Revivalist-In-Training

Good evening. My name is Barry, and I am a revivalist-in-training. Now, let me explain what I mean. Webster’s dictionary gives two basic meanings for the word revival and the one that, in my view, reflects what I believe the Bible teaches is “restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract).” A revivalist is a person who revives or restores what is available but unused.

The revival or the restoration that we are looking to bring back is the life of Jesus, as we see in the gospels. We want to see it living fully in us and fully through us. As revival is poured out more and more – and yes, it has already begun – our Father’s will “will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

What we are witnessing is a revival of God’s presence that is being ushered in by the praise and worship that is increasing in the Church. It reminds me of what happened when the people of Israel praised and worshiped God after Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord in Second Chronicles 5:13-14.

(13) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

(14) So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.”

You see, ladies and gentlemen, God’s presence is the reason why we are seeing a revival of the lost coming to Jesus, why the blind are seeing, why the sick and diseased are being healed, why the maimed are made whole, and why the mysteries and doctrinal truths that were once forgotten are being restored.

We are witnessing all these right now!

We are witnessing the restoration of kingdom force – the power that resided inside of Jesus. We are witnessing the restoration of kingdom validity – the words of truth that Jesus spoke in faith. And we are witnessing the restoration of kingdom effect – the results of the power that flowed effortlessly through Jesus.

Ladies and gentlemen, the same power that lives in Jesus lives in us. When we speak the word of truth in faith, the power living in us can partner with the words that we speak to produce a restoration of kingdom effect that flows through us as it did through Jesus. But until it flows consistently through me, I am a revivalist-in-training, and so are you.

You can also think of it this way: I am a disciple-in-training.

Now here’s the point I’m making. Even though I am in training – and I will be in training to some degree until I go home to be with my Savior – it does not diminish who I am. I am a child who is learning to live in his Father’s kingdom. I am a disciple now and I am a revivalist now who is under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. Trust me, there is always more to learn. Do you remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in John 16?

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (verse 13)

Now, why are we talking about being a revivalist or disciple-in-training?

Earlier, I said a revivalist is a person who revives or restores something that is available but not being used. So, the whole point of revivalist training or discipleship training is (1) to help us truly grasp and understand who we are as sons and daughters of God, and (2) to help us learn how to fully access what we have (kingdom power) for a lost and dying world.

I saw the importance of this as I read First Kings 17. In verse one, we are introduced to the prophet Elijah, who confronts Ahab, the most wicked king to ever rule Israel. And it is this verse that drives the entire chapter.

“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

The name Elijah means “My God is Lord” and the first thing he declares to Ahab is “the LORD God of Israel lives,” and it is this same LORD “before whom I stand” – that I represent and through whom He speaks. And then he tells the wicked king the Lord’s judgment on Israel. “There will be no dew nor rain for three years.”