Revival....?

[Jason B]

When is the last time you heard of a real soul stirring and LASTING revival? I don't mean "revival" services. I don't mean people being emotionally stirred night after night while the evangelist is preaching (but things returning to normal just a few services after he has left town).

I mean when is the last time you experienced a red hot revival, where saints were renewed, and sinners were not just baptized, not just pronounced to receive the Holy Ghost, but truly saved and set free from sin. When was the last time you saw/heard of a soul stirring revival, where people began to give up sin, began to turn from worldliness (not because the preacher, but because they were convicted by the Holy Spirit)? Where people had a desire for (deep breath) prayer and prayer meetings, and (gasp) more church services and Bible studies? (By more church services, I don't mean the saints who are conditioned to attend church every time the doors are opened, I am talking about those who are irregular at church, on the fence, uncommitted, or even downright [previously] unconverted-showing a strong spiritual desire. When is the last time you saw conviction so strong people couldn't wait to get to the altar to repent, would almost be willing to knock someone out of the way to get in the water and be baptized?

Is it even possible anymore?

I see so many churches that are just comfortable (for lack of a better term). I'm not talking about churches that are entertainment driven and really aren't preaching the gospel (i.e. repentance) in the first place. I am talking about churches that do preach the gospel, that are conservative, and by all accounts "good churches". It seems like those churches are content simply to exist. It seems like those saints are content to live a godly life, while enjoying all the comforts of the American lifestyle.

Including mine. Including me.

Do we even really want a revival? Do I even really want a revival?

I recently read something Leonard Ravenhill wrote that has really pricked me "The number one reason why our churches don't have revival is we are content to live without it." Ouch. Yet so true.

[FlamingZword]

God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
He is able to do great revivals at any time.

We as a church are not ready for the next revival, unless the church as a whole is ready for revival it is not going to happen.

The way I see it for revival to come, we need to get some real persecution of Christianity in America, we need to see some preachers thrown into prison. we need preachers who can create riots and turn the world upside down, until we get at least one of those preachers, it is not going to happen.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
He is able to do great revivals at any time.

Amen. Which tells me, its not God keeping revival back from us, its us not wanting it bad enough to truly pray and seek for revival.

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

We as a church are not ready for the next revival, unless the church as a whole is ready for revival it is not going to happen.

Bingo

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

The way I see it for revival to come, we need to get some real persecution of Christianity in America, we need to see some preachers thrown into prison. we need preachers who can create riots and turn the world upside down, until we get at least one of those preachers, it is not going to happen.

I don't think persecution has to happen, but obviously the American church is made up of nominal Christians, who have little to no burden for the lost, little to no desire to live a life of true holiness, and come to church more to be entertained and encouraged, rather than to be conformed to the image of God's own Son.

And so churches operate pretty much under the 80/20 rule (20% of the people do 80% of the work-and I think that's a bit generous, more like 95/5).
If these "multitudes" were preached to like Jesus preached to them whenever the frivolous followers began to be large crowds, they would have to 1)truly commit to Christ or 2)defect. Then the church would be composed of truly born again believers, sold out to Christ, and willing to face persecution for His names sake. So we'd essentially have 100% of the church working together
for the furtherance of the gospel.

In reality, probably 80% of all American Christians would abandon their faith, but those remaining 20% would have a much stronger effect on the world. The Christian witness in America is at best watered down, diluted, and salt that has lost its [most] of its savor. If those who attend churches but are not truly born again were suddenly gone, and all you had left was a church of committed born again believers, the church would be a force, even at a fifth of the size.

Furthermore I believe God would use persecution to separate the true believers from the false, and I believe the true believers would see denominational lines fall by the way side. When their leading 2 guys out to public execution for their faith in Christ, I doubt it matters to them that one went to a Baptist church, and another a oneness Pentecostal church.

But really persecution in America to that degree seems more fitted to fictional endtime novels, rather than the realities we face. Our nation has no fear of God, and revels in unrighteousness. Biblical Christianity is increasingly mocked and slandered, but I can't see Christianity coming under intense persecution in America for many years (to the point of widespread physical persecution), and even then, IF it were to happen in America, I believe it would likely be because of the spread of Islam on our soil, more than our civil government, but of course I could be wrong.

[Jason B]

Nevertheless, I am talking about revival in the absence of persecution. I'm talking about revival in our current situation. God is able, we simply are too content for it to happen (in my opinion).

Something that really began to stick with me also, was while praying "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Is that if God's will is going to be done on earth, it must start with me. Its so easy to pray and expect someone else to do the work, someone else to turn the world upside down. but what about my life? Do I yield to God in every way, do I hunger and thirst after righteousness, does my soul pant after Him like the deer pants after the water brook? If His will is going to be done corporately on earth as it is in heaven, then its got to start being done in individual lives. And again, I've got to take responsibility for me and my house. I'm convinced God won't bring revival to the church, until we first have revival in the home.

I think many saints lives are filled with so much entertainment and other activities, that there isn't time to pray, isn't time to study, isn't time to read the Bible with their children, etc. And though I'm speaking in generalities, I don't mean to come off as saying "its all of YOU who are holding revival back, and if you lived like me, we'd have revival". God forbid. I'm admittedly speaking as a man under conviction and taking some ownership for not seeing revival.

But what triggered the thread was that I was thinking, I can't remember ever even seeing (or hearing) of any really revival since I've been in church (since 2000). There's been revivals and revival services, there have been great services at campmeeting and conferences. But for all the talk I've heard about revival over the years, I've never actually known (and certainly not been a part of) a real revival where so many people are coming that the church either expands (or more biblically) starts several other works, which all thrive and become healthy churches. NOW, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about CHURCH GROWTH. I know that this is the age of the mega church and the satellite church. I'm not talking about drawing a crowd, I am talking about hell shaking REVIVAL. Sinners being saved from hell, not being enticed to attend church because of giveaways or charismatic speakers.

Then, the only "revivals' I've heard of were the phony revivals of total garbage like "The Toronto Blessing" and the chaos of Lakeland Florida, which anyone with an ounce of discernment knew those were phony from the start.

Where is the revival of Wesleys, of the Holiness movements, of early Baptists, or even Billy Sunday? Even though everyone points out that prohibition was a failure, I am amazed Billy Sunday's preaching so was powerful, that he is credited (at least by some) as the reason for prohibition.

Where is the revival where men cry out in desperation "Can God save a wicked man like me?!" I've heard of conviction gripping people so much they were gripping the pew in front of them with white knuckles, shaking....but I've not seen it. What I've seen is several various settings is as the preaching of the Word goes forth, people getting up to use the restroom, to go answer their cell phones, paying attention to their children, filing their nails, doodling, texting, posting on facebook, etc. Drinking water or coffee in the sanctuary (some churches), youth fraternizing in the foyer or hallway, etc.

Say what you will about Jonathan Edwards (and I have in the past) but its been said that as he preached, people cried out to God for mercy, and yet he continued to lay it on them. But its also said that the majority of his converts continued to follow Christ-they were true converts. Very few frivolous converts, because they were convicted about their sin, and were made to understand what an offense their sin was to a holy God.

Now we don't reverence God as holy, people wear shirts saying "Jesus is my homeboy" and the cross is more of a fashion statement, than something that reminds us of the bloody torturous death Christ died for us. What does "the old rugged cross" have in common with these big diamond studded crosses people hang on their necks, or stick in their ears? What about all these stylish crosses on shirts and bikes, and a whole subculture that mixes crosses with skulls, or roses, or whatever else looks "cool". The cross isn't supposed to be "cool", it isn't supposed to be stylish. Why don't preachers actually really preach about the cross and explain what happened there and why it happened?

We need a revival of anointed preaching. Not this cheap anointing which is really just someone working a crowd and using voice inflection techniques. The anointing which makes the Word of God come alive to spiritually dead men. Preaching like Peter, Paul, Phillip, Luther, Wesley, Sunday, Ravenhill, etc. To the wind with all these "seeker sensitive" church models, where preachers don't give "sermons" but instead give "talks", where they make every effort not to offend, purposely avoid mentioning sin, especially in any detail, and usually are unwilling to take a stand on controversial moral issues of the day (such as abortion and homosexuality), controversial theological topics (such as creation, the inspiration, authority, and suffiency of scripture), and other religions (such as Islam). That weak preaching builds crowds, but is light on making true disciples (if any). Sometimes it is heavy on inspiration and motivation, which would probably be good if those preachers were selling cell phones of vacuum cleaners-BUT they are supposed to be preaching for the souls of men!

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

When is the last time you heard of a real soul stirring and LASTING revival? I don't mean "revival" services. I don't mean people being emotionally stirred night after night while the evangelist is preaching (but things returning to normal just a few services after he has left town).

Azuza Street, maybe??? Or, perhaps some of the evangelistic happenings which are on-going in the southern hemisphere, surely not in the northern parts of our world today (see Zechariah 6:8).

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Azuza Street, maybe??? Or, perhaps some of the evangelistic happenings which are on-going in the southern hemisphere, surely not in the northern parts of our world today (see Zechariah 6:8).

This is what I was talking about in particular, specifically America.

[n david]

Most who pray for revival really don't understand what revival really is. We have a fairy-tale, happily ever after thought of revival -- that revival is just this sudden outpouring of God's spirit which comes unexpectedly and without man's efforts.

Real revival requires too much for most American Christians. There is a price which comes with revival; and for most of us, it's too great a price to pay.

We're too used to a Christianity of convenience. (I speak of myself, not just others.) We've become too accustomed to entertainment and excess. We love our Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Cable/Satellite TV, and Football on Saturday and Sunday. We gleefully spend hundreds to vacation at Disney Land, but protest a dollar in church offerings. We spend our days working for money, sometimes having more than one job, to pay the bills. Bills which include things we could really do without.

We're the church at Corinth...too comfortable with the excesses and sins of the world to confront them. Instead of being transformed, we've conformed in the name of tolerance or political correctness.

Until this changes, there won't be a revival. Not a real revival anyway.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by n david

Most who pray for revival really don't understand what revival really is. We have a fairy-tale, happily ever after thought of revival -- that revival is just this sudden outpouring of God's spirit which comes unexpectedly and without man's efforts.

Real revival requires too much for most American Christians. There is a price which comes with revival; and for most of us, it's too great a price to pay.

We're too used to a Christianity of convenience. (I speak of myself, not just others.) We've become too accustomed to entertainment and excess. We love our Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Cable/Satellite TV, and Football on Saturday and Sunday. We gleefully spend hundreds to vacation at Disney Land, but protest a dollar in church offerings. We spend our days working for money, sometimes having more than one job, to pay the bills. Bills which include things we could really do without.

We're the church at Corinth...too comfortable with the excesses and sins of the world to confront them. Instead of being transformed, we've conformed in the name of tolerance or political correctness.

Until this changes, there won't be a revival. Not a real revival anyway.

Great post. I think you're right. I say I want revival, but what if that means giving things up? Not sinful things mind you (those should be given up at genuine repntance) but conveniences, hobbies, and recreation. That's where the rubber meets the road.

Its not that we're against revival or prayer, or church. But we're just simply too distracted with other things.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Great post. I think you're right. I say I want revival, but what if that means giving things up? Not sinful things mind you (those should be given up at genuine repntance) but conveniences, hobbies, and recreation. That's where the rubber meets the road.

Its not that we're against revival or prayer, or church. But we're just simply too distracted with other things.

Exactly.

[LifeUncommon]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

When is the last time you heard of a real soul stirring and LASTING revival? I don't mean "revival" services. I don't mean people being emotionally stirred night after night while the evangelist is preaching (but things returning to normal just a few services after he has left town).

I mean when is the last time you experienced a red hot revival, where saints were renewed, and sinners were not just baptized, not just pronounced to receive the Holy Ghost, but truly saved and set free from sin. When was the last time you saw/heard of a soul stirring revival, where people began to give up sin, began to turn from worldliness (not because the preacher, but because they were convicted by the Holy Spirit)? Where people had a desire for (deep breath) prayer and prayer meetings, and (gasp) more church services and Bible studies? (By more church services, I don't mean the saints who are conditioned to attend church every time the doors are opened, I am talking about those who are irregular at church, on the fence, uncommitted, or even downright [previously] unconverted-showing a strong spiritual desire. When is the last time you saw conviction so strong people couldn't wait to get to the altar to repent, would almost be willing to knock someone out of the way to get in the water and be baptized?

Is it even possible anymore?

I see so many churches that are just comfortable (for lack of a better term). I'm not talking about churches that are entertainment driven and really aren't preaching the gospel (i.e. repentance) in the first place. I am talking about churches that do preach the gospel, that are conservative, and by all accounts "good churches". It seems like those churches are content simply to exist. It seems like those saints are content to live a godly life, while enjoying all the comforts of the American lifestyle.

Including mine. Including me.

Do we even really want a revival? Do I even really want a revival?

I recently read something Leonard Ravenhill wrote that has really pricked me "The number one reason why our churches don't have revival is we are content to live without it." Ouch. Yet so true.

People are wanting more and more of God and less and less of organized religion. I'm not sure the great revival at end times is going to look as much like a tent meeting as some think.

They want GOD. Not religion. That's true revival.