Revival
The subject of revival has been coming up frequently lately. It started out with some friends over dinner, bled into Bible study the following night, and seems to be a thread that is igniting the people around me. I’m starting to think that God has something he wants to speak to us.
The backdrop of a revival begins with the majority of people becoming comfortable and compromising. Where the group of people who have been set apart (sanctified) by God are choosing to blend. But God’s warning against this is clear throughout the Bible:
So what is a revival? Here are the definitions:
- an improvement in the condition or strength of something
- an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again
- a new production of an old play or similar work
- a reawakening of religious fervor, esp. by means of a series of evangelistic meetings
- such a meeting or series of meetings
- a restoration to bodily or mental vigor, to life or consciousness, or to sporting success
At Bible study we discussed how God starts a revival in action, and we looked at the example of Ezra:
So to incite a revival is to dedicate yourself to the following principles:
- Preparing your heart
- Purposing to do God’s commands
- Preaching the truth
Looking at both the example and the definition we can get a glimpse of God’s heart towards changing a generation. As all great things in life, it is put into motion by the Holy Spirit, but God uses his creation to display his glory. People coming to have Life in Him is His greatest glory.
So, where does this put us? Do you desire to be a part of the greatest revival of the century? I do, and no organization or call to action will accomplish this amazing task. But God’s call to us right now is very clear:
October 28th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
There must be something going on. My co-worker and I, both believers in Christ, began to open up recently. Also, certain members of a forum I’m part of are starting to “revive” too. I’ve noticed believers all over coming together and not worrying about silly denominations or pride. I think God’s planning something and He’s make us ready for it.
“One says, `I belong to Paul.’ Another says, `I belong to Apollos.’ Does not that show that you have the spirit of this world? After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We both work for God. You believed because of the work we did. The Lord gave each of us our work to do. I planted the seed. Apollos put water on the seed. But God made the seed grow. So then the man who plants is nothing and the man who waters is nothing. God alone makes the seed grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:3-7 (WE)
“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” Ephesians 4:13 (NASB)
October 30th, 2005 at 5:10 am
Don’t forget what Ezra sought in Ezra 7:10 - the Law of the LORD. My reading of what happened in 18th century revivials (meagre though that reading is) suggests that one thing that happens first is that people are strongly convicted of their sin, and turn back to God and his Word in sincere repentance. Revivials do not begin with trumphalism (Note: I’m not saying that’s what you are saying).