Urgent Appeal

A Nationwide Call

The Gathering

Introduction

Seasons of God

Definitions of Revival

An Apologetic for Revival

Clarifications

Cautions

Hope of Revival

Questions and Answers

Gospel of Jesus Christ

Declaration of Intent

Consequently, it is important to face up to some of the critical issues over which the church has deliberated for generations in defining the essence of biblical revival. In this section, the main issues of controversy have been condensed into three "clarifications." In the next section, we will look at eleven "cautions" related to these issues that need to be considered. Discussing them can help foster a common meeting ground for Christian leaders on the issue of revival. The three clarifications are:

Most would agree that ultimately no work of Christ is ever accomplished by human means. It is not by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). God is sovereign in corporate revival. In the final analysis, human beings cannot predict its timing, precipitate its unfolding, nor preclude its appearance. None of us can extort it from God by human methods or activities, however earnest we may be.

Corporate revival comes from God alone, beyond our resources, ingenuity, or control. No human-designed formula can compel God to grant it. The church cannot plan it, stage it, or organize it. It is not ours to create; it is ours to receive. No church committee or team of revival specialists can engineer it. It may be church-obtained, but it is Christ-attained. This is the distinguishing mark between revival and a human-produced "revivalism."

However, the "Primary Agent" of revival (the Holy Spirit) can and does make providential use of "secondary means." Often He chooses to work in grace through our prayers, Bible studies, worship, fellowship, sacraments, and daily obedience. There may be nothing Christians can do to guarantee corporate revival at any particular moment. But we can always intensify our preparations for God's gift, in keeping with our faith and hope in His promises.

In other words, biblically speaking, intervention calls for preparation; sovereignty encourages advocacy. God promising to be the producer of revival motivates us with expectation of revival among fellow believers. We might say: "Consecrate yourselves, because tomorrow God will work miracles among you" (Joshua 3:5). Or like Isaiah: "Take no rest, and give God no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in all the earth" (Isaiah 62:7). Or like Jesus: "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom is at hand, repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15).

Corporate revival is both a point in time as well as an ongoing process and experience in the life of the church. Frequently in Scripture, as well as recorded in church history, the motif of dramatic encounter and visitation--the rending of the Heavens, the pouring out of the Spirit--is used to describe the uniqueness of revival as a point in time. (Review other terms and metaphors listed earlier.) In this sense, corporate revival is seen as extra-ordinary; radical; the resurrection of a people exhausted, diseased, and sick with sin.

But the decisive moment of the Spirit's reclamation of a people leads to an ongoing process of increased fruitfulness and impact in the church's life. This may last a generation or more.

In other words, a greater intimacy with Christ leads to a stronger walk of obedience to Him. Poignant, extraordinary displays of grace will bring sustained infusions of grace into ordinary disciplines of the church. The qualitative nature of a church-wide revival has quantitative implications that are normally long-lasting. Authentic inward transformations translate into measurable outward demonstrations of the ministry of Christ through His people.

Without God's quickening intervention (point), all of our efforts at reformation or unity (process) will ultimately turn sour or simply wither away. However, God's visitations (point) reaffirm sound doctrine, renovate church structure, and encourage the Body of Christ to stand together in the cause of Christ (process). Revival not only supplies what is absent (point) but then multiplies what has been unleashed (process). Reviving (point) results in revivedness (process).

In fact, corporate revival need not simply fill a vacuum. In some cases it serves to quicken, intensify, enlarge, and fulfill the very best elements of current renewing activities of the Holy Spirit already underway. Accordingly, it would then reactivate spiritual gifts, encourage existing community transformations, compel emerging racial reconciliation, motivate further social reformations, and re-ignite ongoing personal evangelism and missionary endeavors.

In either case, as the church is awakened to the person, presence, and power of Jesus Christ, the society around it will be spiritually aroused, possibly resulting in a long-term "general awakening" as we have seen at least three times in our own national journey (i.e., the First, Second, and Third Great Awakenings).

Repentance presupposes grace (Acts 11:18). For individuals deserving of God's judgment because of sin, the possibility for repentance is itself based on God's kindness and patience. Thus, repentance is a gift from God, a means for sinful people to experience restored relationship with God based on the atoning work of Christ.

Yet, repentance is also a divine command to the church (Acts 17:30). Christ commands earnest repentance while He "knocks," rebuking His people for illusions of self-sufficiency and lukewarmness. Although this kind of brokenness is painful, our position in Christ as believers frees us to face our sinful condition and to mourn over the ways we grieve His Spirit. With broken hearts turning from sin, we are enabled to turn to Christ for times of refreshing (Acts 3:19).

(Other questions for clarification are incorporated into Appendix A. You may want to glance at it before going on to the "Reader's Reflections.")