If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

We often use and hear others us the term "Revival" meaning that there is a preacher coming in and preaching their guts out and reaching the lost. Revival is not reaching the unchurched, but it is reaching the backslidders if you will. Agree? What term or phrase should be used when we are trying to reach the lost or the unchurched? It is it easy to call it out reach, but does that cover it? Should it be A Gathering or something?

What say ye? Does it bother you for people to call it revival and all that is going on is hoping to reach new people? Maybe I am wrong if so someone set me straight.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

It's called "BEING THE CHURCH!" It's the Great Commission. It's the reason we are here. If we're not doing this, then we're in disobedience and rebellion. And it's not about a special convocation of nightly meetings, special musical selections or altar calls. It's about what happens when we LEAVE our buildings and go out into the world.

I don't care much for "Revivals" in the typical sense. Why would a living, organic church need to be revived? The premise for why they are needed is faulty, IMO. If the CHURCH was doing its job, and not just counting on the preacher to do it all, there would be no need to ever be revived. Revival occurs every time I bow before my Father in repentance and humility and He provides new mercies every day.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

The root word of revival is revive.

to revive: - keep, leave, preserve or make alive
give or promise life,
let live
nourish up
quicken
recover
revive
repair or restore to life
save alive
save life
save lives
be whole

Revival is defined as - The act or an instance of reviving.

I have no problem with the term Revival. The elements pertain to saint and sinner. How can that be a problem?

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

JT,

I agree. Revive means to make alive again. Resurrect, so to speak. Maybe it's the church being revived to BE ABLE TO see sinners saved when they see sinners saved and call it a revival. ;) LOL

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Brother Blume,
I don't understand your post.

I Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

II Cor. 8:2 "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."


I Peter 4:12 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

2 Cor 1: 8 "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:"

Phillipians 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

Acts 18:23 "And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening (reestablish) all the disciples."

Acts 15:41 "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming (strengthening) the churches."

I would always think there will be times when the church needs to be strengthened, reestablished or revived.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Some Baptists that I knew referred to these as a series of evangelistic meetings.

actually, as has been pointed out, revive means to live again, to come back from the dead. It refers to people who have died spiritually and then get resurrected. Revival is plan B. Plan A would be to live for the Lord.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

But, Sam, revive also means:

• To impart new health, vigor, or spirit to.
• To restore to use, currency, activity, or notice.
• To restore the validity or effectiveness of.
• To renew in the mind; recall.

It is not always something that is dead being brought to life, but something that needs restoration or renewal in some capacity.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

What does the (KJV) Bible say about revival?

the word revival does not occur

the word revive occurs 8 times
Nehemiah 4:2, revive the stones from heaps of rubbish
Psalm 85:6, revive us again that your people may rejoice, show us mercy
Psalm 138:7, though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me
Isaiah 57:15 God revives the spirit of the humble
Isaiah 57:15 and revives the heart of the contrite ones
Hosea 6:2, after two days He will revive us, the third day we will live in His sight
Hosea 14:7, they will return, will revive like grain, and grow like a vine
Habakkuk 3:2, revive your work in the midst of the years

the word revived occurs 6 times
Genesis 45:27 the spirit of Jacob revived when he realized his son Joseph was alive
Judges 15:19 Samson revived when he drank water
1 Kings 17:22 the soul of the child came back into him and he revived
2 Kings 13:21 when the dead man contacted the bones of Elisha, he revived
Romans 7:9 sin revived and I died
Romans 14:9 Christ died, rose and revived

the word reviving occurs 2 times
Ezra 9:8 God gave us a measure of reviving in our bondage
Ezra 9:9 God extended mercy, gave us reviving to set up the house of God

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

In the NT, IMO, these verses carry the implication of reviving/renewing.

2 Timothy 1:6 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir (re-enkindle) up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."

I Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird (gird afresh) up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

The word revival applies to the unsaved as well. We were DEAD IN SIN, but he raised (resurrected) us to a new life.

Ephesians 2

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

is that a seriouis ?????

revival- restore the saints that are twice dead and plucked up by the roots

EVANGELISM- reaching the lost

Everyone is called to be a lower-case evangelist, as in a lower-case "e"

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

salvation is not RE vival (coming back to life) it is vival (coming alive for the first time). A sinner has not been previously alive spiritually so salvation would be life from the dead, not a return to a life that had been experienced before.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Very good. This causes me to rethink what the word should mean to us today.

We are revived unto life, through Christ, from the death we inherited through the sin of Adam.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

But in the broader sense though, mankind is brought into right standing - that which was lost in the garden.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

so, in that case, our standing with God has been revived, renewed, restored.

OK, I need to look at revival in a broader picture

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I guess it could be said the ultimate revival will be the translation of the saints.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Brother, to truly understand my last post you will have to think bigger. And I don't say that as an insult.

Mankind had a right relationship with God that was severed by sin. The Fall of Man brought about spiritual death (separation from God). The Gospel (what Jesus did) brings us BACK TO LIFE. In essence, the relationship we were intended to enjoy is REVIVED because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.

We are born AGAIN.

Propitiation. Justification. Reconciliation. Sanctification.

These words are REVIVAL terms.

We were dead in sin, but he has raised us up. We have been resurrected by His work on Calvary.

Hallelujah!

Now THAT is revival!

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

When I was at Bro. Haney's church we called the evangelistic events "crusades". It sounded good at the time, but now that I'm a little more knowledgable of church history I'm not sure that's a good term to use, especially if you're trying to reach Muslims. :)

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I thought the very same thing! lol Crusades? A bloody fight slaying unbelievers? uhhhh.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I agree there's times when the church needs reviving. But "revivals" are often used to describe times in saving the lost and gaining new members.

Revivals that are focused on reviving the saints are TRUE "revivals". But that is not what "revival" is used for as a term, generally.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Oh, I see. I was always taught it was for both - saint and sinner. Thanks for your response. I usually understand where you are coming from but I didn't get you this time. LOL!

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I think it's a relative term...

For me it means the church is getting stirred back up, revived... and they are getting back to the basics, back to the business of reaching the lost.

That can happen with or without a special preacher coming for a Sunday or a week of services.

For someone else it may mean somethings else.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Our church has been in a wonderful season of growth and soul reaching and teaching... for at least two years now... just steady and strong. I guess some might say our chuch is having a revival...

I would say we're in a wonderful season!!!

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

That too!!!

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Revival should be ongoing anyway. There is always more for us to grow into, and never is there a place we can stop in growing in Christ. And, after all, seeing new souls revives a church anyway.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Just call it Evangelism.

As far as revival is concerned, there is none in America right now. Though we have our catechims carved in stone, the life of it is almost completely gone. Your prayer rooms are mostly empty, there is not enough joy in revivals (so called) to go much more than three days a week for one or two weeks in a stretch. Most of the preaching are theories, canned sermons, a strut of the ego, some advancement of an agenda and at best an exercise of the intellect. But, there is no revival anywhere in America. I challenge anyone to refute it. If there were a revival anywhere, I would be willing to crawl on my hands and knees to get there, if it were possible.

What many call revival is little more than spasms of enthusiasm and ejacualtions of emotionalism entwined with excitement and hype. Whom we call converts to Christ are nothing more than converts to our own favorite brand of doctrines made followers of it than who are made sold out, forsaking all, taking up the cross, followers of Jesus.

The evening shadow has almost disappeard by the advancment of the night settling in upon us. Though generic Christianity will continue to grow even outpacing the Muslims yet the true followers of Christ are fewer each day. Many who once followed closely are now following further behind until they will also lose their way while thinking themselves to be so very right, not knowing they have fallen into apostasy from which they will never recover.

The long night is upon us but I have good news. The evening and the morning is the first day. The new day always begins at dusk. We are now, right NOW in a new day, but the long night must tarry until the horns of the lightening shining out of the east begins to break over the horizon of the (church) earth. You may not live long enough to see the breaking of the new morning light but you must tell your children and for them to tell their children to wait for it for it shall surely spring forth.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

Very true and I agree.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I'm glad the group of believers that I gather together with each week does not fit this description!!!

One thing I do not believe, is that a revival is to be special services with a special speaker for days or weeks.

Our church has regular services, but there is something going on almost every ngiht of the week... not services where we come, sing, give in the offering and listen to preaching, but Bible studies etc.

Our church is growing and strengthening and God is moving mightily.
Our prayer meetings are powerful.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I see.

Thank you.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

You're welcome. Thank me for what, btw?

You don't agree?

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

No ma'am.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

What part don't you agree with?
And why...

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

NO I do not agree. Revival is a term used to get a sluggish church back on track and on fire for God. That means not just passionate, but burdoned and emboldened. It will include a renewed desire to pray and fast and read his word as well as reaching lost souls...so using a trickledown effect it does also include reading the lost and backslidden

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

watch this video to learn about revival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a6j2XfKu5s

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

We used to sing a chorus at our church

Lord, send a revival of the old time power
Lord, send a revival this midnight hour
Grant sinners repentance, grace to be baptized
Fill all with Thy Spirit, Lord, hear our cries.

Re: If it is not Revival then what is it??
 

I found a Gaither CD called Revival and this song was on there.
It was written by Joel Hemphill.
I’ve tried to get the words down correctly:

Chorus
Let’s have a revival from the pulpit to the pew
Let’s have a revival that starts with me and you
Then reaches out to a lost and hungry world to bring them in.
This is our joy, it’s our survival.
Let’s pray for a Holy Ghost arrival, let’s have a revival.


First Verse
Some times we’ve just gone through the motions, left the Spirit out
No power in our programs, no victory in our shout
But God will give us back our joy, let’s open up the Bible,
And lay aside formality, let’s have a revival

Repeat Chorus

Second Verse
I asked an old time preacher how revival came back there.
He said we always started down on our knees in prayer.
Just take those two books, the songbook and the Bible,
If you sing and preach God’s Word you’ll have revival.

Repeat Chorus