Back To The Bible

“And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” 

- 2 Kings 22:8

The word, “revival,” is used frequently in some Christian circles. Yet if revival really came, I am not convinced that most people would appreciate it. Real revival brings massive changes that unsettles the status quo. Most people really don't want the flow of life to be radically altered. When Christians say they want to see revival, what they actually mean is that they want to see the church grow. They want to see conversions. They want others to change. But they don't want to change themselves.

When revival came during the reign of Josiah, the whole fabric of society changed. It began with the removal of all idols. It continued with the massive effort to restore God's house. During this restoration process, our text says that something unexpected was discovered: “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.”

This discovery reached the ears of the king, who had God's Word read to him. Rather than rejoicing at its message, the king rent his clothes. From the message he heard, Josiah knew that his nation had sinned greatly against God and was facing judgment.

The discovery of God's Word had led the king to understand the nature of God's holiness. It became obvious to him that Judah had failed to keep God's law. At this critical moment, the king sought spiritual help.

In our country, the Bible remains the best selling book of all time. Nearly every home has at least one copy of God's Word. Many believers have several copies of the Bible. Additionally, we have Bible software and internet resources available to help us read and study the Bible. Yet few people actually spend time on a regular basis reading the Bible.

We need get back to the Bible. Get it out of your bookshelf. Dig it out of storage. Dust it off. Open it up. Begin to read the Bible like its important --- because it is.

If there has ever been a time we need the Bible, it is right now. There can never be a real revival unless it is a Bible revival. A genuine revival causes a believer to keep a Bible in his hand and a prayer in his heart. The prayer closet and the study are visited daily.

Let me challenge you to get your Bible out and do three things daily:

1. READ

First of all, spend time reading the Bible each day. If you read just one chapter of the New Testament every day, you can read the entire New Testament in less than a year. If you read about 3 chapters of the Bible daily, you can read the entire Bible in about a year. While the New Testament seems more valuable at first, don't neglect the Old Testament. The Bible is God's love letter to you. Read it as such.

2. FEED

Secondly, feed on God's Word. Slowly digest what you are reading. Meditate on the Word. Feast on the Word daily. You feed your body daily, don't you? It makes good sense to feed your soul daily. A good sermon on Sunday can be a wonderful blessing, but it is also a great blessing to meet with God in His Word every day.

3. HEED

Finally, heed God's Word. We need to obey the Word of God. God's Word was not given solely for your information, for your transformation. Slowly over time God's Word molds the life of a believer. Our application of God's Word makes all the difference. God wants you to do more than merely hear His commands, He expects you to heed His commands.

These days so many people argue about the accuracy of news stories, social media posts and TV commentaries. Push all of that aside. Get into the Word. The Bible is 100% true and reliable. It is a message from God to you. What can be bigger or better than that?

If you really want to see revival, if you really want to see your life change, get back to the Bible. Get into God's Word and let God's Word get into you.