Revival

[Tamera]

Many Christians are praying for revival. I'm not sure that some know exactly what they're praying for. When I read accounts of revival in the past, it included repentance, a great number of salvations, social reform, and an impact on the community. I was saved in one such revival in the early 70s. But when I hear about revival today, I'm not sure people are talking about the same thing. Sometimes it seems they're talking about their church becoming a megachurch. Sometimes it seems people want a great emotional experiance.

So what question is, "What is revival? How will we know it when it come? What is revival not?"

[ProfessorAlan]

I think what we had on my college campus in the 80s might qualify as a "revival," though it was localized enough to maybe better be termed a "move of the Spirit."

"Revival" historically include mass conversions and social change, as you say. "Renewal" may be more localized, or focus more on people already in churches ...

[Dr. Daniel]

I think true revival is something that just happens when enough people finally start listening to what God has been trying to say all along. You can't plan for it, arrange it, or bring into being, it's just that when it hits, you can't miss it.

[fireNbones85]

To me, when a true Revival comes you don't question it. Yes, everybody has got to be on tune with God. It's not gonna come by prayer from the preacher and his wife alone. But when it does come, My My what a joy it is. His spirit is poured down and the gates of hell are tore down and sinners from the deepest darkness are shown the light. Revivals bring the church up and beyond the world for the period of time.

There's not much greater for a church than a revival..

[revterry]

Friends:

I wonder if we kept following Jesus, as he asked us to; if we would need revival in us and the church. We would be so busy loving, serving and sacrificing for the Lord, family, friends and neighbors; there would not be time to start focusing on ourselves. When I am moving forward at the front of the line, how can I know who has had to dropped out of line, or who has joined the Line? Only Jesus can ever be at the front of the line and know who is behind him; because his Spirit had inhabits everyone in line

Reverendterry

[Tommie Lyn]

What has been my prayer for years is not "revival" per se -- it has been for God to send a "Jonah" to this "Nineveh," and for the new "Jonah" to find the same response here that Jonah did when he finally obeyed God and preached to the people of Nineveh...

[Cymrugirl]

Does anyone know if the word revival appears in the Scripture? To revive something, it must have at one point been alive. In that definition, revival occurs with Christians and can effect their cultural context - but the unsaved are not revived - they are made alive in Christ for the first time.

I've studied a lot of revival periods. To be quite honest, I don't really think about it anymore. By that I should say I don't worry about it anymore. It seems a lot of revivals occurred in spite of a culture rather than because of something that culture was doing. I suppose knowing God's voice and being available for that moment He decides to do something exciting is what I think about more often. Most of (church) history is made of taking up a cross daily rather than the excitement of gigantic, visible moves of God - but they're lovely when they happen - like a King making a visit to the troops when they're at their lowest.

[Xenia]

I do pray for revival. I guess when I envision that revival I see a mass "aha moment!" and as Tamera said..repentance, a great number of salvations, social reform, and an impact on the community.and Satan standing puny in the corner saying but, but, but... helpless to do anything about it :)