Musing (II)

On Revival

Sometimes I wonder how much I really know about revival.When the simple question,"What is revival?" is put to one, how can I reply? Do I really know about revival at all? Sure I've read books about it, mainly by Leonard Ravenhill, as well as heard a few sermons on it, but looking at it again, it really isn't that much. There was that one year in 2000 that one could say had portents of being a revival, but that one too didn't exactly last very long nor were it's results earth-shattering.

Over the years, one can become cynical about revivals, especially when that term is bandied about and applied to any event where there seems to be some outpouring of emotions and religious fervor. What is revival and why do we desire it? As my friend shared, sometimes one wonders whether one desires revival as a cure-all for all the (perceived?) problems in the church today. Rather than diligently reading God's Word and seeking to apply it, we would rather sit on our thumbs and wait for God to clean up our mess. Now I am in no way denying that true spiritual reformation in the Church is solely dependent on God's Hand and Power, but there is no denying the fact that God has commanded us to do certain things in His Word.

As to the essence of revival, what exactly is it? As people go to a multitude of conferences throughout the year in order to "acquire the fire", what exactly is the point of it all? So many go and come back just as carnal and worldly as they were before. Or some come back with a fire that lasts for but a few short weeks before dissipating without any long-term change. Is God's power really so weak in this day and age? Why do so many go and experience such "revivals" without any change in them? I think of all those camps, both in ACS and in church where there seemed to be such great outpourings of emotions and numerous re-dedications and within a month one would be hard-pressed to find any traces of either.

12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments."
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the LORD your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.

17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
and say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

- Joel 2: 12-17