“And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.” 1 Samuel 7:3-4
October 27, 2025
The people of Israel needed a revival. The seductive power of Idolatry had drawn them into serious spiritual and covenantal compromise. Their recovery from chronic disobedience followed the biblical path of Godly sorrow, repentance, and removal of the false gods of the Canaanites. This also meant a commitment to the Lord. The Hebrew word for “direct” means to set one’s face toward. When we turn from sin we give our attention to who God is and what He has said. The idea is to get off the wrong road and take the right one. This entails serving the Lord, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. A true revival means worshiping and following God’s commands. The devil and his allurements are put in our rearview mirror. Is a revival needed in your own heart? “We need a power that can enter into the souls of men and break them and smash them and humble them and make them anew. And that is the power of the living God” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones). Am I really concerned about my present situation? Am I aware of my need? Am I desperate for true godliness? When such a pursuit of God engulfs Christians, the visitation of heaven will be seen. It goes beyond mere emotional enthusiasm to a reordering life according to the Scriptures.
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“We are trying to have the results of revival without the revival – the effects without the cause.” Vance Havner