Thoughts for Life: #81 What Do We Mean by "Revival?"

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- A proper distinction is often made between evangelism and revival. Every extensive movement of God's Spirit among His people seems to be related to an evangelist, prophet, or human instrument. Yet most God-honored, God-directed evangelism, while bringing blessing and spiritual fruit, falls far shore of revival. Just what is real revival?

Revival is a manifestation of the holy, sovereign, almighty God. It is God visiting His people with special and renewed blessing. Revivals usually bring a new God-consciousness, a new revelation of God, a new sensitivity to God, at times an awesome sense of God's holiness and righteous demands. (Google image, Worshipping Jesus)

These are times when God makes bare His holy arm in salvation, and His holy voice in the inner consciousness of people. Revivals are sudden interventions of the sovereign, supernatural working of God in the life and witness of the church. In some sense, they are a messianic foretaste of the final conquest of Christ. They are always the work of the Blessed Holy Spirit.

Two theories present extreme Christian viewpoints concerning revival. One viewpoint acknowledges the reality of revival, but holds that revival is so sovereignly the working of God that it is entirely dependent upon Him and we can but wait until God chooses to visit us anew.

The other extreme is to think that by our religious efforts we can bring revival. If we just pray enough, humble ourselves enough, and do God's will sufficiently, we will be able to see revival at any time. Scriptural truth and the experience of God's people repeatedly demonstrate that while God's people have a very vital role in preparing the way of the Lord, no person or group can program how, when, or where revival will come.

Some have interpreted John 3:8 ("The wind blows wherever it pleases") to imply the uncertainty of the work of the Spirit. I suggest that it illustrates that the Spirit retains His sovereign will regarding His divine working. It points to the invisibility of the work of the Spirit, not to the uncertainty of His working.

It points to the mystery of God's working, not to His capriciousness. The Holy Spirit is not the wind. He is only symbolized in some ways by the wind. He is a God of purpose. He works according to His plan and for holy reasons. He is a God of promise. He is a God of unchangeable covenant. He is a God of power and holiness and He desire that we have a part in His work.

God's covenants and promises tell us it is God's will to bless His people. These covenants and promises include God's stated conditions for this blessing — our response to His Word, His call, and His provision. His promises will be fulfilled. God has ordained it. But we must first humble ourselves, seek His face, and take some active steps of obedience.

When Should You Pray for Personal Revival?

How do you know when your own heart needs spiritual reviving? When do you know it is time to apply yourself to prayerfully seeking new refreshing and blessing from the Lord? Here are a few suggestions. Pray:

a. When you sense a spiritual listlessness, a continuing lack of spiritual appetite for the Word, prayer, and the fellowship of the church.

b. When God's Word seldom truly blesses you; when you only rarely hunger for more time to read and feast on God's words; when you seldom sense the Spirit speaking to you as you read God's word.

c. When you sense a lack of deep humility, Spirit-born graciousness, and loving patience.

d. When you lack real compassion for people suffering and in need; when you feel little true concern for people without Christ, and little sense of personal responsibility for God's presence.

e. When prayer is more of a duty than a joy; when God seldom places on your heart people who need prayer; when you seldom truly sense God's nearness when you pray.

(Chapter 23, pp. 173-175, italics added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

Father, our interpretation of what a revival is may differ from what others believe. We need to understand that it is Your visiting Your people with a special, renewed blessing. These meetings bring new consciousness and sensitivity to Your awesome Presence and holy demands.

Your covenants and promises tell us You will bless Your people. Your Word states the conditions for these blessings we need to respond to for the provisions: we must humble ourselves, seek Your face and take the prescribed active steps of obedience.

Dr. Duewel gives us several questions to help us see if we need a personal revival. We are given questions to know if it is time to apply ourselves to prayerfully seek a new refreshing and blessing.

We ask for enlightenment into the need that we may have to address the possibility of our desperate need of a personal revival. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The following poem of Dr. Duewel's, prayed on a regular basis, may help:

Give Me Tears in My Eyes

Today's Bible verses-

Romans 5:3-5 "We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance [brings about]proven character; and proven character [brings about] hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

2 Timothy 1:6, 7 (NIV) "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Quotes for today-

~ Patricia Raybon- Without the daily tending of God, our souls grow barren and dry. When we delight in His law, however, meditating on it day and night, we are "like a tree planted by streams of water" (Ps. 1:3). Our leaves will "not wither" and "whatever [we] do prospers" (v.3). Pruned and planted in Him, we're evergreen—revived and thriving.

(ODB 11/3/20).

~ Anna Kuta- "If you, like me, ever feel unqualified or unworthy to share the Gospel, remember the shepherds. They were the most unlikely messengers of the Messiah’s birth – rough, poor, dirty; outcasts of society. God could have sent the angels to proclaim the news to anyone, but he chose the shepherds. He used them as the first-ever preachers of the Gospel."

Words of wisdom-

~ Our challenge seems to be where we place Jesus in our lives. Is He front and center, or on a "shelf" somewhere? This Christmas, keep Him in a prominent place in your heart and home. He came to save you, remember, so place Him prominently in your life, not just as a symbol on a shelf.

Today's Popular post-

Handling Discouragement

Mary Southerland- "Valleys are lined with disappointment and discouragement. Some people seem to thrive on adversity, emerging from their valley with greater strength and deeper faith.

Others stumble and fall, giving in to discouragement and dropping out of the race. The difference in outcome is determined by the way we choose to handle discouragement."