Spiritual Hunger and Revival

Are we desperate for a move of God?

I heard my friend and fellow pastor preach once on spiritual hunger. It always stuck with me what he said:

“Hunger will take you where curiosity will not.” - Pastor Ben Dixon

He went on to elaborate about one who had a curiosity around how food at a new restaurant might taste. The individual with curiosity may or may not go to try the food. But if that same person is hungry, hunger puts a demand on one’s actions. Hunger will drive someone to go out of their way to get that food.

Photo by Siegfried Poepperl on Unsplash

I believe that one of the greatest hindrances to revival is that we have spiritually curious Christians. From my observation one of the greatest crisis facing churches in the USA is consumerism in the culture has become a dominate force in shaping the lives of Christians. Our church participation and corporate spirituality has been reduced to finding who has created the best experience for us. We are curious to find a great sounding worship team, programming for our kids that they enjoy or someone who teaches a comforting and encouraging pep talk each Sunday. And of course God forbid that a church service goes more than 60 minutes or interrupts the NFL schedule.

Spiritually curious Christians are not changing the world. Of course spiritual curiosity is great when it’s in a pre-Christian wondering about who God is and what a faith in Him might entail. But in a Christian, curiosity, at least the lukewarm kind that is related to half-heartedness, is repulsive to God.

““I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” - Jesus - Revelation‬ ‭3:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But where are the people that come to gather and bring something of a desperation and a hunger for God?

Where are the believers that provoke spiritual hunger in the lives of others by their desire for God?

That live prayerful, worshipful and devoted lives?

That will lay before God night and day to remind Him of His promises for outpouring?

That will come to church to enhance what is happening not critique what isn’t happening?

“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it!” - Leonard Ravenhill

I believe what brother Len said, we don’t have it because we can live without it. We are curious at times but not desperate in hunger. God’s intention is to fill the hungry and thirsty. Spiritual hunger is a holy and precious gift. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6 NIV).” Don’t be a curious consumer, be hungry and desperate for revival.

Do whatever it takes to experience more of God.

Repent for a lack of hunger.

Read the book of Acts.

Remove distractions from your life.

Make nothing else your god and tear down idols in your life.

Read stories of revival.

Return to church services and prayer meetings.

Listen to sermons on revival.

Have little old ladies lay hands on you in prayer that have contented for revival for decades.

Pray in tongues until God invades.

Ask God to share His heart with you in prayer and don’t stop until you experience heaven invading your soul.

‭If we get desperate enough, broken enough and aware of our insufficiency without God we are in a position of humility to receive all that God has for us. This isn’t about beating ourselves down or hyping something up, it’s about cultivating an appetite for the Sovereign Lord to have His way in our lives and churches. Nothing else but Him, His presence and glory will do.

When I have experienced God and His revival fire or His raw power, nothing compares to the desire I have for Him. I just want more of God. I know He is everywhere but His manifest presence and power is the birthright of the believer. My prayer is “come Holy Spirit and take not your Spirit from me.”

The curious consumer is looking for the right atmosphere but the committed Christian is helping create the right atmosphere. Revival is for the hungry and desperate. It’s not our maturity or religiosity or our forms that bring revival. Our neediness and brokenness does not disqualify us for revival. It’s part of the package. It’s spiritual hunger and desperation for God alone that brings revival.