Self-Revival
By Russ Earl
We sometimes hear congregations talk about having a “revival,” and the word itself is not unscriptural. It simply means an effort to restore zeal, encourage God’s people, and strengthen the church. But here is what we must remember: zeal does not vanish overnight. It is often a slow fade—like a fire that is not fed. It doesn’t go out all at once; it burns down to embers.
And when zeal weakens, it is easy to blame everything around us: stress, work, other people, leadership, or circumstances. I have heard people even blame specific individuals for their lack of devotion. But when it comes right down to it, if our zeal fades, the responsibility is ours. We allowed it. Scripture places responsibility where it belongs—on the individual.
That is why revival in the church begins with self-revival. Negative, discouraged, or half-hearted people are not very good at encouraging others. If my zeal is low, it will be hard for me to help others increase theirs. The psalmist asked, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6). But even God does not revive a person who refuses to be revived. Christ wept over Jerusalem and said He would have gathered them, but they were not willing. Nothing changes until we decide to change.
God holds each person accountable. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). On the day of judgment, it will not be a group event. No one will step forward and answer for us. It will be you and the Lord. Others may discourage us, but they do not control our zeal. Faithfulness is personal before it ever becomes congregational.
One major reason zeal fades is that the heart is not guarded. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Like a doctor checks vitals, we must examine our spiritual condition: Am I praying? Studying? Worshiping faithfully? Trying to help others? Everything the church does begins with individuals, and if we will not act personally, we will not suddenly act when a group effort is needed.
Neglect is often quiet and gradual. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself” (1 Timothy 4:16). Before we try to help others, we must be honest about ourselves.
Some common causes of lost zeal are simple. One is neglect of the Word. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). Zeal cannot survive without nourishment. Prayerlessness also leads to dullness: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The less we pray, the less spiritual we become.
Another cause is routine without reverence. Worship has a pattern—singing, praying, giving, the Lord’s Supper, and teaching. Routine is not wrong, but mechanical worship is. J
Worldly distractions also cool devotion. “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15), and “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). A heart divided between God and the world will not stay fervent.
So how do we revive our zeal? First, return to the Lord with the heart. “Rend your heart… and turn unto the LORD your God” (Joel 2:13). Revival begins with real repentance—an inward change, not an outward show. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). If we want closeness again, we must take steps back to Him.
Second, remember what we used to do faithfully and return to it. The Lord said, “Thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4), and then commanded, “Remember… and repent, and do the first works” (Revelation 2:5). Sometimes the answer is not something new. It is returning to what we once did.
Third, renew commitment through steady obedience. “Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Zeal is maintained by continued deep love and gratefulness for God, not temporary excitement. “Let us not be weary in well doing… if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
Remember: no one can cool my zeal unless I allow it. Routine without reverence leads to religion without zeal. What competes for the heart eventually cools devotion. Zeal is restored when the heart is restored. David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12). If we want that joy again, we do not get it by putting less God in our lives—we get it by putting more.
Revival in any congregation begins when individuals restore their zeal for God.
And when zeal weakens, it is easy to blame everything around us: stress, work, other people, leadership, or circumstances. I have heard people even blame specific individuals for their lack of devotion. But when it comes right down to it, if our zeal fades, the responsibility is ours. We allowed it. Scripture places responsibility where it belongs—on the individual.
That is why revival in the church begins with self-revival. Negative, discouraged, or half-hearted people are not very good at encouraging others. If my zeal is low, it will be hard for me to help others increase theirs. The psalmist asked, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6). But even God does not revive a person who refuses to be revived. Christ wept over Jerusalem and said He would have gathered them, but they were not willing. Nothing changes until we decide to change.
God holds each person accountable. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). On the day of judgment, it will not be a group event. No one will step forward and answer for us. It will be you and the Lord. Others may discourage us, but they do not control our zeal. Faithfulness is personal before it ever becomes congregational.
One major reason zeal fades is that the heart is not guarded. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Like a doctor checks vitals, we must examine our spiritual condition: Am I praying? Studying? Worshiping faithfully? Trying to help others? Everything the church does begins with individuals, and if we will not act personally, we will not suddenly act when a group effort is needed.
Neglect is often quiet and gradual. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself” (1 Timothy 4:16). Before we try to help others, we must be honest about ourselves.
Some common causes of lost zeal are simple. One is neglect of the Word. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). Zeal cannot survive without nourishment. Prayerlessness also leads to dullness: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The less we pray, the less spiritual we become.
Another cause is routine without reverence. Worship has a pattern—singing, praying, giving, the Lord’s Supper, and teaching. Routine is not wrong, but mechanical worship is. J
Worldly distractions also cool devotion. “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15), and “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). A heart divided between God and the world will not stay fervent.
So how do we revive our zeal? First, return to the Lord with the heart. “Rend your heart… and turn unto the LORD your God” (Joel 2:13). Revival begins with real repentance—an inward change, not an outward show. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). If we want closeness again, we must take steps back to Him.
Second, remember what we used to do faithfully and return to it. The Lord said, “Thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4), and then commanded, “Remember… and repent, and do the first works” (Revelation 2:5). Sometimes the answer is not something new. It is returning to what we once did.
Third, renew commitment through steady obedience. “Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Zeal is maintained by continued deep love and gratefulness for God, not temporary excitement. “Let us not be weary in well doing… if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
Remember: no one can cool my zeal unless I allow it. Routine without reverence leads to religion without zeal. What competes for the heart eventually cools devotion. Zeal is restored when the heart is restored. David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12). If we want that joy again, we do not get it by putting less God in our lives—we get it by putting more.
Revival in any congregation begins when individuals restore their zeal for God.