Revival by Richard Owen Roberts

I discovered this book last March.  After reading it I posted the following on our church blog:

"It wasn't a hard read.  It was actually a very simple straightforward read.  It was also very difficult to put down!  But it was hard in another way:  it was painful.  It was convicting on a level few other books are.

Its odd (isn't it) that this book is out of print.   I can't think of a book more urgently needed at this time!   Is it because we no longer see our own need?  Is it because it is too painful?  I don't know the reason, but it is a situation that needs to be somehow rectified.  If you are going to read a book on revival I would beg you to begin here.  But that raises a problem.  There are few copies available anymore; which means you may need to write Richard Owen Roberts.  Don't hesitate to do so.  This books needs to be reprinted. 

If you read this book here's what you will gain:

First, you will find out what revival is.   Roberts' description is simple, beautiful and winsome.  You will read and you will find it hard not to weep.  You will read and long and pray.  No born again Christian can read this brief introduction to revival without longing to see such a thing again.  You won't want ease in Zion anymore.  You won't want 'ordinary' you will long for the extraordinary.

Second, you will find out when revival is needed... and this is the part that hurts.  Because here the author describes a backslidden Church.  This part was hard.  I've always felt revival was needed, but never so keenly as when this section.  If you are willing to be convinced that revival is needed, if you are not sure revival is needed this is the book you need.

Third, you will find out what needs to happen if we will see revival.

This book - if it were read- could change the Church.  Get it if you can and read it."