Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
Jonah Series #6
“Revive Us Again”
Last time we explored the topic of repentance. God orchestrated the greatest crusade in history through the preaching of one man. The Ninevite crusade included every single person in a city of 120,000. He did it though a bigoted man who didn’t even want to see the Ninevites spared. The tragedy is that none of the great spiritual movements in history ever lasted. Historically, a great harvest of souls follows a revival of the people of God. Although the harvest of the Ninevites does not follow that pattern, I became interested in the subject of revival.
I decided to explore the whole subject of revival both in Biblical history and outside of the Bible.
Definition of revival
The sovereign activity of God whereby He renews His people individually and/or corporately in vigor, affecting both sincerity of belief and quality of behavior. Earle Cairns in his book on revival called “An Endless Line of Splendor” summarizing revivals and their leaders from the Great Awakening to the present wrote this about revival…
Revival or renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness, and work by prayer and the word after repentance in crisis for their spiritual decline. The permanent elements in revival are the word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and a sovereign God who uses man as his instrument.”
The term revival implies restoration of life to something that once had life but died. Most of the grand revivals of history started with the people of God. It then spread to those outside the church. A distinction exists between evangelism and revival. Evangelism is something the church decides to do regarding the lost. Revival is something God decides to do regarding the church.
Revival flows from a specific outpouring of the Holy Spirit on an individual or group with an obvious presence; moving, guiding, enlightening and empowering.
Evangelism, fine as it is, is not revival. After a signally successful meeting, Billy Graham was asked, “Is this revival?” Graham replied, “No. When revival comes, I expect to see two things which we have not seen yet. First, a new sense of the holiness of God on the part of Christians; and second, a new sense of the sinfulness of sin on the part of Christians.”
We might add a third and closely-related indication of revival: a new working of the Holy Spirit in the local church. Why? For two big reasons, among others; first, because the Word of God calls for it; and second, because the world challenge calls for it. Billy Graham
Sometimes I have been asked to meet with one group or another to "plan a revival." You might as well try to plan a lightning bolt as to plan a revival. No one has ever done it yet, and no one will ever really "plan" or "program" a true revival. The Lord God Almighty makes a world, and nobody "plans" it. When He raises the dead, no one "plans" it. And—let me tell you this—when God raises the dead it never comes as the fifth item on the "program." Of that you can be sure! AW Tozer
The Scriptures record numerous revivals among God’s people.
Asa Revival in 2 Chron 15
All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 15:15
Unfortunately, the revival didn’t last.
Nehemiah / Ezra Revival
After the Jews repaired the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah and Ezra led the people in a great revival.
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6
Again, the revival didn’t last and Nehemiah returned later to deal with the same sort of evils that existed before the revival.
Pentecost
God moved on a small group of Christ-followers. The Holy Spirit moved anointed that small group of Christians and 3,000 turned to Christ that day and thousands more in the days to follow. The early church experienced phenomenal unity and growth. It didn’t take long for the revival among God’s people to grow cold.
Paul found it necessary to address numerous relational issues in all the churches. By the time John wrote the book of Revelation around 90AD, many once vibrant local congregations churches had fallen into a variety of Spirit-quenching issues. Jesus specifically addressed some of those issues and urged them to repent. I believe that similar issues have plagued the church since that time. The problems in the early churches addressed in Revelation represent problems present in churches all through history.
The once vibrant church at Ephesus maintained pure doctrine but lost their passionate love for Jesus they had at the beginning. Jesus called for revival.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Revelation 2:5
The church at Pergamum held firm to their convictions but allowed their conduct to lapse into the sensuality of the culture around them. Again, Jesus called for revival.
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Rev 2:16
The church at Thyatira demonstrated a strong faith and growing service to Jesus but tolerated false teaching that fostered sensuality. Jesus called them to repent and hold fast until He comes.
Jesus found the service of the church at Sardis to be lifeless. He called them to repent.
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:2-3
The Laodicean church had lapsed into mediocrity. In the midst of their affluence they failed to recognize their desperate need of Christ’s true life among them. Jesus called for a revival; a heart change.
‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:15-20
God recorded His words in Scripture so we might not stray from His standard.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Church history records numerous periods of revival. It is a rich history of God’s movement among people.
Awakenings are usually preceded by a time of spiritual depression, apathy and gross sin, in which a majority of nominal Christians are hardly different from the members of secular society, and the churches seem to be asleep.
Are there any common elements? Here a few general characteristics of genuine revival.
• God’s people experienced a renewed sense of His majesty and holiness.
In what I have to say I may not be joined by any ground swell of public opinion, but I have a charge to make against the church. We are not consciously aware of God in our midst. We do not seem to sense the tragedy of having almost completely lost the awareness of His presence....
Revival and blessing come to the church when we stop looking at a picture of God and look at God Himself. Revival comes when, no longer satisfied just to know about a God in history, we meet the conditions of finding Him in living, personal experience....
Modern mankind can go everywhere, do everything and be completely curious about the universe. But only a rare person now and then is curious enough to want to know God. AW Tozer
As some Christians begin to yearn for a manifestation of God’s power, a leader or leaders arise with prophetic insights into the causes and remedies of the problems, and a new awareness of the holy and pure character of the Lord is present.
• God’s people experienced a renewed sense of the sinfulness of man.
An individual or small group of God’s people becomes conscious of their sins and backslidden condition, and vows to forsake all that is displeasing to God.
This would lead to a public confession of sin, conversions, character change.
• God’s people experienced a renewed sense of wonder of salvation in Christ.
• God’s people experienced renewed desire that others come to faith in Christ.
• God’s people experienced renewed awareness of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The awakening of Christians occurs: many understand and take part in a higher spiritual life.
• Revival affected people of all races, classes, ages and intellect.
Yale experienced a revival in 1801 where one-third of the students actually got converted. The Cane Ridge revival in Kentucky saw 10 to 25 thousand people flood to the camp meetings out in the woods where they experienced 6-7 days of widespread sensational and sometimes bizarre effects of revival. As a result of the emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus, as opposed to a cold orthodoxy, the Methodists realized a membership increase from 2,622 to 30,000 which peaked at over 1 million by 1844. These revivals birthed a surge in Missions emphasis, social groups, Bible Societies, and much more Christian ministry organizations.
• Revival comes and goes without clear explanation.
Even the initial power of Pentecost faded over time. It is clearly a movement of God not something manufactured by man. It is by nature supernatural beyond human explanation. When someone promises a great movement of God in their crusade or meetings, beware! You cannot schedule a revival. You can only pray for God to move. Man generated “revival” seems to fade quickly. God generated revivals seem almost spontaneous and see lasting but still temporary results. The beginning, course and end of revival lies in the Hands of the Almighty.
One preacher experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit for one sermon which resulted in 1,000 conversions over the next six months. Another experienced the special anointing of the Spirit over a two-year period. Many of God’s movements are timestamped. We see this in Biblical history as well as church history.
Some started suddenly, others gradual. Some began with a small group or prayer meeting.
Sometimes revival came after a very desperate period in history where people were feeling helpless and hopeless. Others started in a preaching service or Bible College.
For some, God used great gifted people like an Edwards, Wesley or Whitfield, while other times simple ordinary people like a D.L Moody or Billy Sunday.
Many of the movements of God began with individuals I never heard of.
The world still feels the influence of the great Welsh Revival which flamed across the tiny country of Wales at the beginning of this century. But few remember just how this mighty spiritual movement began: A Christian Endeavor meeting was in progress in a small town in Wales when a timid young Welsh girl arose. She was so nervous that she could utter only one short sentence: “O, I do love Jesus!” Then she sat down. The Lord used that earnest testimony to fulfill His own divine purpose. Spiritual fire came down on that young people’s meeting, even akin to Pentecost. Quickly it spread through that church, then through the little town, and on through the whole of Wales. Its influence was soon felt all around the world.
Some affected a small local village while others captured big cities and regions.
It is quite well-known how the congregation was deeply moved as Jonathan Edwards preached his sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.”
He had the manuscript held up so close to his face that they could not see his face. He went on and on until the people in that crowded church were moved almost beyond control. One man sprang up, rushed down the aisle and cried, “Mr. Edwards, have mercy!”
Others caught hold of the backs of pews lest they should slip into the pit. Most thought that the day of judgment had dawned on them. The power of that sermon is still felt in the United States today.
For three days Edwards had not eaten a mouthful of food: for three nights he had not closed his eyes in sleep. Over and over again, he had been saying to God, “Give me New England! Give me New England!” and when he arose from his knees, and made his way into the pulpit they say that he looked as if he had been gazing straight into the face of God. They say that before he opened his lips to speak, conviction fell upon his audience.
Another secret of that sermon’s power is known to few Christians. Some believers in that vicinity of Enfield, Mass., had become alarmed that, while God was blessing other places, He should in anger pass them by. And so they met on the evening before the sermon—and spent that whole night in agonizing prayer. The rest is history.
Some try to generate revival by duplicating the methods associated with previous revivals. Moses figured he could get water from a rock by using the same method as before but found out God does not always use the same methods.
God stirred a great revival in Canada. The Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Saskatoon prayed for revival for two years. On their sixty-sixth meeting led by the Sutera Twins in 1971 many became convicted and made confessions of sin. The size of crowds forced them to find larger facilities until they eventually filled the 2,000-seat Civic Auditorium. Some meetings lasted until 3:00 AM. One minister’s conference went from 10:00AM one day until 5:00PM the next day. Even though the effects spread to other places, the basic movement stayed in the Saskatchewan and Manitoba areas. Some tried to use the same formula to generate revival with a lesser effect.
• No recorded revival ever arose as an official movement.
The Christian and Missionary Alliance began not as a denomination but a movement of God through the leadership of A.B. Simpson who experienced an overwhelming work of the Holy Spirit first in his own life and then in his ministry to others and was influenced by the revival of 1859.
He had a passion to proclaim the Gospel to unreached peoples of the world which is still the focus of the Alliance to this day. He attracted and gathered, outside the Presbyterian Church to which he belonged, a growing group of Christians with the same passion committed to supporting those called to go to these unreached people groups. This became the Christian AND Missionary Alliance.
Many of the people God used to revive the people of God did so apart from the sanction of the organized leadership. The truth is, many of the revivals were vigorously opposed by church officials. You would recognize some of the names: John the Baptist, Jesus, the Disciples, Luthor, the Wesleys, Whitefield, Finney, Moody, AB Simpson.
• The results are unmistakable and abiding.
The results became evident in every aspect of the church. Attendance, lifestyle, ministry involvement, heart for the lost. The 18th and 19th Century revivals did not track “decisions” for Christ. They tracked increased church involvement. God used Jonathan Edwards to spark a revival that increased the church by 50,000. The 19th Century revival realized a 500,000 person increase.
Genuine revival clearly affected the moral tone of the local communities. John Elias Wales squelched a depraved local fair with only a single sermon. The revivals in England led to the closure of many taverns and pubs. Revival realized a drop in crime.
Some were powerful and external in their scope. Others were quiet and even unknown to the broader public.
Some triggered overwhelming physical and emotional effects, while others experienced unexplainable intellectual and spiritual capacities.
The revivals spurred a new fervor and missionary expansion. The New England revival stirred a new passion to reach the American Indians. England saw the organization of various societies for reaching Jews, India, Africa, China.
Social societies came about as a result of renewed fervor for Christ and loving people. The YMCA, Rescue missions, Prison reform, ending slavery, labor reform, orphanages, temperance movements.
The revivals stirred a surge in benevolent giving among Christians to further the Gospel and Christina compassion in the world.
Christian education rose to a prominent place in the culture of all peoples from elementary level to the formation of Sunday Schools, Bible Schools, training centers and Seminaries. Many of what we consider the Ivy League Schools began as training centers for pastors.
Changes in church life.
The theology of the revivals encompassed both Calvinistic and Armenian bents. There arose more of an emphasis on doing rather than thinking. Revivals were grounded in a new appreciation of the Scripture as the only basis of faith and practice. The revivals greatly affected the music of the church. They shifted the emphasis from listening to the trained choices and professionals to congregational participation. Hymns contained both exaltation of the majesty of God to expressions of personal experience. We sing many of the hymns born out of the revivalists.
Charles Wesley, Martin Luthor, Hut, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby.
No revival came without prayer by many or a few or the impassioned preaching of the Word by a wide variety of instruments like pastors of established churches, traveling preachers, open air preaching, circuit riding preachers, lay preachers, and preaching at outdoor camp meetings.
God still moves among His people today. However there has not been a global scale revival for many years.
Why is that? We are due.
One observation struck me.
Awakenings are usually preceded by a time of spiritual depression, apathy and gross sin, in which a majority of nominal Christians are hardly different from the members of secular society, and the churches seem to be asleep.
Combine that with the desperation of our times with global disasters, threat of war and nuclear disaster, antagonism toward God and yet a sense of hopeless and helplessness and we are ripe for revival.
As history attests, it must begin with the people of God.
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God…1 Peter 4:15-17
I have become fully convinced that it will not come to Chico through any persuasive preaching of mine or some emotionally moving song or some grand vision or cleaver planning. It may include some of that, but unless God moves among us and fills us as a church, we will not experience genuine revival and significant lasting life change. It is left to us to evaluate where we are. It is possible to resist, quench and even grieve the Holy Spirit.
It is left to us to pray for God to revive us again.
To Fill each heart with His love.
To pray that each soul will be rekindled with fire from above.
Hallelujah Thine the glory. Revive us again.
