The Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 15, 2002
Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 126 or Canticle 3 or Canticle 15; 1 Thess. 5 (12-15)16-28; John 1:6-8, 19-28 or John 3:23-30
Reading Sunday's lessons, one is reminded that revival in the church is far more than a Faith Alive Weekend or a series, as valuable as they are, or of weekday services, as is the tradition in some churches. It is God's sovereign work to bring life to fallen humanity. This theme is struck first in Psalm 126: "Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb." Most of the time there are only dry wadis in the Negeb; it takes divine intervention to bring water to the Negeb and to bring new life to sinful humanity. That does not mean we have nothing to do ourselves, for "He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:6). We "sow the seed" (vs. 5) and we are "bearing the seed for sowing" but it is the Lord who brings life.
The contrast between our work in revival and God's work is also brought out in today's gospel reading in which John the Baptist contrasts his work with that of the Lord's. Although John was a man "sent from God" (John 1:6), he was "not the light, but came to bear witness about the light" (vs. 8). His role is to prepare the way for the Lord, but look at what John says of himself. "I am not the Christ," "I am not," "No." John, as a witness of Christ, points us to the Lord himself. We think of a testimony or witness as referring to our experience of the Lord, and while this is important, "witness" in John's gospel points us to the Lord himself in the first instance, and not to our experience of him, as valuable as that is.
All John can do is to make people wet; it is the Lord Jesus who "baptizes with the Holy Spirit" (John 1:34). Only the Lord can bring life to people. We, however, do need to prepare the way through our lives, our words, our testimony, and our prayer that others might come to know the Lord.
Isaiah expands our picture of revival to ultimately embrace the new heavens and the new earth, "where the wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food" (Isaiah 65:25).
If we need any encouragement in praying for revival, we receive it in 1 Thessalonians 5:16: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
We weep and sow, asking the Lord to "restore our fortunes, like streams in the Negeb."
Look It Up
Whereas revival, in the theological sense, depends on God's initiative, is there anything we can do to hasten it? Look at Isaiah 57:15. Are these "conditions" for revival or behavior consistent with revival?
Think About It
What can my church do to see God's new life poured out; and how as an individual can I "sow" that God might bring new life?
Next Sunday
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 22, 2002
2 Sam. 7:4, 8-16; Psalm 132 or 132:8-15; Rom. 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
