Psalm 85:6
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
I really want to choose careful words here as I delve into this next topic. Causing offense or divisions in the body of Christ is not and never has been my objective. So, please just bear with me as I run through this thought. Thanks!
God is clearly all for us expressing joy, and even emotive joy over the blessings He has clearly given us. In our verse above, the Psalmist clearly asks to be revived so that the people can rejoice. We see this in other places as well:
After his sin with Bathsheeba and his restoration(revival one might say) David had the following to say:
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
The congreation sang the following in song to celebrate their return from captivity in Babylon:
Psalm 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Who can forget David dancing for joy upon the return of the Ark of the Covenant in 2 Samuel 6?
Obviously, joy and excitement at revival and restoration is very appropriate and highly encouraged by our Lord. Why then, do I raise this issue? What do we need to consider when we balance the emotional aspects of revival?
Did revival make me happy, or did it make me change? I can be whirling in the aisles and barking like a dog during service, but If I leave as the same person I came in as, then I was not revived.
Was the focus on the emotional aspects of revival, or on the sound preaching and admonishment of the Word of God? If the focus is on how excited I got, then I have become the focus, and not God. If I, or anyone else was the focus, then we were not revived.
Truth in Palmyra 
June 25, 2015 at 06:08
Thank you for this!
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June 25, 2015 at 07:35
Ty for the encouragement
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June 25, 2015 at 06:40
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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June 25, 2015 at 07:38
Ty brother
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June 25, 2015 at 08:07
You’re welcome Wally my Brother in the Lord!
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June 25, 2015 at 06:51
Reblogged this on Lamb's Harbinger.
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June 25, 2015 at 07:38
Thank you brother
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June 25, 2015 at 08:52
Very good post, Wally. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you and yours.
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June 25, 2015 at 09:40
Brother you are welcome and thank you for the encouragement
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June 25, 2015 at 10:23
You are most welcome, Wally.
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June 25, 2015 at 11:05
Absolutely brother Wally. Couldn’t agree more! Especially the last bit. Phew! And as you know – I’m a raving Charismatic!! I think you might be referring to the so-called Toronto Blessing – when you mention the ‘dog barking.’ I would say this – HOW Satan likes to jump on the bandwagon, bringing with him counterfeit spirits! I can promise you – those guys who were barking like a dog were not moving in the Holy Spirit – but in the flesh. Plain and simple. But with the Holy Spirit – if we are not being changed, transformed to be more like Jesus – then is it really revival??? Because surely, the work of the Holy Spirit is to make us more like Jesus. Amen? Bless your heart bro. Keep doing what you’re doing! Remain in the Truth – Reuben
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June 25, 2015 at 11:31
Thank you Reuben for that. I never want to hurt a brother or sister over an issue such as this and was concerned. Bless you also
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June 25, 2015 at 12:13
I think you handled it with good care and grace Wally. 🐈
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June 25, 2015 at 20:34
Very good post! Great thoughts and you said them very well.
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June 25, 2015 at 20:41
Thank you Terri. I knew what was on my heart but never want to cause offense unnecessarily. I’m just one of those stodgy boring Baptists you know!
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