Revival Re-centers Us on the Cross

Revival is all about Jesus. It renews our first love for Him. It brings us back to the centrality of the cross. It refocuses our message and our goals. It exalts Him in our praise and adoration. It reminds us of how wonderful He is—how glorious and beautiful and majestic and perfect and loving. And it brings us afresh under His lordship. We delight to do His will!

But he emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. —Philippians 2:7-8, MEV

Bringing us under His lordship. That’s one reason why we need revival since we often stray off course. We get caught up with other things—often good things, spiritual things, helpful things, but not Christ-centered things. Our Bible teaching strays, majoring on the minors and hardly focusing on the cross and the blood and the resurrection and our redemption. Who needs to talk about all this old stuff all the time? Even our praise and worship strays, singing all kinds of songs about all kinds of subjects other than the saving work of Jesus.

…beware lest you also fall from your own firm footing, being led away by the deception of the wicked. —2 Peter 3:17

Revival sets things right, often abruptly and dramatically, drawing our gaze back to where it needs to be: the old rugged cross and the empty tomb. These are hardly hackneyed, worn-out themes.

Question: When was the last time you focused solely on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross?

Behold, I have a longing for your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness. —Psalm 119:40, MEV