INTRODUCTION: The biblical word contrite is only found in four Bible passages (Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
See All...; 51:17
See All...; Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
See All...; 66:2
See All...). Yet, the concept described by this word is the key to revival in our hearts and in our churches. When we preach of revival, we tend to point out the actions that God uses to bring revival: repentance, confession of sin, prayer, Bible study and commitment to the house of God. None of these are wrong answers. However, they all require something else. They require a change in our hearts known biblically as contrition. As the scriptures teach, God will “revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
See All...).

To be contrite is to be broken, crushed into little pieces, free from rebellion or resistance. In scripture, a contrite heart or spirit is related to a broken heart (Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
See All...) or spirit (Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
See All...) and a humble spirit (Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
See All...). Contrition is that humble spirit that says, I am nothing and He is everything. It is that inner brokenness that weeps over sin and sinners. It is the absence of personal pride and the absolute exaltation of God and His will. It is expressed by a poverty of spirit and a trembling at God’s word (Isaiah 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
See All...).

To be contrite is to be broken into little pieces; to be crushed into fine powder. In our pride and self-determination we take a rigid form that refuses to be moved. We are like a ceramic statue—hard and cold. As such, we do not easily fit into our container. We only stiffly abide in Christ and refuse to be conformed to Him. But when our pride is replaced by brokenness, we no longer hold our stubborn form but are broken into pieces and transformed into the shape of our container—Jesus Christ. Of such is the power of contrition.

1. THE POWER OF CONTRITION
1. To Bring Heaven-Sent Revival (Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
   See All...)
2. To Bring God Near (Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
   See All...; Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
   See All...)
3. To Bring Divine Deliverance (Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. [11] For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
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1. The deliverance of salvation
2. The deliverance of personal renewal
4. To Bring Divine Favor (Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
   See All...; Isaiah 66:1-2 [1] Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? [2] For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
   See All...)
2.  THE PATH TO CONTRITION (Problem: a contrite heart does not come by force of will. How then do we seek this brokenness of spirit?)
1. By Reverence for God’s Word (Isaiah 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
   See All...)
1. Noah was moved with fear because of what God said! (Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
   See All...) He had never seen rain but took God at His word.
2. The Egyptians who “feared the word of the LORD” saved their cattle and servants from the plague of hail (Exodus 9:20He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
   See All...).
3. If we would have a contrite heart, we must once again tremble at the word of God and allow it to move and change us.
2. By Sorrow of Heart (Psalm 69:20Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
   See All...; Proverbs 15:13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
   See All...)
1. Allow sorrow of heart to draw you close to the Lord
2. Warning: Do not let sorrows come between you and God or they will destroy you (Proverbs 17:22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
   See All...). Which way sorrows lead you depends on your attitude toward the trials you face.
3. By Weeping Over Sin (Jeremiah 23:9-11 [9] Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. [10] For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. [11] For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
   See All...)
1. We do not know the heart of God if we are not troubled over sin
2. Allow God to reveal your own sins to you first (Psalm 139:23-24 [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
   See All...). This will keep you from pride over the sins of others.
3. Then weep over the sins of others as Jeremiah does in this passage (Jeremiah 23:9-11 [9] Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. [10] For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. [11] For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
   See All...)
4. By Sincere Prayer (Psalm 34:17-18 [17] The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. [18] The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
   See All...; 145:18
   See All...)
1. Ask God to break your heart for Him
2. Make this a regular prayer request
3. Expect Him to answer this prayer
5. By Hunger for God (Psalm 42:1-4 [1] As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. [2] My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? [3] My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? [4] When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
   See All...; 63:1-3
   See All...; Matthew 5:6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
   See All...; Philippians 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
   See All...)
1. Since brokenness brings you near to God, this brokenness comes to those who are hungry to know the Lord and to be near Him.
2. This also should be a matter of prayer. Ask God to make you hungry for Him.

CONCLUSION: We get caught up in so many detours today. We speculate over the possibility of revival instead of seeking it. And, when we seek revival, we seek it for the nation instead of ourselves. We want to bring the world up to our standards and would count that as revival. God wants to bring you up to His standards. Then He will use you to touch the hearts of others.

Revival begins in the individual heart and starts with a broken and contrite spirit. Would you be willing to open your life up to God? to allow Him to break your heart? Then pray for a contrite spirit. Ask God to make you hungry for Him. Confess your pride and coldness and trust God to accept your living sacrifice. Do it today. Do it right now.