Defining Revival

What is Revival?

Of all the questions I have ever put here on my wee blog, I suppose this is the most commonly asked one. This one topic, revival, has probably taken more column inches than any other. Yet it’s a simple enough question isn’t it? So let’s get a couple of definitions of revival. From one on-line internet dictionary we get, “A meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public testimony.” The same dictionary also gives us, “Renewed interest in religion, after indifference and decline; a period of religious awakening; special religious interest.” A churchman once put it thus, “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.”

I have said before that so many churches and church leaders happily announce that they are ‘having revival’ this weekend. What they really mean is that they are holding a meeting, or meetings, at which they hope the Holy Spirit may graciously manifest His presence in healings and anointing.

Now before you throw away everything I am saying here, please hear me out. If you study revivals, it has always been the case that many thousands of people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and become inheritors of God’s Kingdom. This is the primary definition of revival to me, that many thousands are swept into the Kingdom of God through genuine and lasting salvation. Did you know that, in the 1904 Welsh revival, something in excess of 20% of the entire local population was saved? At that time, it meant that somewhere in the region of 150,000 souls from the South Wales area came to a saving belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

In Jerusalem, around 33 A.D., on the Day of Pentecost, some 3000 people were saved. Acts 2:37-41 (NIV) That’s revival. At Azusa Street, Los Angeles, and in South Wales, during the early days of revival, many thousands gave their lives to the Lord. That’s revival. In the Hebrides in 1949, people were convicted and knelt in their hundreds in the streets begging God for mercy prior to their salvation prayers by the local pastor. That’s revival. Revival is a move of God whereby many hundreds, maybe thousands, of repentant souls are convicted of their sin and accept an invitation to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

So, what about Toronto, Pensacola, Smithton, Lakeland, and Bay of the Holy Spirit in Mobile Alabama? These wonderful outpourings of God’s love and healing – were they not revival? In my humble opinion – no. They were all incredible times of healing and they undoubtedly brought many people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ – but revival?? No they weren’t. If they were revival hot spots, then that’s about all they were – little hot spots of Gods power and healing. Short moments in time when “signs and wonders” were available for all to see. Healing revivals maybe but NOT full blown revivals.

So why were they not revivals? Put simply – because man, in his time-governed existence, tried to control events too closely. When the Holy Spirit comes in, in this way, we must allow Him free rein – He must be allowed to operate as He wants to operate, in His timescales, on His terms, and completely under His direction.

We had a moment recently in Hull, England, when one church had a momentary outpouring. They had a prayer and revival meeting scheduled from 10-3 and again from 7-11. The leaders went away to freshen up and grab a bite but when they returned, the morning meeting had carried right through to the evening and went on until well after midnight. For some, as I understand things, it ended up an 18 hour meeting or longer at which the power and presence of the Lord was tangible. They are having another session in March and I will be there – watch this space (as they say)

All these wonderful and quite genuine outpourings of the past twenty or more years have NOT been revivals but they have been previews of what true and full revival can be like. They have been tasters so that we will know when the real thing really happens. It’s coming too. We are deep into the end times and the signs are that the scripturally prophesied harvest is on its way. That will be real revival – when people are saved in the street, no-where near any meetings; when people are healed just walking past a meeting hall; saved by walking into the meetings without a clue as to why they are there. That’s REVIVAL.

Amen – Come Lord Jesus.