Rev. Richard Owen Roberts, a leading authority on revival history, has played a major role in restoring the Biblical truth of the Solemn Assembly as God's way for churches and nations to repent from corporate sin. "Is it realistic to hope for revival now?" Roberts answers, "I am full of hope!"
First: There are Biblical promises not yet fulfilled. For example, consider Romans eleven... Do you know of a time in the past when the Jews were provoked to jealousy because of the glory of God in theGentileChurch? ...
Second: Our God is an unchanging God! Countless times in the past, when the need was as great or even greater than now, God has chosen to come among His people in reviving power. Has He lost any of His strength? Has His heart grown calloused against us? Does He no longer care for His Church? Everything I know about God says that His eyes are still upon us, and His ears are still attentive to our cry of desperation, and His strong hand is ready at any moment to stir up His power and to come and save [see how, responding to Abraham's prayers, God would have preserved Sodom were just ten righteous people found - Gen 18]...
Third: Tens of thousands of people have been stirred to pray and even now are praying for revival! Who stirred them? Did you? Did I? Can any man claim the credit for this? No! They have been stirred by God Himself. Why would God stir people to pray for revival if He had no intention of answering?
Brother Roberts then asks:
Do you care enough to intercede like Abraham? (Gen 18:16-32)
Can you join Moses in his cry to God for his people, "If Thou wilt forgive their sin---and if not, please blot me out of the book which Thou hast written"? (Ex 32:32)
Is your heart-cry the cry of Isaiah, "Rend the heavens and come down"? (Is 64:1-4)
Does the prayer of the Psalmist correspond with your prayer, "O God, restore us, and cause Thy face to shine upon us, and we will be saved"? (Ps 80:3, 7, 19)
International Awakening Ministries, February, 2009
