What does the spread of the Gospel have to do with revival?
From Pentecost until today, the Gospel has brought revival from death to life. Life-giving renewal spread to Antioch, Athens, Babylon, Berea, Caesarea, Cenchrea, Colossae, Corinth, Crete, Cyrene, Damascus, Derbe, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Iconium, Jerusalem, Joppa, Laodicea, Lydda, Lystra, Pergamum, Philadelphia, Philippi, Rome, Sardis, Sharon, Smyrna, Tarsus, Thessalonica, Thyatira, Troas, and many more places in regions like Phoenicia, Samaria, Judea, Galatia, Asia and Macedonia. To the ends of the earth, the Gospel has spread ever since. Life in the Spirit is ours, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1 NKJV), and life eternal for those who overcome (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7).
From the beginning, people have had a choice between true life and a death-like existence. God challenged ancient Israel, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV). Comes our eternity and the die will have been cast by the choices we make today, because we are choosing even this minute, to either distance ourselves from God or get close to Him. Life with God in eternal bliss or separation from God in a place of spiritual death, it’s always been our choice.
Revival comes about by the pursuit of righteousness, “Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.” (Proverbs 11:19 NIV) Literally, revival means to bring back to life, and the choice is ours, “You shall also say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.” (Jeremiah 21:8 NASB) Means to hell are many, but there is only one way to eternal life, as Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24 NLT)
To come to life, means to die to sin, “When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.” (Romans 6:4 CEV) Bring this worthless existence to God, and receive His free gift, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV) Back from the dead, God gives us a new way of thinking, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 KJV) To witness this new life, we can examine the fruits because, “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.” (1 John 3:14 NLT) Life in Christ is revival from the dead.
Rejoice, lovers of God, that in Jesus we can be revived, from death to life evermore.
