Eric from The Merge commented on yesterday’s post that he is unmoved by revival. I think that what he means is that he is less than enthused by what is passed off as revival. This is a followup to his comment.
I think we would agree that Revival is awesome … It is man’s reaction that is often short of glorious. Yesterday I read a wonderful article by a very senior pastor who talked about worshiping worship instead of worshiping God. The same can be said of “revival.” Worship that is not centered on God is not worship. Revival that is not powered by God is not revival. It may be recommitment (with the grace received producing the euphoria that people so enjoy) it may be renewal (see little note above) it may even being escapism (which makes me very suspect regarding what people are experiencing) but it is not revival.
I have seen glimpses of real revival. Where the very Glory of God descended into a room (or at least it felt like it). In the midst, you feel undone. Many sob uncontrollably. Your uncleanness becomes disturbingly real. The soon return of Jesus and the consequences for the world becomes tangible. Nobody is rolling on the floor laughing. Nobody is giggling and declaring funky “prophesy.” Nobody becomes rich. All become poor for His sake.
How I cry out for that again.
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Now wait a minute! I didn’t say “unmoved by revival.” ( I know you are not trying to take me out of context. This is more poking fun at your interpretation in a friendly way.)
I was just affirming that there are ebbs and flows to the sensed presence of the Holy Spirit among us. I am moved by revival. I am expectant of God’s breaking in to everyday life convicting, transforming, and leading. I am also expectant of God’s inbreaking during special times and in special ways.
But I also think there is a danger in expecting that “feeling” to be present all the time. Sometimes God is MORE present in the times when we think He is most silent. He is teaching us to rely on Him and His word to us when we can’t “feel” him. He is expecting us to continue faithfully serving our world and loving Him.
And I am not against feeling. God addresses us in a wholistic way. Our emotions, feelings, intellect, passions, desires, and everything else is part of the wonderful package that is us. I don’t believe that feeling and intellect are mutually exclusive or have to be divorced from one another either.
Revival, I think, produces a strong awareness of God’s presence, a conviction of what we should not be doing that we are doing, and a conviction of what we should be doing that we are not. When the scrolls were read for the first time in decades in King Josiah’s presence, the people repented of their sin (what they had done and what they had not done)–that is revival.
Just a few more of my thoughts. I think we are on the same page, just stating it in different ways.
Oh why oh why does my blog remove all formatting from comments?
Anyway . . . It appears to me that you are in fact a heritic.
just kidding. when I speak of Revival, I am talking about the period of time that the presence of god comes into a corporate meeting and takes complete control. Where heaven invades earth. There is no mistaking what is happening.
I agree with you that many have a disceted view of God that leads them to believe that if they do not physically sense the presence of God then he is off somewhere else. It is our challange during these times to seek the will of the Father and in fact these are the times of greatest growth.
I think the place we differ is that you say that Revival produces an awareness of His presence, maybe so, but I am saying that more improtantly, genuine revival is a corporate manifestation of the presence of God. People have contended that because several people felt the presence that revival is taking place but in fact revival is not dependant on people’s reaction, it is dependant on a very real manifestation of God’s desire to make Himself known in a corporate setting.
I did not mean to say what you thought I said, but meant for you to understand what I meant to say…Anyway…I agree that revival is a corporate manifestation of God’s presence. What most people say is revival is the “feeling.” I say there is no revival without God’s presence transforming lives resulting in confession and obedience on a corporate scale. I think revival spills out of the worship service onto the streets and into the everyday life of the community involved.
Eric - well said. I could not agree with you more.
I am pleased to witness the discussion on “revival.” It is an interesting term that has come to have several definitions over the years due to the particular “season” in which God was at work. God is always at work in the lives of His people, both individually and corporately. The work of grace in the individual has one goal as it’s
destination - Christ! So, when one experiences Christ is a new or different measure, it is at times referred to by some as “revival.” Such definition is warranted, and of course, most welcomed by those who are in love with Jesus. It is a wonder to behold, and we rejoice with those who are so blessed!
However, grace extends beyond the individual. That aim of the work of God in the individual has its final and greatest destination in the corporate man, which we call “the Body of Christ” - “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ … from Him the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:13,16). When such happens in a local “body of believers,” it has also come to be defined by the word “revival.” Blessed are those who have the opportunity to experience such an expression of Christ!
But, there is more. Generally speaking, it is safe to say that those who use the term “revival” subscribe to a hermeneutic of a “controlled continuum.” God is an entity of order (Ps. 19) - He has established laws and principles; however, He is not a prisoner of that which He has established. He is free to act and intervene in the affairs of men as He chooses. He reserves this choice in accordance with His eternal purpose. An example of such would be the miracles recorded in the gospels. In the fullness of time God sent His Son (Gal. 4:2) - He intervened in the affairs of human history.
Well, history demonstrates that God has intervened in the affairs of men through His Body in such a manner that entire geographical regions were supernaturally influenced by the Spirit of God. There are examples of such in the Book of Acts (consider Ephesus as one example), and times since then (consider what historians call the “Great Awakenings”). Such activity to reveal Christ in and through His Body in specific geographical areas that interrupts the normal commerce of everyday life and effects an entire community, city, or nation has also be defined as “revival.” My earlier post refers to such events and activity. It is a special season, when God in His sovereignty intervenes in the affairs of men on a societal scale.
It is my strong personal belief that such events will happen again. This is due to the evidence of the long and intricate work of the Spirit of God in the instruments that he will use during such a time of “revival.” If you find such men, then you find evidence that such may indeed take place once again. It is the principle of the Word becoming flesh (1 John 1:1-3). And, it is cause for great rejoicing. But it is also cause for preparation.
If indeed such men are walking on the face of the earth in a certain place and related in the same space of time … be encouraged! Throw off the despair and disappointment of the past or present season! Although it may appear to be only the size of a man’s hand on the horizon – in the fullness of time it will become an event of sizeable proportion that will eclipse the affairs of an entire community. Blessed are those whose eyes and ears will witness such things!
Ruben - When I am referring to revival i am referring to the sovereign move of God that you illustrated with the Great Awakening. Here is the $50,000 question. What part does man play in the equation? Can man pray in revival? Does God require that we pray in revival? What is our part in all this?
Carl,
Thanks for commenting at revivaljournal.com
I believe at times God does soverignly move…
Then again 2 Chronicles 7:13,14 come into play…if we will only do it!