Revival, corporate

The recurring pattern of apostasy and revival in the OT

Judges 2:10–19 ESV

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

God is petitioned to revive his people

Psalm 80:14–15 ESV

Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

See also Ps 85:4–7; Je 31:18; La 5:21; Hab 3:2

Repentance is necessary for revival

God’s people are urged to repent

2 Ch 30:6 Hezekiah’s appeal to all Israel.

See also Is 55:1–3; Je 3:22; La 3:40; Ho 12:6; Ho 14:1–2; Zec 1:3; Mal 3:7; Re 2:5; Re 2:16; Re 3:2–3

Wholehearted repentance is required

Joel 2:12–13 ESV

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

See also Dt 4:29; Dt 30:2–3; Je 24:7; Je 29:13–14; Ac 19:18–19 Repentance should be evidenced by deeds.

Repentance prepares for revival

Isaiah 59:20 ESV

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

See also Jdg 10:9–16; Ezr 10:1; Ezr 10:10–12; Ne 1:9; Eze 18:30–32

Revival is God’s work

Hosea 6:2 ESV

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

See also Ps 80:3; Ps 80:7; Ps 80:17–19; Is 32:14–17

God promises revival

God promises to revive his people

Ezekiel 11:19 ESV

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

See also Je 31:33–34; Eze 36:26; Zec 10:6

The nations are included in the promise of revival

Isaiah 2:3 ESV

and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

See also Is 19:22–25; Is 45:22; Is 56:6–8; Zec 8:20–22

The revival of Israel

Under Hezekiah

2 Ki 18:4–6; 2 Ch 29:3–5; 2 Ch 30:1; 2 Ch 31:4; 2 Ch 31:9–10; 2 Ch 31:20–21

Under Josiah

2 Ki 23:1–4; 2 Ch 35:1–3

Revival in the NT

Crowds turn to the Lord

Mk 1:5; Jn 3:26; Jn 4:39; Ac 2:41; Ac 2:47; Ac 4:4; Ac 11:21

The Holy Spirit is active in the revival of believers

Acts 4:31 ESV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

See also Ac 13:9; 2 Co 4:16; Eph 5:18

The response of believers in revival

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

See also Eph 4:23–24; Php 3:13–14; Col 3:9–14