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: