Preparing Our Hearts for Revival

We are to prepare the soil of our hearts for revival. The power of revival can only come from God. The Preparation also comes from God, but God uses people to prepare for revival. Consider two farmers. One prepares his soil for sowing and for receiving the former and latter rain, but the other does not. The farmer who does not prepares his soil gets nothing more than a mud bog. The mud bog is good for wallowing and mud racing, but is  not in any condition to receive either seed or water. The other tills his soil and fertilizes his soil. The soil is in a prime condition to receive both seed and water. The farmer who does not prepare his soil has little to show for his efforts. The other farmer receives an abundant harvest.

Hosea 6:3 teaches that there are two rains of revival. Just as the morning is established to happen at regular and appointed times and seasons, God has established times and seasons in which He reveals His Holy Spirit as the rain.  The text is not referring to the physical rain needed for agriculture, but rather of revival. God comes down as the rain.

Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going is established as the morning. He will come to us like the rain, Like the former and latter rain upon the earth.  - Hosea 6:3

The former rain is the first outpouring of God's Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter cites Joel 2:28-32 in his message recorded in Acts 2. There is, however, another rain of revival. A study of the prophecy in Joel 2-3 in its context suggests that the complete fulfillment is accomplished in the same season of time as the return of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.

Hosea 10:12 instructs us to prepare the soil of our hearts to receive the latter rain. The fallow ground that is being broken up is not physical soil that is useful to agriculture, but the soil of our hearts.  We are to sow righteousness, and the Lord will rain righteousness. We are to prepare our soil for revival.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you - Hosea 10:12

We are to prepare our hearts and minds to receive instruction in God's word and receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  We prepare by studying God's Word, prayer, praise, and seeking God. We are to seek God individually and in sacred assembly. When we do this, we will be ready for the latter rain revival.