It all happened so slowly, so silently.

Each step seemed so small,

and even so reasonable in the moment. You didn’t pack up and
run like the prodigal son. But somehow, when you look back, you
find yourself farther from God than you thought you were.

Maybe you overheard someone praying with simple, childlike love

for Jesus, and you can’t even remember the last time you prayed
like that. Maybe months have passed since you have woken up
and wanted, really wanted, to read your Bible. Maybe you just
committed some sin, or entertained some thought, you couldn’t
have imagined a year ago.
Maybe you know exactly how you got here: a subtle worldly
compromise, a Christless relationship, a slow but deep neglect, a
secret sin unconfessed. Or maybe you struggle to trace the path
you walked from there to here. You just know that you are not
where you once were.

And now, perhaps, like that son in the far country, you think of
your Father. You remember home. You wonder if you could find
your way back.

‘He Restores My Soul’

At one time or another, all of us in Christ find ourselves in need of
returning to Christ. Maybe we’ve wandered from him only for a
few days or a week, or maybe we’ve allowed months or more to
pass. Either way, our feet have strayed; our love has waned; our
zeal has cooled; our eyes have dimmed. We love Jesus less today
than we did yesterday. We need renewal.
Yes, but how? What road will lead us back to our Father’s house,
back to the land of our first love? We might begin by
remembering a line from David’s most famous psalm:

Ikaw, GINOO, amo ang akon manugbantay,

gani indi ako pagkulangon.
2
Daw pareho ako sa karnero nga ginapapahuway mo sa palahalban nga bugana
sang hilamon
kag ginatuytuyan sa malinaw nga tubig.
3
Ginapabaskog mo ako.
Ginatuytuyan mo ako sa husto nga dalan agod mapadunggan ka.
He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1–3)

Our Lord Jesus specializes not only in saving the lost, but in
restoring the saved. He calls himself shepherd,
the good shepherd, and as such he does not rest easy while one
of his dear sheep wanders from his fold. And therefore, however
far we feel from Jesus, and however unable to see the paths back
to him, he knows how to restore our souls. He can bear us on his
shoulders and bring us home.
And when he does, he often carries us along four restoring paths.

1. Remember
5
Hunahunaa bala ninyo kon daw ano ang inyo paglas-ay. Maghinulsol kamo kag
himua ninyo liwat ang inyo mga ginahimo sang una. Kon indi, kadtuan ko kamo kag
kuhaon ko ang inyo suga.
(Revelation 2:5)
Personal revival often begins when we remember how far we
have fallen, just how far we have wandered. And by remember, I
mean really remember. Ponder the past. Relive former, more
spiritually alive times in your life. Feel the sorrow of first love lost.
Do you remember the way you once treasured God’s word in your
heart like so much gold and silver? Do you remember how prayer
felt sweet as honey on your tongue? Do you remember how you
hurried to arrive at corporate worship lest you should miss some
song, some part of the sermon? Do you remember telling others
about Jesus not from guilt but from the natural overflow of your
joy? Do you remember how you once fasted with freedom; gave
your time and money with a happy, open hand; killed your sin
with radical resolve; and heard the name of Jesus as the most
wonderful sound in all the world?

“Our Lord Jesus specializes not only in

saving the lost, but in restoring the saved.”
We may feel tempted to run from such remembrance, to pretend
all is well for fear of facing how much we’ve lost. But don’t run,
and don’t pretend. If there is sorrow here, Jesus has promised to
sweeten it. Painful remembrance is often our first step toward
home. And if we humble ourselves under the comparison of
us then and us now, God pledges to make us the special objects
of his reviving love:

Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits
eternity, whose name is Holy: 15 Amo pa gid ini ang ginasiling sang Labing
Mataas nga Dios, ang Balaan nga Dios nga nagakabuhi sa wala sing katapusan:
“Nagapuyo ako sa mataas kag balaan nga lugar, pero nagapuyo man ako upod sa
mga tawo nga mapainubuson kag mahinulsulon, agod mapabaskog ko sila. (Isaiah
57:15)
The only spirits God revives are lowly spirits; the only hearts he
restores are contrite hearts. And so often, the fruits of lowliness
and contrition grow from the soil of honest, unflinching memory.

2. Return
12
Karon, lakat ka, kag isugid ini nga mensahi sa Israel: Ako, ang GINOO, nagasiling:
[a]

Magbalik ka, Israel nga indi matutom, kay maluluy-on ako. Indi ako maakig sa imo
hasta san-o.. (Jeremiah 3:12)

There is, no doubt, a sick kind of remembrance, a kind that leaves

us more lost than we were before. Some, forgetting God’s mercy,
remember themselves right into a pit of despair. They recall home
from the far country, but they don’t dare to hope that their Father
is waiting for them, ready for them, scanning the horizon with ring
and robe in hand. And indeed, we would have no reason to hope
unless God himself told us not only to remember, but to return —
unless he said, again and again to his lost children, “Come home.”
But he does.

Note how God speaks to his wandering people in Jeremiah 3:12.

They have not yet done anything to reform themselves. They are,
in his eyes, “faithless Israel,” their faithlessness having driven
them far from him. But he will not allow their faithlessness to
become a reason for staying far from him. “I will not look on you
in anger,” he says, wooing, “for I am merciful.” However far we’ve
wandered, we find in God a mercy far deeper than our
faithlessness.
He gives only one condition for his welcome: 13
Akuon mo lang ang imo
sala nga nagrebelde ka sa GINOO nga imo Dios kag nagsunod sa iban nga mga dios
paagi sa pagsimba sa ila sa idalom sang tagsa ka madabong nga kahoy. Akuon mo
nga wala ka magtuman sa akon. Ako, ang GINOO, ang nagasiling sini.”(Jeremiah
3:13). Only confess. Only repent. Only own your sins without
excuse and receive the blood of Jesus. And then believe that
whatever faithlessness has led you far from God, he still says
gladly through Jesus, 14 Nagsiling pa ang GINOO, “Magbalik kamo, mga anak
nga indi matutom, kay akon kamo. Kuhaon ko ang isa ukon duha sa inyo halin sa
[a]

kada banwa ukon tribo, kag dal-on sa Israel.

[

(Jeremiah 3:14).

3. Remove
16
Magpakatinlo kamo! Mag-untat na kamo sa paghimo sang malain sa akon
atubangan. (Isaiah 1:16)
True remembrance plus faithful return does something deep in a
soul.

As with the godly grief the apostle Paul describes, we feel a

renewed 11 Tan-awa ninyo ang resulta sadtong kasubo nga nag-abot sa inyo suno
sa kabubut-on sang Dios. Nangin desidido gid kamo sa pagpakita sa amon nga
kamo matinlo sa sadto nga sala nga akon ginasiling sa inyo. Naakig gid kamo sa
nakahimo sang sadto nga sala, kag nahadlukan kamo kon ano ang mangin resulta
sadto. Gusto gid ninyo nga magbalik liwat ang aton daan nga relasyon. Ginsilutan pa
gid ninyo ang nakahimo sadto. Kag sa tanan nga butang, ginpakita ninyo nga kamo
wala gid sing salabton sa sadto nga sala.(2 Corinthians 7:11). Freshly
forgiven in Christ, and now no longer wandering, we rise like men
and women newly alive, ready to remove whatever we have
allowed to take us from God.

Revival brings a kind of holy violence to those it touches. In the

Old Testament, we read of revived kings like Josiah taking
hammer and torch to the idols throughout Israel (2 Kings 23:4–
20). 4 Dayon ginsugo ni Haring Josia si Hilkia nga pangulo nga pari, ang mga pari
nga sunod sa rangko ni Hilkia, kag ang mga pari nga nagabantay sa puwertahan
sang templo, sa pagkuha sa templo sang GINOO sang tanan nga kagamitan nga
ginagamit sa pagsimba kay Baal, kay Ashera, kag sa tanan nga butang sa langit.
Ginpasunog niya ini sa guwa sang Jerusalem, sa uma sang Kidron, kag gindala
dayon ang abo sa Betel. 5 Ginpahalin niya sa ila katungdanan ang mga pari nga
nagaalagad sa mga dios-dios. Ini nga mga pari gintugyanan sang mga hari sang
Juda sa pagsunog sang mga insenso sa mga simbahan sa mataas nga mga lugar
didto sa mga banwa sang Juda kag sa palibot sang Jerusalem. Nagsunog sila sang
mga insenso kay Baal kag sa mga ara sa langit—sa adlaw, sa bulan, kag sa mga
bituon. 6 Ginpakuha man ni Haring Josia ang hulohaligi nga simbolo sang diosa nga
si Ashera sa templo sang GINOO kag gindala sa guwa sang Jerusalem, sa Kidron
nga ililigan sang tubig, kag ginsunog didto. Dayon ginpapudpod niya ini sing mapino
kag ginsabwag ang abo sa patyo. 7 Ginpaguba man niya ang mga balay sang mga
lalaki kag babayi nga nagabaligya sang ila lawas, nga ara sa templo sang GINOO.
Didto nagatahi ang mga babayi sang mga bayo nga ginagamit sa pagsimba kay
Ashera.[a]

8
Ginpabalik ni Josia sa Jerusalem ang tanan nga pari nga nagaestar sa iban nga
mga banwa sang Juda. Gindagtaan niya ang mga simbahan sa mataas nga mga
lugar, halin sa Geba hasta sa Beersheba, sa diin nagasunog ang mga pari sang mga
insenso. Ginpaguba niya ang mga simbahan sa Puwertahan ni Josue, ang
manugdumala sang Jerusalem. Ini nga puwertahan ara sa wala dampi sang
puwertahan sang siyudad. 9 Ang mga pari nga nag-alagad sa mga simbahan sa
mataas nga mga lugar wala gintugutan nga mag-alagad sa halaran sang GINOO sa
Jerusalem, pero gintugutan sila nga magkaon sang tinapay nga wala sing
inugpahabok upod sa iban nga mga pari.
10
Gindagtaan man ni Josia ang halaran sang Tofet, sa Pulopatag sang Ben Hinom,
agod wala sing may maghalad didto sang iya bata sa kalayo para kay
Molec. 11 Ginkuha man niya sa puwertahan sang templo sang GINOO ang mga
kabayo nga gindedikar sang mga hari sang Juda sa adlaw. Ini nga mga kabayo ara
[b]

dampi sa lagwerta sang templo, malapit sa kuwarto sang opisyal nga si Natan
Melec. Ginsunog man ni Josia ang mga karwahe nga ginhalad sa adlaw.
12
Ginpaguba niya ang mga halaran nga ginpatindog sang mga hari sang Juda
sa matapan nga atop sang ibabaw nga kuwarto ni Ahaz, pati ang mga halaran nga
ginpahimo ni Manase sa duha ka lagwerta sang templo sang GINOO.
Ginpangdugmok niya ini sing mapino kag ginsabwag ang abo sa Kidron nga ililigan
sang tubig. 13 Gindagtaan man niya ang mga simbahan sa mataas nga mga lugar sa
sidlangan sang Jerusalem kag sa bagatnan sang Bukid sang Kalautan. Ini nga mga
simbahan ginpatindog ni Haring Solomon sang Israel para kay Ashtoret, ang
makangilil-ad nga diosa sang mga Sidonhon, kag para kay Kemosh, ang makangilil-
ad nga dios sang mga Moabnon, kag para man kay Molec, ang makangilil-ad nga
dios sang mga Ammonhon. 14 Ginpangdugmok ni Josia ang handumanan nga mga
bato kag ginpang-utod ang mga hulohaligi nga simbolo sang diosa nga si Ashera.
Dayon gindagtaan niya ato nga mga lugar paagi sa paglapta didto sang tul-an sang
mga tawo. 15 Bisan ang halaran sa simbahan sa mataas nga lugar didto sa Betel gin-
guba ni Josia. Ini nga simbahan ginpahimo ni Jeroboam nga anak ni Nebat, nga amo
ang nangin kabangdanan sang pagpakasala sang mga taga-Israel. Gindugmok ini ni
Josia sing mapino kag ginsunog, pati ang hulohaligi nga simbolo sang diosa nga
si Ashera. 16 Kag samtang nagatulok siya sa palibot, nakita niya ang mga lulubngan
sa kilid sang bukid. Ginpakuha niya ang mga tul-an sa mga lulubngan kag ginsunog
niya didto sa halaran sa Betel sa pagdagta sini. Natabo ini suno sa ginsiling
sang GINOO paagi sa iya alagad nga nagtagna sini nga mga
butang. 17 Nagpamangkot si Haring Josia parte sa isa pa ka lulubngan nga iya
nakita, “Kay sin-o ina lulubngan?” Nagsabat ang mga tawo sang siyudad,
“Lulubngan ina sang alagad sang Dios nga taga-Juda. Siya ang nagtagna sining imo
ginhimo subong sa halaran sa Betel.” 18 Nagsiling ang hari, “Pabay-i lang ninyo ang
iya lulubngan. Indi ninyo pagkuhaa ang iya mga tul-an.” Gani wala nila pagkuhaa
ang iya mga tul-an kag pati ang mga tul-an sang propeta nga taga-Samaria.
19
Dayon gin-guba ni Josia ang mga simbahan sa mataas nga mga lugar sa Samaria,
pareho sa ginhimo niya sa Betel. Ini nga mga simbahan nga ginpahimo sang mga
hari sang Israel nakapaakig gid sa GINOO. 20 Ginpamatay ni Josia ang tanan nga pari
sang sadto nga mga simbahan didto mismo sa mga halaran sini. Kag nagsunog siya
sang mga tul-an sang tawo sa sadto nga mga halaran sa pagdagta sini. Dayon
nagbalik siya sa Jerusalem.

In all likelihood, such partial measures will only leave us in need

of revival again, and probably sooner than we think. Don’t
hesitate, then, to smash and burn your once-loved foes. Every
swing of the hammer clears more space for Christ. Every piece of
scorched ground becomes a garden where the Spirit’s fruit can
grow.

4. Restore
Do the works you did at first. (Revelation 2:5) 5 Hunahunaa bala
ninyo kon daw ano ang inyo paglas-ay. Maghinulsol kamo kag himua ninyo liwat ang
inyo mga ginahimo sang una. Kon indi, kadtuan ko kamo kag kuhaon ko ang inyo
suga.

Ultimately, the work of soul restoration belongs to God.

“He restores my soul,” not I. But as he restores us, he also grants
us to play a part in the restoration process. Just as King Josiah not
only cleared the land of idols but also reinstated the Passover, so
we not only remove sins but also restore those holy habits we
have long neglected. We “do the works [we] did at first”
(Revelation 2:5).
Such restoration has been God’s purpose from the beginnings of
his dealings with us. Every painful removal was meant to make
way for something better. When God brings personal revival, he
inevitably brings with it a closer, holier walk with him, a fellowship
with him on his Ginapabaskog mo ako.
Ginatuytuyan mo ako sa husto nga dalan agod mapadunggan ka.(Psalm 23:3).
And oh, how great is our joy!
Then the Bible becomes hallowed ground again. Then the door of
our prayer closet becomes a doorway to heaven again. Then
sermons become feasts again, and evangelism becomes a
privilege again, and offenses become overlookable again, and
God’s people become again Kon parte sa imo matutom nga katawhan sa
duta sang Israel nga mga maayo gid,
dako ang akon kalipay sa ila. (Psalm 16:3). Then we see that our God is
not only the God who saves, but the God who restores — who
delights to restore, who restores beyond all that we could ask or
imagine.
(Scripture Portion: Psalm 85)
In verse 6 of this wonderful psalm, the psalmist prays for
revival. Multitudes today are praying a similar prayer, and in
this study we shall discover some of the things that God says
about revival. Some of us have seen revivals on a very small
scale, where in crowded meetings many souls have been
saved, lives have been transformed and there has been a deep
spirit of prayer resting upon the people of God; but few of us
have seen any large-scale revivals. We have read sufficient
about such mighty movements of the Spirit of God to make us
long for the Lord to do it again! But – what is revival? Revival is
renewal, restoration – a fresh inflow of the life, love and power
of God. People faint and then, when help is brought, they
revive. Flowers droop, and when placed in fresh water they
revive. Christians and churches also droop, faint and need
reviving. There are degrees of revival. A sick person may revive
and get a little better, and then later be restored to full health
and strength. The same is true with Christians and churches.
As we study this psalm let us pray that we may become deeply
burdened for God to send a full-scale Holy Ghost revival in our
land, and indeed throughout the world. What are the steps that
lead to such a revival?

1. We must confess our NEED of Revival

The psalmist’s prayer was a confession of need; it was only
when he felt the need that he prayed – verse 6. Think of the
need for revival:
1. 1. In the outside world. Multitudes are without God and
without hope in the world (Ephesians 2:12); most of them
are outside the churches, and revival is the only key to this
tragic situation.
2. 2. In the Church. Many churches are worldly, formal and
lacking in spiritual power and vitality. Only revival can alter
this state of affairs.
3. 3. In our own lives. How powerless we are! How frequently
we fail, our testimony seems ineffective, and how little we
pray! Revival is our personal need.
There will never be any revival until we are willing to admit our
desperate need for it.

2. We must admit the POSSIBILITY of Revival.

Are we convinced that revival is possible? The psalmist was! Six
times in verses 1-3 he reminded God of what He had done –
“You showed… You restored“. And the fact that God has sent
revival in the past demonstrates the possibility of revival
coming again. Some people will not admit the possibility of
revival coming in our day; for example, the ultra-
dispensationalists, and all pessimistic, unbelieving, self-
satisfied, worldly Christians will be slow to admit the possibility.
But history, plus the promises of God, prove the possibility of
revival. Look up 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 33:3; Malachi 3:10
3. We must recognise the SOURCE of Revival
Where does revival come from? Verse 6 tells us. “You…” – look
up Psalm 62:11. It comes from God; it is not worked up but sent
down, and therefore our eyes must not be upon men, methods,
churches or denominations – but upon Him.
 “When we look to man, we get what man can do; when
we look to money, we get what money can do; when
we look to organisation, we get what organisation can
do; when we look to denominations, we get what
denominations can do; but when we look to God, we
get what God can do.”
Look up Psalm 62:5.

4. We must employ the MEANS for securing Revival.

What is the secret of revival? It is prayer – “Will you not…?”
(verse 6) – passionate, believing, urgent prayer. Has there ever
been a revival that was not preceded by prayer? Pentecost, the
Moravian Revival, the 1859 Revival, the Welsh Revival,
movements of the Spirit that are taking place in different parts
of the world today…Look up 2 Chronicles 7:14 again.
5. We must provide the CHANNELS for Revival.
God is wanting to send revival, but He needs channels
– “us” (verse 6) – believers, Christians; for – “Revival is the
outflow of the Spirit of God through the regenerated spirit of
man” (John 7:38-39). Thus, if revival is to come, you and I are
to be ready to receive the full blessing of God and to be
channels through whom that blessing can flow.
6. We must remove the OBSTACLES to Revival.
In verse 6 the psalmist prays for revival – “that your people
may rejoice in you.” This indicates fellowship, walking with God,
agreement with God (Amos 3:3) – being right with God. The
greatest barrier to revival is sin. Are you right with God? Is
there sin in your life? Are you living in disobedience to the
Lord? Face up to this!
Many years ago D. L. Moody heard Henry Varley say, “The
world has yet to see what God will do with one man who is fully
surrendered to Him.” Moody said, “By God’s grace, I’ll be that
man!” Will you be another? Will you begin now to pray the
same prayer for your church, that the world may see what God
can do?

7. We shall enjoy the RESULTS of Revival.

Read the rest of the psalm, and notice several results which are
mentioned: salvation (7); peace (8); glory (9); harmony (10);
increase (11); provision (12); Psalm 37:23! (13)