The Face That Shines: What Revival Is Finally For

Revival can sound like an event. Professor Gary Maxey ends his book on why revival tarries by pointing to a person.

The old blessing

He turns to Numbers 6:24-26, the blessing God taught Aaron to give: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Professor Maxey says it is the blessing Israel cherished for many centuries.

His point is that the end result of biblical revival is that God smiles on his people. His face shines on them. The goal is God's favor.

What comes before

Reaching that point requires everything he has outlined. People own their need. They clear the ground of false teaching. They gather. They pray with focus, seek God's face with persistence, turn from sin and hunger for deeper cleansing. The face of God shines on those who have turned toward him.

What revival is not

It is not hit-and-miss. It is not an hour of joyful singing and dancing. Professor Maxey says real revival begins in the soul. He adds that revivals do not begin with happy singing and dancing, though they may end in joy.

The long search

He asks a plain question. How long should we seek the Lord? The shepherd in Luke 15 sought the lost sheep until he found it. The woman sought the lost coin until she found it. We seek until we find. Revival may come after a few days or weeks, and in some cases it takes months or even years.

His prayer

Professor Maxey closes with a prayer, repeated through the pages: "Oh God, send down the revival we so greatly need!" He says he is confident he will live to see it.

Your part

Write the prayer on a card and put it where you will see it daily. When you feel discouraged, say it aloud. Do not ask for revival as an audience. Ask as someone who has begun to change.

Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey.