Revival

[Pioneer3mm]

Hello! Can someone please provide a definition of what is meant by 'revival'. God Bless

There are several definitions..
---
The word 'revival' comes from the Latin word 'revivere' meaning..
- to live, to awaken, A renewal of fervor.
---
An outpouring of Holy Spirit..
---
The Genuine Revival..
- God is ultimately glorified, Jesus is exalted and the Holy Spirit is given His rightful place.
---
* From the book..
'Global Revival'
- Matthew Backholer

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Hello! I heard many sermons in the past on the dry bones of Ezekiel but they always seemed to take it out of context:

Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

It's referring to the return of the Jews to the land of Israel. Perhaps it some non-literal sense it could be contorted into referring to the church, but then would that not make the passage completely subjective?

God Bless

Well a definition of revival is:
an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived:
-revived - to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again

What else could we call prophesying over dry bones that literally come back to life other than revival?

When a person in a medical emergency flat-lines they have to be revived back to life.

That's why I would have mentioned Ezekiel's prophecy as revival.

Man this thread is super old though

 

[lismore]

Well a definition of revival is:
an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived:
-revived - to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again

What else could we call prophesying over dry bones that literally come back to life other than revival?

When a person in a medical emergency flat-lines they have to be revived back to life.

That's why I would have mentioned Ezekiel's prophecy as revival.

Man this thread is super old though

Hello ByTheSpirit! Thank you for your informative and reasonable reply.

The passage in Ezekiel does seem to be directly related towards Israel though with no sign that it would refer to the church. I know that the church in this country has long sought after and taught upon 'revival', but it often seems to be elusive.

I'm wondering if it could be unrealistic expectations based upon taking passages like this one out of context?

God Bless

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Hello ByTheSpirit! Thank you for your informative and reasonable reply.

The passage in Ezekiel does seem to be directly related towards Israel though with no sign that it would refer to the church. I know that the church in this country has long sought after and taught upon 'revival', but it often seems to be elusive.

I'm wondering if it could be unrealistic expectations based upon taking passages like this one out of context?

God Bless

I wouldn't necessarily call it out of context. Sure Ezekiel's prophecy over the dead bones isn't directly correlated to the church, but the truth of what is being taught can apply can't it? There's other stories in the Bible where the story itself may not apply to a specific instance, but the truth of what is being taught does.

In 1 Samuel 30, David and his band of warriors had their wives abducted. The men wanted to stone David, but he strengthened himself in the LORD. Well of course we won't say it doesn't apply to us because our wives haven't been kidnapped, the truth of what was being taught is... when we are in a stressful situation, we find hope and strength in God.

I look at Ezekiel 37 in the same way. God can make what is dead and gone, alive and well again! This is even a reason why Jesus raised the dead back to life. It was to demonstrate God's power over death and to give life. If that works in the physical, it works in the spiritual as well.

 

[lismore]

I wouldn't necessarily call it out of context. Sure Ezekiel's prophecy over the dead bones isn't directly correlated to the church, but the truth of what is being taught can apply can't it?

Hello ByTheSpirit. Thank you again for your interesting reply.

No correlation or out of context, seems like the same difference? For me the issue would be that none of the passages that are used in support of 'revival' seem to correlate to what is being taught.

The passage in Samuel teaches us to trust in God in stressful times. Agreed.

The passage in Ezekiel says that The Lord will keep his covenant with Israel and return the Jews to the land of Israel, the whole house of Israel. Good. Trust in God, he keeps his covenants. Good.

But reading a passage about God's covenant with Israel cannot be used to invoke a covenant God has not made. God does not have a national covenant with the UK, USA, Russia, or these places.

God is calling people out of nations to be his chosen people, the church, strangers in the world, those few on the narrow path. Rather than expecting 'revival' I think we should be teaching Christians to remain faithful to God in times of persecution, apostacy, unsounds doctrine. The church is promised persecution in the NT, not a party.

God Bless

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Hello ByTheSpirit. Thank you again for your interesting reply.

No correlation or out of context, seems like the same difference? For me the issue would be that none of the passages that are used in support of 'revival' seem to correlate to what is being taught.

The passage in Samuel teaches us to trust in God in stressful times. Agreed.

The passage in Ezekiel says that The Lord will keep his covenant with Israel and return the Jews to the land of Israel, the whole house of Israel. Good. Trust in God, he keeps his covenants. Good.

But reading a passage about God's covenant with Israel cannot be used to invoke a covenant God has not made. God does not have a national covenant with the UK, USA, Russia, or these places.

God is calling people out of nations to be his chosen people, the church, strangers in the world, those few on the narrow path. Rather than expecting 'revival' I think we should be teaching Christians to remain faithful to God in times of persecution, apostacy, unsounds doctrine. The church is promised persecution in the NT, not a party.

God Bless

Well yeah, of course, we should be teaching believers to stand strong and be vigilant against the devil, but if they are to fall (it does happen), we should seek to restore them.

19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

Notice the terminology there my brother. It says, if someone wanders but should be brought back. That person will have been saved from death. Isn't that kind of the definition of revival? Brought back to life? Is that not correlation to revival? The bones were lifeless until Ezekiel prophesied to them?

That's how I look at Ezekiel's prophecy on a spiritual level. The bones were dead obviously, but as God told them to be revived through the prophet, they came back to life. Just how Jesus raised the son of the Nain widow, the daughter of Jairus, Lazarus. Just how Peter raised Dorcus, and Paul the young man, Eutychus. Even Elijah the prophet raising the son of the widow of Zarephath.

Point is, Ezekiel's prophecy has more than just a literal, on the face meaning I think. It's literally been demonstrated multiple times in the scriptures, that God can bring back a dead person. He does revive them.

 

[jiminpa]

Revival means to take something that was alive, but dead or near dead and bring it back to life. Thereby making it for a dead or dying church, and not about evangelism. Once revival has done its work, evangelism would be the natural outcome though.

 

[lismore]

Revival means to take something that was alive, but dead or near dead and bring it back to life. Thereby making it for a dead or dying church, and not about evangelism. Once revival has done its work, evangelism would be the natural outcome though.

Could be a modern way of saying the old un-pc word 'repentance'? God Bless

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Could be a modern way of saying the old un-pc word 'repentance'? God Bless

I don't think so. Revival implies it was once alive but died and is now back to life again. Repentance is for those who were never alive in the first place.

 

[lismore]

I don't think so. Revival implies it was once alive but died and is now back to life again. Repentance is for those who were never alive in the first place.

Hello! Thank you for your reply. I would disagree though:

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place (Revelation 2:5)

The church in Ephesus were surely alive in the first place but were told by the Lord Jesus to repent.

God Bless

 

[jiminpa]

Could be a modern way of saying the old un-pc word 'repentance'? God Bless

I suppose you could say repentance, but when I think of repentance I think of focusing on the sins we want to turn away from, and when I think of revival I think of focusing on God and let the sins melt off.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Lord, send revival to your children! Send the later rain of the Spirit upon us! May each of us walk in the power and love of the first generation believers! In Jesus name!

What is not available and in God's will today that was in the first generation?

 

[tturt]

However it's defined, we need it. Don't think there's going to be revival without repentance by believers

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chron 7:14)

New Testament - 5 of the 7 churches were told to repent in Rev 2 & 3
- church of Ephesus -they had many positives but were loveless
- church in Pergamos - located in satan's city, they compromised
- church in Thyatira - an adulterous church
- church in Sardis - they were busy but God said they were dead
- church of the Laodiceans - a lukewarm church
Plus if the churches didn't repent, there would be consequences. God would -
Church at Ephesus - repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Etc

Also, repenting when we pray:
- how Jesus taught us Includes "forgive us our sins..." Luk 11
- before communion "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." (I Cor 11:28)
Lots of emphases on God is love. Definitely but He's also holy (Psa 103; I Sam 2:2; Isa 6:3).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

If only, but we are too in love with the world and far to preoccupied with the things of the world to seriously seek God.

Speak for yourself. I believe that every person who is genuinely converted to Christ, has repented of all known sin, and has a heart to seek the will of God for their life, is filled with the Spirit and therefore in a state of personal revival.

A true revival is when the Holy Spirit moves on the unconverted, convicting them of sin, and making the good news of the Gospel real to them. The preaching of the Gospel has new power to convince multitudes of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.

What we are seeing in many crusades is a me-based false revival, consisting in sensory based experiences, goosebumps up the spine, jerking, shaking, uncontrollable laughter, falling down, feathers and gold dust falling from the ceiling (or the ventilation system), and false claims of healing and miracles that don't actually happen.

 

[jiminpa]

Speak for yourself. I believe that every person who is genuinely converted to Christ, has repented of all known sin, and has a heart to seek the will of God for their life, is filled with the Spirit and therefore in a state of personal revival.

A true revival is when the Holy Spirit moves on the unconverted, convicting them of sin, and making the good news of the Gospel real to them. The preaching of the Gospel has new power to convince multitudes of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.

What we are seeing in many crusades is a me-based false revival, consisting in sensory based experiences, goosebumps up the spine, jerking, shaking, uncontrollable laughter, falling down, feathers and gold dust falling from the ceiling (or the ventilation system), and false claims of healing and miracles that don't actually happen.

Sounds like the same accusations that the cessationists use to justify their opposition to God's word. Yes, some of that is fake, but what if some of it is real? I'm not going to tell God that He can't fill someone with so much joy that they can't help laughing, are you?

Here's the tactic. Sow doubt, start with a real or semi-real concern. Move to criticizing fully Biblical practices. Then escalate to full-blown "did God really say?".

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Sounds like the same accusations that the cessationists use to justify their opposition to God's word. Yes, some of that is fake, but what if some of it is real? I'm not going to tell God that He can't fill someone with so much joy that they can't help laughing, are you?

Here's the tactic. Sow doubt, start with a real or semi-real concern. Move to criticizing fully Biblical practices. Then escalate to full-blown "did God really say?".

All I did was to describe that actual Gospel of Christ, which has been the basis of true revival. John says, "Believe not every Spirit, but test them to see if they are really from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." John is sowing doubt all right. He is causing people to doubt stuff that doesn't seem quite right and to rigorously test it from Scripture to make sure that it is really from the Holy Spirit or another spirit.

 

[jiminpa]

All I did was to describe that actual Gospel of Christ, which has been the basis of true revival. John says, "Believe not every Spirit, but test them to see if they are really from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." John is sowing doubt all right. He is causing people to doubt stuff that doesn't seem quite right and to rigorously test it from Scripture to make sure that it is really from the Holy Spirit or another spirit.

I understand about testing the spirits, and I have seen the deception that cessationists use to elevate their doctrines above the Word of God. That willingness to deceive isn't a spirit that tests as true with me. What I described is what I have observed from those who hold man superior to God's word trying to convert believers in God's word to faith in man. I also understand that it's possible to make similar observations with different goals.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I understand about testing the spirits, and I have seen the deception that cessationists use to elevate their doctrines above the Word of God. That willingness to deceive isn't a spirit that tests as true with me. What I described is what I have observed from those who hold man superior to God's word trying to convert believers in God's word to faith in man. I also understand that it's possible to make similar observations with different goals.

There is no doubt that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit all but ceased by the 4th Century AD. But this is not to say that God withdrew their availability from the Church. There is a criteria for the gifts to operate, and when that criteria is met, the gifts appear. The reason why the gifts ceased was that the Church no longer met the criteria of faith in and commitment to Christ, purity of Biblical doctrine, and standard of holiness.

The position of continuation is not quite correct, because the actual operation of the gifts didn't continue. It is also not quite correct to say that the gifts have been restored, because they were never withdrawn. Hence it would be correct to say that the spiritual gifts are lying dormant in the churches until the appropriate criteria for their emergence is met.

Therefore, this is what revival is all about, it is restoration of the criteria where the Holy Spirit can be active. The criteria are:
Belief in the Gospel of Christ
True repentance from sin
Trust in God's promises in the Word
Having Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord
Holiness before the Lord.

 

[mourningdove~]

However it's defined, we need it. Don't think there's going to be revival without repentance by believers

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chron 7:14)

Repentance ...
and a renewed sense of praise and worship, too, sister ...

 

[lismore]

Belief in the Gospel of Christ
Trust in God's promises in the Word

Hello Watchman! Regarding these two, I don't know if it's the same in New Zealand but here I noticed a trend of going away from expository bible/gospel preaching into other areas in Charismatic/Pentecostal churches. I remember one meeting I attended in AOG the speaker spoke about his trip to heaven and what he saw, the part that sticks in my mind was about a Samurai sword lying in a stream that he picked up. Either we're breaking new ground or going off on a tangent. I also remember that he did not share anything from the bible during his sermon. God Bless