REVIVE ME

By Ajai Prakash

There is no doubt that the soul of our nation is at stake-its foundation is neglected; its people are divided, and its future is resting upon a generation that is compromised by disillusioned morality. Instead of accepting the status quo, the body of Christ must cry out for God to revive us once again. The United States has been at its best when

• Language: English
• Publisher: REVIVE ME
• Release date: Oct 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781737537922

Book preview

REVIVE ME

A National Call For Personal Revival

Ajai Prakash

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Copyright

Revive Me

Copyright © 2016 by Ajai Prakash. All rights reserved.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Cover design by Margaret Singh

Interior design by Richell Balansag

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Published in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-1-7375379-2-2

1. Religion / Christian Ministry / Evangelism

2. Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources

16.10.12

Dedication

To America, our homeland

If My people who are called by My name will humble

themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from

their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

—2 Chronicles 7:14

He who has an ear, let him hear what

the Spirit says to the churches.

—Revelation 3:6

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the

same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

—Philippians 2:2

This book embodies our vision for the body of Christ in a revived America. First, I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my wife, Maureena, for standing beside me. She has been my inspiration and motivation for continuing to improve my walk with Christ and moving forward to make our calling become a reality. She is my lifetime partner in crime.

I am also grateful to my mentors, Ernest and Lalitha Victor, for their valuable guidance, encouragement, and prayers. They showed us the straight and narrow path that we endeavor to walk along today. And to Sunny Singh for his continual support and reinforcement to continue writing even when things got tough.

This project could not have been completed without the technical critique and suggestions from D. C. Jacobson & Associates. The timely assistance of Ryan Adair deserves special recognition because of his wholehearted support in fine-tuning and editing this manuscript. Many thanks to my dear friend Glenn Pettit, who went through the book manuscript and gave his invaluable critique and also edited a part of it.

Needless to say, I would love to thank my church (The Well of Iowa) for remaining faithful to their Creator. I would like to recognize the Lekins, the Pettits, and the Langos families for their help and reassurance in keeping the torch burning as I wrote. I look forward to discussing this book with you at future gatherings as, I’m sure, you will all get to read it soon.

The precious lives of these young men and women—Austin Hoffon, Adam Schmitt, Mitch Moylan, Kim Aquino, Christina Pinger, Cheriden Schulte, and Jesse Shetler—stimulated and challenged me to give a voice to the book that you now hold in your hands.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank my parents and extended family for their support. God bless all of you.

Content

Foreword by Brad Sherman

Foreword by Bernard E. Collins

Introduction: A Divine Urgency to Usher in God-Sent Revival by Dr. Ernest Victor

Section One: What Triggers Revival?

Chapter 1: A Contrite Heart

Chapter 2: A Broken Spirit

Chapter 3: A Sincere Humility

Chapter 4: Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross

Chapter 5: The Fear of the Lord

Chapter 6: Seeking the Face of God

Chapter 7: A Passion for God

Chapter 8: The Power of the Word of God

Section Two: What Does Revival Demand?

Chapter 9: Genuine Repentance

Chapter 10: Complete Surrender

Chapter 11: Obedience to God

Chapter 12: Unity of Mind and Spirit

Chapter 13: Faithfulness to the Lord

Chapter 14: Holiness unto the Lord

Chapter 15: More of Him and Less of Me

Chapter 16: Raising Up Disciples

Section Three: How Is Revival Reflected in Our Lifestyle?

Chapter 17: A Lifestyle of Good Stewardship

Chapter 18: A Lifestyle of Prayer

Chapter 19: A Lifestyle of Fasting

Chapter 20: A Lifestyle of Worship

Chapter 21: Walking in the Spirit

Chapter 22: Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit

Chapter 23: Operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Section Four: What Leads to Revival?

Chapter 24: Knowing God’s Heartbeat

Chapter 25: Desperation for God’s Manifest Presence

Chapter 26: Ushering in an Awakening of His Spirit

Chapter 27: Seeking Spiritual Renewal

Chapter 28: Persecution of Believers

Chapter 29: Passionately Pursuing Revival

Chapter 30: A Genuine God-Sent Revival

Epilogue: Revive Revival

Foreword

When Israel was under bondage in Egypt, God raised up Moses to initiate a national revival that brought Israel out of bondage and reestablished them as a nation. But why did it take so long for this to happen? One reason is revealed in Genesis 15:16: But in the fourth generation, they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.

There is a growing expectation that revival is on the horizon. And you don’t have to be a prophet to sense it. Biblically and historically, it can be shown that God sends revivals, like floods of living water, to wash and cleanse the land from evil. Therefore, the iniquity in our land is one of the clearest signs of the revival that is about to take place in our nation.

Yes, revival comes in God’s time. He is sovereign. Nevertheless, revival is a mysterious mix of God’s timing, the fullness of evil, and the obedience of His people. It is this obedience that Ajai Prakash speaks about in Revive Me. The reader will soon learn that revival is not a program; it is not the result of administrative or organizational skill. It is the result of the church, the body of Christ, walking in humility, prayer, and repentance. National revival is nothing more than personal revival in the hearts of many people at the same time. It is this personal approach that makes this book so powerful. If we do our part, then God will certainly do His.

When God is preparing to move, He activates His servants and declares His intentions: Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). I pray that those who read this book will hear it as a prophetic voice providing heavenly instructions to bring healing to our land.

Brad Sherman

Pastor, Solid Rock Christian Center, Iowa City, IA

Foreword

Several years ago, it was my pleasure to meet Ajai Prakash. I was working with a small home Bible study group when he came to join us for a few weeks in our study of Revelation. There was a warm bonding between us from the beginning. We share the same desires for the contemporary church and the modern Christian. We know beyond a doubt that revival is not just a desired alternative but a necessary solution to the spiritual decline in America today. It is absolutely imperative.

I was thrilled when he and his wife, Maureena, shared many of their experiences, along with the account of their call to become missionaries to America. That was both a blessing and, unfortunately, an indictment. America—historically the land of the world missionary outreaches—has now become a desperate mission field itself. Ajai’s mandate from the Holy Spirit is much larger than that which one man can do; the Holy Spirit must light the fires of revival through his ministry. It is a daunting task indeed. But Ajai has faced it head-on and remained faithful to the vision.

He became the lead pastor of The Well near North Liberty, Iowa. While not inclined to plant churches, Ajai and Maureena have built an effective ministry there. Ajai is already a published author. His first book, The Underground Tentmakers,[1]is a penetrating personal history of his experiences ranging from his home in Delhi, India, to the heartland of Iowa.

With Revive Me, Ajai has taken a giant step toward the fulfillment of his calling. He has recognized the challenges facing the church and the current groundswell of ministerial opposition to the tried-and-true edicts of Scripture. He has reached back to the tenets of Pentecostal teachings and activities of the church of Jesus Christ and applied them to the modern spiritual desert known as the church. Unfortunately, it is quite possible that some conservative members of the Pentecostal fellowship would call for a strict adherence to the moving of the Holy Spirit alone. But in so doing they will have missed some important truths relating to the Holy Spirit and His activity in the church today.

Yes, it would be wonderful if we heard specific messages from the Spirit telling us how, when, and where to prepare for revival. However, we already have heard from Him. God told Jeremiah to ask for knowledge because He had great and mighty things to tell him, things which he had not yet known (Jeremiah 33:3), and James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask of God who will give it liberally (James 1:5). God went to the ultimate step of pouring out infinite knowledge and wisdom upon believers when He gave the gifts of the Spirit to the church (1 Corinthians 12). So, it is not a presumption on our part when we, who are led by the Spirit, set out to develop a workable methodology for revival today.

Ajai Prakash has done just that in this book. It is likely the most comprehensive work on the subject that we have seen for many years. A review of the chapter listings gives the reader an overview of the points that will be developed, and the section titles alone should speak to us and our need for revival today. May God bless you richly as you embark on this challenging journey that will definitely change your life.

Bernard E. Collins

A.A.G.S. Grandview University, Des Moines, Iowa

Bible Teacher and Writer, GateStone Word Ministries

Introduction

A Divine Urgency to Usher in God-Sent Revival

It is my belief that this book will stir and awaken the global church to take ahold of God to visit us with a heaven-sent revival (Psalm 85:6; Isaiah 57:16; Habakkuk 3:2). Revival has long been waiting in the wings, and God is waiting for the global church to participate with Him to revive the earth once again. Now is the time for the church to intercede for a worldwide revival.

The world today is in desperate need of revival. It is the only solution for the millennium generation that has seen such horrific barbarianism—crucifixion, beheadings, rape, torture, and sexual abuse of God’s children. Only a heaven-sent revival can bring down the forces of evil and bring eternal life to those who need it (John 10:10).

Persecution of God’s children preceded revival in the first-century church, but many people were added to the Lord as a result. The second-century church father Tertullian said, The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.[2] Our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ have paid the price for worldwide revival—even to the point of death by beheading (Revelation 2:10; 6:9–11). We are at the threshold of a worldwide revival and the relevance of this book at a time such as this cannot be overstressed.

But what is revival? Revival should be described in the wider context of past historical revivals, lest it be relegated to a weekend revival meeting in a local congregation. Revivals in the past have begun with a mighty outpouring of God the Holy Spirit on individual believers, extending to communities of believers, which then became viral and worldwide (Joel 2:28).

Revival takes place when there is a life to revive. It is reawakening and bringing to full-blown life of that which is dying or already dead. Revival therefore is God the Holy Spirit flooding and breathing divine life into regenerate persons who are threatening to become spiritual corpses. It is a time of refreshing, renewal, and reawakening within the church. Revival is not evangelism, though in its wake conviction will come, causing the conversion of large numbers of people.

There are key biblical principles that precede and sustain revival. A broad frame of reference of the principles is given in 2 Chronicles 7:14, when God says, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.It must be noted that revival is conditional—God said, "If My people …"

Revival is conditioned upon God’s people who are called by His name actively participating in God’s mission for global revival. Ajai has done a great job, in the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit, to give the clarion call to God’s people—the global church. Revival is the desperate need of the hour, and it is my hope that this book will be catalytic to wake up the global church to cooperate with God and usher in the end-time global revival the Bible speaks about. Revive us once again, O God! Revive us!

There was a historic Pentecostal revival that took place in Los Angeles, California, beginning on April 9, 1906, and lasting till about 1915. There were demonstrations of all the operating features of revival impregnated with divine power, accompanied by miracles and ecstatic worship, as was in the first-century church.

There has been no revival on the same scale as the revival that took place in 1906. There have been many awakenings in people groups, but the twenty-first century is waiting for the powerful move of God to come once again. Though revival is the sovereign act of God, in the sense that He initiates revival and revival begins in His mind, God needs His people to bring revival down from heaven to earth by fervent prayer. The history of all revivals began in the mind of God but broke through to the earth when His people prayed with passion and perseverance.

I sincerely pray that the heartbeat of God for revival will so grab and grip us as we read this book. Ask God to awaken within us—personal, corporate, and the global church—a deep desire for a time of refreshing to come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). Pray that we will so take hold of God that He will usher in the end-time revival waiting in the wings for His people to respond.

Dr. Ernest Victor

Author, Pastor, Missionary, and Mentor

Pioneer Church Planter in the Middle East

SECTION ONE

What Triggers Revival?

Chapter 1

A Contrite Heart

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

"I dwell in the high and holy place,

With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

To revive the spirit of the humble,

And to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)

America has a heart problem. Our nation is suffering from spiritual cardiomyopathy, which is a hardening and thickening of the heart muscle, making it nearly impossible to beat properly. It is as if America’s heart has become calloused. If you have ever worked a lot with hand tools or walked for a long time in firm shoes, then you know what a callous is. The flesh gets hard and thick, and that area becomes insensitive to heat, cold, or pain. Calloused hands are not good for fine detail work because they cannot sense things properly, while calloused feet cannot experience the joyous touch of a grassy lawn or a soothing bath. And yet America is full of people with calloused hearts.

How did so many people end up this way? How did our hearts become calloused, unable to properly feel? Many people got there by being told not to feel, by being told that their lives and desires were more important than the needs of others. America’s heart has thickened from too many years of disuse, too many years of being told that tolerating every conceivable sin is far more important than demanding a godly sense of morality. The result is that the West has raised three generations of people with progressively harder hearts, people who are increasingly unwilling to put others first.

For decades, we’ve been told to do what we like, to live as we please, to give ourselves over to selfish behaviors and habits. Worse yet, we’ve been told to tolerate and accommodate the desires of others, until we finally have no sensitivity left to what is true and what is right—no sensitivity left to God or His Word. And yet it is being sensitive to God that brings us closer to Him and creates people of compassion and love. We cannot be sensitive to God’s desires, will, standards, and Spirit unless our hard hearts are first made sensitive.

Receiving a Contrite Heart

It is no coincidence that when the Lord wanted to explain what He was about to do for His people, how He was going to help them worship Him and follow His ways, that He said through Ezekiel, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). In order for our hard hearts to know God, we must first be given a new heart that is no longer hard, but one that is soft and pliable. And this heart can only come from God.

In Psalm 51, King David, having been caught in a great sin, came before God and admitted that his heart must be contrite—crushed or bruised—before God would accept any kind of offering from him. He understood that his heart had to be soft, pliable, if God was to accept him. In the same way, our hearts need to be malleable, they need to be able to feel the pressure of our sin and experience godly sorrow before we can become sensitive to God’s presence once again.

David’s phrase a broken and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) is practically never used in today. It indicates an expression of godly sorrow for past sin and a resolve to avoid future sin. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul pointed out how the church’s godly sorrow had produced in them a repentance that led to righteousness. Having a contrite heart changed the way the Corinthian church interacted with the world, giving them a humble desire to seek and please God.

David’s words show that God’s people, even during Old Testament times, understood that their hearts must be completely given over to Him—burnt sacrifices were not adequate. David and the prophets knew that God would do what was needed in order for His people to have a contrite heart, a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). In time, God sent His Son as the ultimate sacrifice to give us that new heart, which only comes by receiving the gift of forgiveness in Jesus. Since that heart comes from God, a truly contrite heart does not take forgiveness for granted. That type of heart grieves over sin and what that sin cost the Son of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Primary Obstacle of Revival

It is our hardened hearts that are the primary obstacle to true spiritual revival today. Only a contrite heart opens the way to repentance and revival. Many people deny themselves of that truth. Instead of repenting, they attempt to clean up their act on their own. So, they give more, pray more, or engross themselves in other religious activities in the hopes of God finally getting over being angry with them. In their mind, restitution is the same as repentance. In Psalm 51, however, David tells us that God wants none of that—religious activity cannot replace heartfelt contrition.

This heart problem isn’t just among unbelievers or those who don’t attend church; it is among the people of God. Many of us have heard this phrase, even by people who have been in church for years: I’m basically a good person and God loves me. But the words of Jesus contradict this moral assumption: So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’ (Matthew 19:17). In fact, Isaiah 64:6 says, But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. What we call righteousness and what God calls righteousness are very different things indeed.

When Samuel was searching for the next king, God sent him to the house of Jesse. After Samuel assumed Jesse’s son Eliab would be the next king, God reminded Samuel: Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God knows whether or not we are genuinely His and whether or not we have repentant hearts—He doesn’t want us to offer outward shows, but to have a broken and contrite heart.

A Contrite Heart Sets the Stage for Revival

Opening any worship service or Bible study by prompting the attendees to come into the presence of God with thanksgiving, praise, and contrite hearts sets the stage for God’s manifested presence. The more we acknowledge our sin, repenting of it, the more godly desires are born in us and greater steps are taken to avoid falling into future sin. All of this is so that we may follow in God’s righteous path and come into His presence with submission.

Over the course of many years, in all of our underground church meetings, at the beginning of each worship service we called the people to contrition. Individually and corporately, we asked God to give us contrite hearts as we came into His presence. It was our desire that God would circumcise our hearts and forgive all of our iniquities—the sins we had done, either unknowingly or knowingly. Doing this each time we met together set the stage for greater things to follow. And God was faithful every time, as we witnessed amazing miracles during those meetings.

The truth is that everything begins with the issues of the heart. For God, the most important aspect of our lives is our heart—He knows who genuinely stands with Him. Therefore, the question arises, do we possess a contrite heart? No one is born with a heart that willingly loves God and His Word. In fact, we are all born in sin, and therefore we must pursue a heart that is contrite in God’s presence. But pursuing it is not easy. It demands sacrifice while simultaneously showing us how to follow Jesus and not the way of the world. Those who possess and exercise a contrite heart keep their way pure and preserve their separation for Christ.

A Contrite Heart Needs Christ

Since the fall of humanity, we are conceived and born in sin, condemned to eternal damnation. Without Christ in our lives and without the