This passage has been adapted from part of a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon in 1866, and so it is a not a simple read, but will benefit any who will put in the time to understand.
Some Christians are just barely alive spiritually. When a man has been let down into a vat or into a well full of bad air, do not be surprise when he is drawn up again that he is half-dead, and urgently requires to be revived. To their shame, some Christians descend into such worldly company, and instead of re-proving their wickedness, become so carnal, that when they are drawn up by God’s grace from their backsliding position they need reviving, and even need that their spiritual breath should as it were be breathed into their nostrils afresh by God’s Spirit.
When a man starves himself, continuing for a long time without food, when he is day after day without a morsel of bread between his lips, we do not marvel that the doctor, finding him in extremities, says, “This man has weakened his system, he is too low, and needs reviving.” Of course he does, for he has brought himself by an insufficient diet into a state of weakness. Are there not hundreds of Christians—shame that it should be so!—who live day after day without feeding upon Bible truth? And shall it be added without real spiritual communion with God? They do not even attend the week-night services, and they are indifferent hearers on the Lord’s day. Is it remarkable that they need reviving? Is not the fact that they do so greatly need revival, dishonorable to themselves and distressing to their truly spiritual brethren?
When revival comes to a people who are in the state thus briefly described, it simply brings them to the condition in which they ought always to have been; it quickens them, gives them new life, stirs the coals of the expiring fire, and puts heavenly breath into the languid lungs. The sickly soul which before was insensible, weak, and sorrowful, grows earnest, vigorous, and happy in the Lord. This is the immediate fruit of revival, and it becomes all of us who are believers to seek this blessing for backsliders, and for ourselves if we are declining in grace.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Psalms 51:10-12)
