Revive in Us Your Work

From our continuing revival and reformation series.

Ted N. C. Wilson, PhD, is the president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.”*

The greatest and urgent need indeed has been the need for revival in every period of sacred history. Be it the Exodus or Josiah’s reformation or the return from captivity, be it the cradle of Bethlehem or the cross at Golgotha or Jerusalem’s empty tomb, be it the outpouring at Pentecost or the launching of the apostolic great missionary journeys, be it the sunrise of the Reformation or the flying of the three angels in the midst of heaven; God’s highway to the kingdom is marked by revival and reformation--revival of God’s Word, prayer for God’s work, and love of God’s people.

Consider the prayer of Habakkuk 3:2: “O Lord, revive your work” (NKJV). When Judah was facing its death throes and Babylon was  at Judah’s doors fuming vengeance, the prophet turned to revival as  the hope of his people. Habakkuk’s prayer for revival demands an urgent plea for God’s people to accomplish three things.

First, let His people be conscious of the truth, holiness, and sovereignty of the One who revealed Himself on Mount Sinai (vv. 3, 4). Without the transcript of His character becoming the governing norm of human conduct, there can be no revival. Wholeness to God’s grace will lead to holiness of life.

Second, let His people acknowledge God’s creative activity. Let them look to the One who “stood and measured the earth” and before whom the perpetual hills bowed (v. 6), and before whom all life seem speechless and helpless (vv. 12–16). Can such a Creator God be denied, minimized, or compromised within our midst, and we dare expect revival?

Third, let His people embrace and proclaim that God is their ultimate salvation and hope. The fig tree may not blossom; the olive may fail; the fig may dry up; the flocks may be cut off (vv. 17, 18). Satanic forces may let loose every foe at their command. But the power of the Word never wanes. The joy in the Lord shall endure forever. He is our strength. He is our hope. In Him, we shall have revival, renewal, and history’s glorious culmination. 

Ted N. C. Wilson, PhD, is the president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

* Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, bk. 1 (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958), 121


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

Ted N. C. Wilson, PhD, is the president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

May 2015

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Clinical depression or “life sorrows”? Distinguishing between grief and depression in pastoral care 1

How does the pastoral counselor distinguish ordinary grief from clinical depression?

Feeding Five or Five Thousand 1

The author looks at Jesus as a “splendid communicator.”

Adventist theology and the new anthropology: Challenges and opportunities

What does the process of dehellenization do to theology and how does it relate to Adventist theology?

“Holy” gossiping: Reflections on how the psalms view the misuse of the tongue

Raising awareness about the misuse of the tongue and seeking to prevent and solve its terrible consequences becomes an imperative for every person who serves the God of peace and truth.

Balancing a Busy Life

Listed in this article are seven tips to help facilitate the pastoral process of finding balance.

The way of a Christian leader

Learn about various aspects of leadership in light of Jesus’ downward mobility.

Taking time to be attentive

From the revival and reformation series.

Dwindling Evidence for the Moderate Use of Alcohol

From the monthly pastor and health feature.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - RevivalandReformation 300x250

Recent issues

See All