This may not seem like a revival prayer but Job wanted the Lord. He reached out and reached out because he knew, by faith, that God was there. God isn’t hard to find. He is there. There is just so little seeking of the Lord. The Bible tells us that if we draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to us. This was Job’s desire. His “friends” encircled him telling him that it must be his sin that caused this tragedy. They told him he needed to learn how to pray. He didn’t need their help. In their minds they had God right where they wanted him, but even in his weakest point Job was closer to God than they were.
Job 23:2 Even today is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! 4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
The express desire of Job’s heart is here. What is your heart’s desire? Sometimes the heart’s desire is hard to express, but there is no barrier when we really want to get to God. Our mind might not find words, but it’s not about words. It’s about the heart. Job’s words failed him. Verses 15-16 tell us this: Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me. The most important part of reaching God is the heart and it brought revival to his soul. Job’s attitude and spirit had the fear of God. Too often we don’t see that today. God is our judge and we should be careful before him. Job asked if he could hide anything from God. Was he keeping some doors in his heart shut and locked from God? We must open the doors and let God inside EVERYWHERE.
Job’s friends thought they had God pegged and Job was a big sinner. Their self-righteousness got in the way as it does for us. Revival is not of our choosing as far as what we want for others. It’s a prayer for our own zeal and excitement for the Lord. We were there at one time and can be again. God is giving us this coming week and he’ll open the windows of heaven if we will call on him. Don’t try to choose what you want. We can’t clean a commode with a banana peel. We need everything in our hearts from the basement to the bathroom cleaned out. We need more than a “cleaned-out-refrigerator-revival.” Job knew he needed to order his cause before God. No fussing. No blaming. No setting terms. The only words that need to come out of our mouth is “thy will be done.” Have you asked God to revive you and just sat down and waited to hear from him–the here-I-am-concept? Look, we have 50 million words in this Bible. How much more do we need?
We seek the Lord to find him. He answers in the way we need. We need to order our cause before him. Understand what God is saying. Revival is like a good hide tanning. It hurts but it helps. Now days medicine tastes good so children will take it. Growing up it was hard to swallow because it tasted so bad. God’s medicine may not taste how we want, but it does the trick.
Job needed God’s strength. I’d rather know Jesus in the pardon and forgiveness of sin, giving him unhindered access to every part of my soul, than to have the dread of facing him as my judge. God is far greater than we imagine. He owns it all except the spirit of man. That’s why we need to commit that part to him and leave it there. Verse 10 says But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 