What is Revival?
This is a short study on the topic of revival. This is based on the book written by Selwyn Hughes called; “Why Revival Waits”
Praying for revival is what we do every Tuesday morning here at Grace Point. It is a powerful time with the Lord and we will faithfully continue to pray each week as the Lord directs us.
We do this because we believe that this is the greatest need of the church today and it is also the greatest need of the Christian church at large.
When we think about revival and prayer, the one verse that we always turn to is 2 Chronicles 7:14; “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Most of us can recite this verse, and it was the theme verse for the great Welsh revivals and the theme verse for the Global day of prayer movement, that grew to encompass every nation in the world between 2000 and 2010.
It is God’s formula for revival.
Defining revival is difficult because it is a word so frequently used and thrown around. Some call a revival a weekend where more people than usual come to know the Lord as their savior.
But a true revival is an unusual and extraordinary movement of the spirit of God. Very different from anything previously experienced. Not just a trickle but a flood.
What revival is not.
Revival is not an evangelistic campaign – Billy graham was used by God as a tremendous evangelist, but evangelism and revival are very different.
Evangelism is the expression of the church – it is what we do – or should do.
Revival is an experience in the church.
In an evangelistic appeal, the preacher calls for people to repent and be saved.
In a true revival, the people come to the preacher and ask how they can be saved.
Throughout history there have been many revivals in the Body of Christ; in America there was the First and Second Great Awakening in the 18th century. In South Africa in 1860 there was a revival that started in a small town in the church of Andrew Murray. There was the great Welsh revival in 1904, and there have been others throughout history. All of these revivals have one thing in common; people interrupted the preacher to beg him to tell them how to be saved.
During evangelistic preaching, people come under the conviction of sin and this conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit.
In a true revival the power and presence of the Holy Spirit it so strong that people are crying out in the streets for salvation, as they are made aware of their own personal sin.
Revival is not a large number of backslidden believers coming to repentance.
Revival is not a wonderful meeting, where we felt the presence of God and enjoyed the music.
Rather revivals are often accompanied by great sorrow, crying, and grief.
So as we continue to look at this subject over the next few weeks, let’s be very sure that we know what we are praying for.