REVIVE US AGAIN

This is a special holiday weekend. For many it marks the beginning of summer, for others it is a three-day vacation, for some it marks the opening of swimming pools, and for many it is a time of family gatherings. But as you know, the true significance is that it is meant to be a time that we remember those who have faught and died to protect our freedoms. And thankfully this freedom includes the freedom to worship, a freedom that we have taken for granted. Even today there are Christians who are martyred daily for their faith. This morning I heard a news report that said that the majority of folks in this country who claim to be born-again Christians seldom even pray once a day. That is startling, but shows how far we have sunk. Those thoughts made me recall a hymn which we used to sing and maybe should begin to sing again. William Paton Mackay (1839-1885) originally worked in Scotland as a medical doctor. He resigned that position to become an ordained Presbyterian minister of the Gospel. Mackay was a staunch believer that the Word of God means what it says. This quote from one of his publications is an example of his straightforward, no nonsense Gospel message of grace and commitment: "Creed, or the belief in a certain amount of doctrine, has made Christendom, but never made a Christian. Ye must be born again". It is McKay who penned the words of this week's choice, "Revive Us Again". I couldn't find anything about the actual writing of the hymn, but I did come across some interesting information provided by Cliff Barrows of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Cliff said ""Revive Us Again" is a gospel song that we have used in almost every evangelistic crusade since 1946. When we sing it, we often revert to the ancient practice of antiphony which was common in the performance of the Hebrew psalms. In the refrain, the audience on one side of the auditorium or stadium will sing "Hallelujah!" and those on the other side will echo "Thine the glory", and so on until the final phrase "revive us again," which we sing in unison. Sometimes we have sung the hymn responsively over long distances. In our final meeting in Sydney, Australia, in 1959, the first phrase was sung by 80,000 people in the Royal Agriculture Society's Showground. They were answered by 70,000 people in the Cricket Ground, almost two blocks away. In 1955, by use of a telephone in relay, the folk in Bangor, North Wales responded to the audience in Glasgow, Scotland". That must have been an inspiring experience. As you reflect upon the words this week, make this your personal prayer. And as you experience the freedom to worship that others have died to preserve for us, ask the Lord to revive you and use you as He sees fit.

(1) We praise Thee, O God!

For the Son of Thy love,

For Jesus Who died,

And is now gone above.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

(2) We praise Thee, O God!

For Thy Spirit of light,

Who hath shown us our Savior,

And scattered our night.

Refrain

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

(3) All glory and praise

To the Lamb that was slain,

Who hath borne all our sins,

And hath cleansed every stain.

Refrain

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

(4) All glory and praise

To the God of all grace,

Who hast brought us, and sought us,

And guided our ways.

Refrain

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

(5) Revive us again;

Fill each heart with Thy love;

May each soul be rekindled

With fire from above.

Refrain

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Hallelujah! Amen.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory.

Revive us again.

"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?" (Psalm 85:6)

Listen to this great hymn sung here. LISTEN