Why is there no revival? Why does our nation continue its downward spiral? I believe there are more followers of Jesus praying for revival than ever before, yet revival tarries. Besides the sovereign plan of God (which is key), I believe revival tarries from the human side because God’s people do not have a divine desperation. For what? For Him! For His Presence!
To paraphrase my friend, Al Baker, a divine desperation is an intolerable burden to experience a dramatic change from the status quo. “Status quo Christianity” is how most believers live. Yet, this divine desperation for the presence of God is placed within every believer by the Holy Spirit (Ps 16:11; 42:1; James 4:5). It is why our Lord Jesus stood just east of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in John 7:37-38 and cried out with a loud voice, “if anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to Me and keep drinking of Me, and he who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”
The Old and New Testaments are filled with men and women who had this divine desperation for the Presence of the LORD.
David had this divine desperation for the presence of the LORD when he cried out in Psalm 27:4, “one thing I have asked from the LORD that I shall seek, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to mediate in His temple.” The future King of Israel thirsted “as a deer pants for the water brooks” (Ps 42:1) for the presence of the LORD. It was his deepest desire.
KIng Solomon hungered for the presence of the LORD as he fulfilled his father’s will by building the Temple and inviting the presence of the LORD into that Temple (2 Chron 6:10-11). Ezekiel wept bitterly when he saw the Presence of the LORD depart from the Temple (Ezek 9-11). Ezra was desperate for the Presence of the LORD as he cried out in deep repentance on behalf of Judah’s idolatry (Ez 9:5-15). Nehemiah had that divine desperation for the Presence of the Lord when he fasted for four months seeking the face of God and restoration of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 1:1; 2:1). Immediately after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, the disciples went into the upper room and “were continually devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:13-14) seeking the Presence of the Lord promised by the Father.
You, too, must have this divine desperation for the presence of the LORD. How do you get it? How do you get it back if you lost it?
First, you must repent. The Lord Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent.” You must cry out to the Lord in deep, grieving repentance that you have lost your first love for Him, that you run to the world for what only He can truly give.
Second, you must run to the Cross. Cast all your idols, your compromising with the world, your passionate love for comfort, your going-through-the-motions worship and fellowship, and your lukewarm obedience onto your Suffering Savior. Cast them all on Him and believe He forgives you and cleanses you.
Third, as a marathoner runner disciples himself, so discipline yourself in the means of grace. Fast and pray weekly. Schedule a day alone with the Lord. Set your alarm an hour earlier each day and spend that hour in the Presence of the LORD. No longer settle for going-through-the-motions worship or fellowship. Worship Him for all He is worth each day. Do not settle for lukewarm obedience. Daily run to Him and cry out to Him that you long to obey Him in response to His infinite and unconditional love for you. Not out of duty, but delight.
Finally, cry out daily to the LORD for a divine desperation for His Presence.
I get so wrapped up in ministry and life that I lose a passion for His Presence. It is an ongoing battle with my flesh. I ask the Lord daily for a divine desperation of His Presence. He answers that prayer because it brings Him glory and because it is the place of greatest joy and pleasure for us (Ps 16:11).