What is it about revival?

What is it about revival?

What is it about revival that some churches honestly believe they can say that they are ‘having revival’ this weekend? Am I being pedantic by saying that you cannot advertise revival until AFTER you have seen a sovereign move of God upon your church or area. If folk do not walk in, not knowing why, and get saved - if folk do not weep over their conviction of sin or for the lost - than you may have renewal but you do not have revival. If the lost are not being saved then you do not have revival.

Revival is a gift from God not a pizza to be ordered and delivered when you want it.

So – what should we look for when revival comes? Well this is something I wrote last July (2010) :-

The Lord is saying this to us all, “Watch for the unusual. Watch for spontaneous repentance. Watch for spontaneous and unexpected miracles of healing and deliverance. These are ALL signs that My Holy Spirit is about to bring revival to your land.” I am reminded that revival is not something we can demand or call down, no – revival is a sovereign act of God. It is as sudden and dramatic in its effect as a tidal wave or tsunami. We can never fully prepare for it as we never know when it will happen. All we can do is watch, pray, and try to be ready.

So – let me ask you again – what is it about revival that so draws us?

In my opinion, it is that during revival times, God manifests Himself in ways that we do not normally see. First it is the power of His presence and the remarkable miracles that just happen because He is there among us. His very presence convicts people whether or not they are inside the meeting. Many are drawn into the meeting without even knowing why they are there. Many are convicted where they stand and run into the meeting and/or up to the altar for salvation. It is not infrequent for them to be saved first and then have the Gospel explained to them – again often followed by an instant baptism in the Holy Spirit followed by more explanation. Spontaneous salvations, spontaneous healings, spontaneous deliverance, and spontaneous baptism in the Holy Spirit. These are the hallmarks of revival.

It is a sovereign move of God to bring revival. Often after faithful saints have prayed for years but equally often as a complete surprise in what was planned as another good “Holy Spirit meeting”.

So how is it that church pastors and leaders so signally fail to understand this? Why do so many pastors ask for revival – but only if it is in their church? Why do so many of them announce, as if they were speaking on behalf of God but without His approval, that “We are having revival here next Sunday.” What arrogance and presumption. For a start, to presume that revival happens only on a Sunday and only at their own meetings. I weep over the smug self-satisfied church that many of us have become. I weep over the heavy shepherds who so abuse their flock instead of loving them – see Ezek 34. I weep over the self-promotion within the church and the self-exaltation of the grandiose titles people award themselves.

Can we not, all of us, abase and prostrate ourselves before the throne of God and plead for revival at an cost, at any time (soon), and at any church the Lord deems fit for the purpose. Can we not simply and humbly ask God for even a small part in any revival that may affect our people. Psalm 84:10 “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” When we can put hand on heart and say “Thats for me” THAT will be the day the Lord thinks about sending revival to us or to our churches.