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Realities Of Revival
By Tom Hill
The current
condition of the Church requires an accurate, Biblical definition of revival.
The many fallacies of revival cause confusion within the Church. In addition,
the spiritual decline of the Church and individual Christians demands a clear
statement to give proper direction for its solution.
Biblical revival
describes an evangelical spiritual experience when God pours out His glorious
presence upon the child (ren) of God through an extraordinary effusion of the
Holy Spirit that produces extraordinary effects in the child (ren) of God and
in the world.
In essence, this
sentence definition identifies four critical, fundamental areas that call for
more detailed explanation. They are the nature of revival, the source of revival,
the objects of revival, and the effects of revival.
Nature of revival
As declared in
the simple definition, revival describes an extraordinary effusion of the Holy
Spirit upon the child (ren) of God. In revival, God manifests His glorious
presence. He overwhelms people, and they fall before Him in worship, fear, and
adoration. God’s presence permeates all of life.
Dr. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones described this manifest presence of God in revival. He
characterized it in this fashion.
“It
is a consciousness of the presence of God the Holy Spirit literally in the
midst of the people. Probably most of us…have never known that, but that is
exactly what is meant by a visitation of God's Spirit. It is all beyond the
highest experiences in the normal life and working of the Church. Suddenly
those present in the meeting become aware that someone has come amongst them,
they are aware of a glory, they are aware of a presence. They can not define
it, they can not describe it, and they can not put it into words. They just
know that they have never known anything like this before. Sometimes they
describe it as ‘days of heaven on earth.’ They really feel that they are in
heaven, they have forgotten time; they are beyond that, time has no longer any
meaning for them, nor any real existence, they are in a spiritual realm. God
has come down amongst them and has filled the place and the people with a sense
of His glorious presence.” [i]
This describes
revival. God pours out His glorious presence and manifests Himself to believers
who note His presence. They feel Him. He reveals Himself in unmistakable
fashion through an outpouring of His Holy Spirit. His Spirit fills them, and
His awesome presence brings a wonder and amazement all of its own. It is
clearly Him and not a manufactured or manipulated feeling.
Source of revival
The stated
definition says, in part, “…God pours out His presence…” That phrase recognizes
the role of the sovereignty of God in revival. Revival comes from God when and
where He pleases.
This statement,
however, flies in the face of popular opinion. All of the fallacies have one
common theme. Humanity can meet certain requirements that, when fulfilled,
guarantee and produce revival. Nevertheless, history and Scripture prove the
error of that conclusion.
God acts
sovereignly in revival for at least four reasons. First, it demonstrates that
the true nature of humanity, which is too weak in the flesh to attain God's
righteous demands, requires God's sovereign work. Second, it reveals the
attributes of God, loving, just, gracious, and merciful, to name just a few of
them. Third, it shows mankind’s complete dependence upon God. Finally, it
exposes the futility of formulas to produce it. In other words, revival begins
and ends with God. He maintains complete control over every aspect of it.
Charles Spurgeon
referred to the Psalms to describe God's sovereign work in his
“So
will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. {19}
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be
saved.”
The psalmist
prays to God for relief, but he shows his utter reliance upon God for it. God
must quicken His people even before they will seek Him. He must turn His people
and cause His face to shine upon them.
Finally, the
outpouring of God's glorious presence on Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2
confirms unmistakably the sovereignty of God in revival.
In contrast,
Charles Finney, for example, believed that any one could produce revival simply
by following stated means. In his writings, Finney outlined the specific steps
that would culminate in revival. Numerous Godly men and women faithfully
followed them, including many today. Yet, they have failed to experience
revival. He neglected the sovereignty of God in revival.
God holds
revival, the manifestation of His glorious presence, in His hand to dispense as
He wills, when He wills, and where He wills.
Objects of revival
The definition of
revival identifies the objects of revival, the child (ren) of God. They
contrast with the world. The world of the unsaved needs regeneration, not
revival. They require the new birth, which the Holy Spirit gives to God's
chosen ones. To revive means to impart new health, vigor, or spirit to it. The
one revived has spiritual life restored to use. Since unbelievers have no
existing spiritual life, they need that new life. Once born from above by the
Spirit, they can experience the outpouring of God's glorious presence.
Numerous
Scripture references establish this truth. However, one reference ties the
origin of revival together with the objects of revival, Acts 2. It shows the
sovereignty of God as the source of revival as well as the people of God as its
object. Those who believed on Christ as a result of Pentecost entered, too,
into the glorious experience of God's poured out Spirit.
Church history
records it in application as well. In this regard, many examples exist to
substantiate it. Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, documented it in
his ministry. God sent revival to Spurgeon’s work in
“A
true revival is to be looked for in the
When God sends
revival, it comes to His people.
Outcome of revival
Finally, Biblical
revival produces extraordinary effects in the child (ren) of God and in the
world. But, it reveals itself first in the Church. Of the many effects
displayed in revival, I will identify only a few of them.
In revival,
doctrinal truth becomes a primary emphasis. The Scriptures actually become the
foundation of life and practice. Christians view God as actually sovereign, not
an old man helplessly observing His creatures. Once again, the Church
recognizes Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church. Believers no longer quench,
grieve, nor resist the Holy Spirit. Salvation becomes more than a catch phrase
or an innocuous decision.
In revival, God
also exhibits His great power. For example, he displays it in believers’ changed
lives. Holiness and separation from the world mark the believer’s life.
Christians increase their faithfulness to God. True repentance and sorrow from
long forgotten sins characterize everyday life in revival.
The world
receives the impact of His power, too. Flocks of unbelievers feel a deep sense
of conviction for sin and come to true saving faith in Jesus Christ. The
holiness of Christians together with the salvation of nonChristians frequently
changes society. The blatant immorality, drunkenness, and debauchery of life
ceases in great measure.
Finally, God
sends revival for one great reason, His honor and glory. Mark well the
statement in Isaiah 64:1-2:
“Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence. {2} As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!”
Cry For Revival
No more pressing
need has ever existed for God to display His presence and power in revival than
today. What can the
However, this
kind of prayer can result only from the prompting and leading of the Holy
Spirit. One passage in particular gives hope to the believer. It is the example
of the disciples at prayer in Acts 4:25-30:
“Who by the
mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people
imagine vain things? {26} The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were
gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. {27} For of a truth
against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius
Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
{28} For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be
done. {29} And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy
servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, {30} By stretching
forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of
thy holy child Jesus.”
It shows both
their prayer for God to manifest Himself and their reliance upon God's
sovereignty.
Furthermore,
Jesus encouraged believers by a promise to send His Holy Spirit to those who
ask. Note His promise in Luke 11:13:
"If ye
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more
shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Jesus has
promised additional and greater outpourings of His Spirit in answer to
believing prayer. This promise will hearten those who pray for spiritual
revival.
I pray that the Holy Spirit will prompt you to join with countless others who cry day and night to our God that He will indeed pour out His glorious presence upon His people through a mighty effusion of His Holy Spirit. May He come to you personally today in grace and bring this spiritual encounter in your life. May He come to His people in a glorious effusion to His honor, glory, and praise.
1.
Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn, M.D. Revival. Crossway Books:
2.
Edwards, Brian. Revival! A People Saturated With God. Evangelical Press:
