Revive, Revival

<<reinvigorate, restoration>>

This is bringing back to life something that was dying and almost dead.

In the Christian context revival is the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit into a dulled church, then as the people are revitalised, this transformation will flow out into the community. Repentance, increased prayer and a new urgency to respond to the purposes of God will result in many conversions as the Word is fervently preached.

Although it is a sovereign work of God, when people humbly seek Him with their whole heart (making Him the most important item on their agenda), turning from all sin and praying earnestly, revival is promised (2 Chr 7:14; Ps 85:6; Jer 29:13). With the reviving of the Holy Spirit affecting every aspect of

Will I pray the price?

Christians’ lives in a tangible way God moves in power and conviction among the unsaved with many crying out, “What must we do to be saved?” (Act 2:27, 16:30). By submitting to Christ’s Lordship and Kingdom rule communities are changed and transformed as individuals come into alignment with the Word of God with the ‘invited’ fear of the Lord descending over the area. It is not just praying, ‘Lord, you have done it in the past, please do it again’; commitment is required. It is our responsibility to bring the ‘fruit of repentance’ which includes getting rid of the old sinful practices, building proper altars (ways of connecting to and honouring God), examining ourselves, looking to God and confessing our sin, then living a changed life of righteous activity and ‘fanning into flame’ the gift of God (Jdg 6:25,26; Lam 3:40-42; Hos 10:12; Mt 3:8; 2 Tim 1:6). The Christian life is dependent upon us co-operating with God and His divine principles (1 Sam 2:30).

The Holy Spirit is the prime mover of every revival with the Bible and prayer taking a very prominent role, along with a sensitiveness to sin. People will come to have ‘hearts of flesh’ that respond to God, rather than stony ones which make no such response (Ezek 11:19). Revival is likened to water springing up in a dry, barren desert so it is able to bring forth desirable produce (Isa 35:6, 44:3). God will send revival on the same conditions in any era – "Return to me and I will return toyou" (Zech 1:3).

The reinvigorating of revival will lead into renewal, the restoring to freshness or original condition. Through revival and renewal both individuals and the church is revitalised by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Great

The best place for revival to start is in me

Commission is taken seriously with the gospel being boldly proclaimed, people discipled and perfected in their faith (Mt 28:19,20).

While many believe there will be a last days revival, the Bible indicates prior to the rapture there is a great falling away from the faith, yet during the Tribulation there will be a huge ingathering including the mass conversion of the Jews (Deut 30:1-6; Rom 11:26,27; 2 Thes 2:3; Rev 6:9-11, 7:9,14, 20:4). The terrible times and the Antichrists harsh rule cannot hinder the work of God. In fact in countries that have had intense persecution in the past are where Christianity has flourished.