Revive Us, O Lord!

In speaking with friends recently I posed the question, "What is revival?" It seems to me that too many people think all their church needs (but not them mind you) is a good old fashioned revival. In fact, some will say that if we just scheduled revival services each fall (or spring, or summer, or winter) the way we used to, the church would once again thrive in the community. I see that thinking as a lie of satan! First of all, by its very nature, revival needs to be experienced only once. If you are truly revived it will last a lifetime. And if you are truly revived, you will not wait a year to engage or invite others to your church and Savior…you’ll do it today! Michael Brown, in From Holy Laughter to Holy Fire, defines revival as a time of visitation by the Holy Spirit. “If it is confined to one church, it is not revival. If it is confined to the meetings themselves, it is not revival. If it can all be traced to the efforts of man, it is not revival. If it does not ultimately affect the society, it is not revival” (pg. 235). How arrogant of us to think God would send revival to those at our church alone! True revival does not stay in the church, the Spirit moves from there into the homes and schools and businesses and places of sin to convict and convert (although it would seem there are certainly some churches where conviction is needed!). Study the Reformation, the Puritan and Methodist revivals, the Great Awakening or the Pentecostal outpouring…that is how God works and moves...still today! So throw away your little box (God will not be contained) and get on your knees if you truly want to experience revival, but be careful what you pray for, God just might answer your prayer!