Is it biblically true?: The Church is in need of a Revival!

Introduction

What is a revival? Is the Church in need of one? How do we bring about a revival in our community? Today, I aim to explore these questions and the topic of revival, providing a clear understanding of what revival is, who it is for, and how we can bring about revival in our areas of influence, in accordance with biblical doctrine.

What is revival?

Definition: The idea of revival is to make something alive again; renew.

Concept of Revival: The sovereign activity of God whereby he renews his people individual and corporately in vigour, affecting both sincerity of belief and quality of behavior

Revive can be understood in various ways:

1) to live or cause to live (restoration of life)

Genesis 45:27 ESV

27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

2) rebuilding

Nehemiah 4:2 ESV

2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”

3) quickening or restoring one’s well-being

Psalm 85:6 ESV

6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

4) preservation or means of life

Ezra 9:8–9 ESV

8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

5) NT to live again (Greek: anazáō) or to stir or kindle up a fire (Greek:  anazōpuréō)

Romans 7:9 ESV

9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV

6 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,

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 Revive, Reviving

In view of the frequent modern use of “revive” and “revival,” it is worthy of notice that it is to Timothy himself the exhortation is addressed. We too often merely pray for “revivals,” forgetting that it is for us to “stir into flame” the gift of the Spirit which we have already received of God. It is ours from Him, but we let it lie dormant, as a slumbering ember merely. (W.L. Walker)

Is the Church in need of a Revival?

In the sense that many need to fan into flame the gift of God, quickening of well-being, and preservation or means of life. . . yes! However, in the sense of how modern day revivals are conducted. . . no! Here are a few foundational scriptures we must remember regarding our life in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Ephesians 5:25–26 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

We were once spiritually dead but now have been made alive in Jesus. Although the Christian needs quickening in the Spirit, they do not need to be made alive, again. Our reviving must come from the prayer, devotion to the teaching of Scripture and fellowship, and breaking of bread (communion)

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Tent revivals of yester year and revivals of today are new concepts in Christianity. Although not inherently bad, Revivals today often attempt to elicit an emotional response through use of music, preaching, and public testimony. However, revival in the Bible looks totally different than what we see today.

How do we Provoke a Revival in our Community?

There are many examples of revival in the Bible. A revival happened in Ninevah during Jonah’s time. Many were saved after Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. However, I want to go to Acts 17 and look at the work of the Apostle Paul to highlight three things we must consider if we are to be God’s hands and feet for revival.

1. We must take advantage of every opportunity

Acts 17:1–2 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 17:10 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17:16–17 ESV

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

2. We must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Acts 17:3 ESV

3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Acts 17:11 ESV

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 17:18 ESV

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

3. We must be prepared for acceptance and opposition

Acts 17:4–5 ESV

4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

Acts 17:12–14 ESV

12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

Acts 17:32–34 ESV

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Conclusion

Although the Church is in need of a reviving in the sense of personal and corporate well-being and encouragement in the ministry, it should be done through prayer, fellowship, devotion to biblical teaching, and breaking of bread. However, spiritual revival for those who are dead spiritually must not wait for a “tent meeting or revival event.” It must happen every opportunity we get. In the midst of those opportunities, we must preach the gospel message which is salvation through Jesus Christ who died, was buried, and was raised on the third day. As we take advantage of those opportunities, we must be prepared for the message to be accepted or face opposition. Finally, I will leave you with this thought from:

2 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Are you ready?