The Assemblies of God, Ghana has accentuated the subject of revival since last year with varied outcomes at individual, congregational, and national levels. But whether a real biblical revival is birthed, boomed, or boomeranged with an enduring impact depends on what the leaders and members do, or fail to do. Thus an intentional, strategic, and measurable approach is required in order for the church to discover, develop, and deploy the passion necessary for this divine visitation in the years ahead. This is because revival is often a divine response to human desperation and supplication.
In the last year (2021), the church focused on Psalm 85:6 to outline the meaning, source, need, nature, purpose, object, results of revival, and more. Hence the year 2022 offers another opportunity to deepen the emphasis from Habakkuk 3:2, which reads: “O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” Thus, the theme is expressed as ‘O LORD, REVIVE THY WORK…’ (HABAKKUK 3:2)
The Book of Habakkuk is a dialog between the prophet and God, rather than a direct prophecy to Judah. Judah has obviously not learned from Israel’s (Northern Tribes) sins and captivity in Assyria. The prophet thus wondered why God was not judging the greed, exploitation, wickedness, and oppression among the people of Judah, especially the corruption, injustice, and abuse of power by the leaders (1:1–11). Habakkuk teaches that believers should be concerned about the sin, corruption, injustice, idolatry, and wickedness around them. He shows that the knowledge of God’s word opens one’s consciousness to address social evils and emboldens one to proclaim righteous judgments.
But when Habakkuk later discovered that God was going to chastise Judah with great suffering under the Babylonians, the thought of the coming judgment brought confusion (1:12–2:20), fear, the awe of the Lord, and His plans (3:2). The only thing Habakkuk could do was to cry out to God in prayer. The prophet’s two-fold prayer—for God to revive His work; and for God to remember mercy in His wrath—is a very significant need for every community and country today. For example, one could say prophetically that if God does not revive the faith community (the church) and show mercy to our countries as soon as possible a social, moral, and spiritual gloom and doom is inevitable.
In the midst of social and spiritual corruption and chaos, the prophet further acknowledges that redemption or revival has to come from God alone. (Thus, he mentioned God twice in this short verse). The secret of knowing that one cannot experience an outpouring of revival apart from God led Habakkuk to desperately call, cry to God for His help and intervention. The fervent prayer of the righteous is inevitable in seeking divine intervention, redemption, or revival.
Correspondingly, the current happenings in our churches (both among the clergy and the laity) and in the conditions in our countries (both among the religious and the irreligious) ought to spark more restless responses (prayer, fasting, crying for redemption and revival) from God’s people. For example, should not the present-day abysmal state of affairs such as personal and political corruption, deception, exploitation, greed, idolatry, unfaithfulness, pride, violence, immorality, worldliness, occultism, lawlessness, and more, when matched with God’s word, ignite awe, crying, and praying for repentance, redemption, and revival from the Elects of God?
Upon hearing God’s speech, Habakkuk trembled at the revelation with trepidation, urgency, and intercession. Sadly, such virtues and attitudes are now becoming uncommon in modern Christianity. Beloved, how does our generation of believers respond to God’s word? Is it with fear, prayer, and repentance or with an attitude of familiarity, callousness, and procrastination? Let us note in detail the two specific ways the prophet reacted to God’s word and mimic the same.
The Habakkuk’s first reaction to God’s revelation was to ask God to revive His work among His people. Thus the prophet prayed for the transformation of the hearts, minds, and attitudes of God’s people. Habakkuk prayed for a fresh outpouring of grace, mercy, and fullness of God in an awful situation; he craves for God’s presence and moves to deliver His people. Therefore, like the prophet, we must travail in prayer for God to revive His glorious work of salvation, sanctification, and spiritually empower for mission and ministry through His people in the years ahead.
Habakkuk’s second reaction to God’s revelation was to ask the Lord to remember mercy in the midst of His judgment. He knew God had to punish and correct His people for their rebellion and sins. Thus, the prophet did not ask God to withhold judgment but rather to be merciful during judgment. No doubt, he asked that the people neither be completely destroyed nor suffer too greatly. Just as Habakkuk recalled God’s sovereignty, mercy, and faithfulness in delivering and preserving Israel through the centuries, we must also cry for the same redemption and preservation through the trial that is to come.
Habakkuk teaches that when God’s people have questions, they can/must go directly to God in prayer for answers. They must also go to God’s Word, which teaches us that the Lord desires the questions and prayers of His people (Jer. 33:3; Mat. 7:7). Like Habakkuk, we may have questions about God’s work in the world or in our lives. But as we prayerfully study His Word and share with Him our deepest concerns and burdens, He reveals His ways and revives us.
