It is common to hear religious people talk about attending events called “revivals.” As I write this article, a recent “revival” at Asbury University has captured the attention of believers and unbelievers throughout the country and around the world. As it continued, other “revivals” started in different places. Many people were convinced that this was from God, and, of course, others were skeptical.
This article is not about the events at Asbury University per se.* Instead, I want us to consider this concept of “revival” from a Biblical perspective. If a “revival” is to happen today, what will that look like? How will it come about? Let us consider a few questions briefly.
What Is a “Revival”?
Usually, when people talk about a “revival,” they believe it involves an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This happened on the day of Pentecost in fulfillment of a prophecy made by Joel (Acts 2:16-18; Joel 2:28-29), yet this was not a common occurrence. Aside from this occasion when the church was established, the other time we read about it in the New Testament happened when Peter was preaching to the household of Cornelius when the Lord opened up His church to people from every nation (Acts 10:34-35, 44-48). This outpouring of the Spirit was not common, even during the time of the apostles in the early church.
Aside from what people think is happening in a “revival,” what do they believe is being accomplished? In essence, a “revival” is meant to do two things – (1) call unbelievers to convert and (2) call believers to repent.
So, according to the popular concept, a “revival” comes when the Spirit is poured out on people today. The result is that unbelievers are converted, and believers are called to repent. However, this word is never used in the Bible to describe this sort of thing.
What Is the Source of “Revival”?
It is important to understand that just because the Bible does not describe the popular concept of “revival” does not mean that revival is unbiblical. The Bible certainly does speak of being revived or being made alive. What is the source of the revival that the Bible talks about? Is it the result of an outpouring of the Spirit? Let us consider the Scriptures:
“My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25).
“Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me through Your righteousness” (Psalm 119:40).
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (Psalm 119:150).
“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (Psalm 119:88).
“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me” (Psalm 119:93).
These passages describe the source of revival. We receive life from God’s word. We are made alive by God’s righteousness, kindness, mercy, and grace as these divine characteristics motivate us to serve Him.
Therefore, a “revival” – the way the Bible would define it – is not something we must wait for, hoping for God to finally pour out His Spirit on us. It is also not something that we simply feel in our hearts. Instead, it is something that we can pursue as we focus on God and His word.
How Will Any True “Revival” Happen Today?
Of course, I am using the word “revival” accommodatively since the New Testament does not use that word to describe what we are discussing now. But remember what we noticed was the result of “revival” – according to the modern usage of the term. It is to call unbelievers to convert and to call believers to repent. How can these outcomes be produced?
How do we call unbelievers to convert? By preaching the gospel. Jesus commissioned the apostles to “preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We must understand that if Jesus wanted the Holy Spirit to be poured out on people to save them, He absolutely could have done that. But He chose to do it through the preaching of the gospel, which is “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). The way the Lord calls people is not through an outpouring of the Spirit; instead, He calls us “through [the] gospel” (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
How do we call believers to repent? In the same way – by preaching the gospel. Timothy, in his work with the Christians among whom he labored, was told to “preach the word…reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). When believers need to make changes in their lives, directing them to the instructions found in the word of God is what calls them to make the necessary correction. When the brethren from the church in Ephesus “left [their] first love,” they were told to “remember from where [they had] fallen, and repent and do the deeds [they did] at first” (Revelation 2:4-5). In other words, they needed to go back to the teachings of Christ and follow the pattern found in His word.
Conclusion
God has given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). In other words, if we want to have life in Christ and be able to live godly lives in Him, we do not need to wait for some “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit to “revive” us. We need to take what God has given us – His word – and use that to reach the lost, encourage the saved, and guide us in all we do in this life.
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* I recorded a podcast episode addressing the Asbury “Revival” more directly. You can listen to that here – Thoughts on the Asbury Revival.
