerings, congregations actually singing in church, an interest in doctrine-heavy sermons, expression of praise for God's providential working, diligence to forgive, refusal to become bitter, idle talk replaced with talk of Jesus and the glories of heaven, speculation replaced with study and peer pressure within the church replaced with unconditional love of the brethren. Reformation is what revival looks like. If you want revival, don't criticise the lady that wears skirts or the man that isn't interested in sport. If you want true revival, you will need to let God make you into a conservative. It's not that painful, really. I don't mean all conservatives are revived, the verses above show that the superficially reformed are not always sincerely revived. Don't try to be conservative for its own sake. Immerse yourself in the teachings of Jesus in his book (Bible) and become the person it tells you to. This might mean you get branded as "conservative" and you may even get some things wrong, but if you are not willing to take this risk and follow Jesus you will only hold revival back.
These passages of the Bible show us that when you pray, pray, pray and hear nothing, nothing, nothing there is a problem; not with God but probably with you. Are you asking selfishly, presumptuously or simply harbouring known sin? God - like the prodigal father - wants to give you all the good stuff; is it possible that like the older son you are just not asking for the good stuff?
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