Is "Revival" Biblical?

[Nathan]

Is it Biblical?

Is it applicable in the 'Church Age', or, since the time Christ came till now?

If it IS one, or the other, or both; then what is it?

Thanks guys

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Is it Biblical?

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;


"Is it applicable in the 'Church Age', or, since the time Christ came till now?"

The "Church Age" IS the "time Christ came till now".

We had two major revivals in the U.S. in the last century, and the one in 1966-1978 (or so) was world-wide in scope.

 

[Nathan]

So define "revival". I am a stickler for words, although I will sometimes use the wrong ones myself. I believe that each and every word should have a set definition. It is, after all, how we communicate.

I am not sure I follow you on the passage in acts. He was referring to people who are unregenerate, turning towards faith in Christ, the "new life" that comes with regeneration, and the promise of His return to "restore all things" in the end.

I do not see what we would typically call "revival" in that passage. Are there any other passages that speak of it?

Before we could really dig deep and look for "proof", I would think a base line definition of what revival is would be needed. Right?

And no, I am not trying to argue any point. I seriously want to figure this thing out and thought it would be best to get a multitude of thoughts from others. Hopefully, I will be getting others thoughts who are indeed born again. (not that I am saying your not Bob).

 

[watchman F]

Is it Biblical?

Is it applicable in the 'Church Age', or, since the time Christ came till now?

If it IS one, or the other, or both; then what is it?

Thanks guys

Psalm 119
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice.
150 They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.
152 Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Sounds biblical to me.

 

[Nathan]

Oh, I am not saying that the word "revival" is not in the Bible, lol.

Maybe I should have started with the question of the definition of Revival as we call it today. That might help clear up the confusion.

I understand what the Bible talks about revival in the Old Testament, the times before Christ. But what about after Christ came, with the new covenant established, is there a difference in how God 'deals' with us?

Maybe if someone could define "revival". Then the next step would be to say whether or not it is the same definition for the Old Testament as well as the New.

I do not think that I made my self clear enough, that is my fault. I just assumed people would understand I am trying to draw a conclusion on the differences, if any, between the 'revivals' of the Old Testament and what we deem as 'revival' in the times since Christ. I should have worded the question "Is it Biblical in the times since Christ".

But that is one reason I asked the following question after the first. My apologies for confusing anyone. I hope that I am making my questions more clear.

 

[watchman F]

re·viv·al   /rɪˈvaɪvəl/ Show Spelled[ri-vahy-vuhl] Show IPA
–noun
1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.
3. a new production of an old play.
4. a showing of an old motion picture.
5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.
6. an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.
7. the act of reviving.
8. the state of being revived.
9. Law . the reestablishment of legal force and effect.

Revival is still relevant today in the church especially definition #5. Not only is it relevant but very needful. as Paul writes in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

 

[Nathan]

re·viv·al   /rɪˈvaɪvəl/ Show Spelled[ri-vahy-vuhl] Show IPA
–noun
1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.
3. a new production of an old play.
4. a showing of an old motion picture.
5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.
6. an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.
7. the act of reviving.
8. the state of being revived.
9. Law . the reestablishment of legal force and effect.

Revival is still relevant today in the church especially definition #5. Not only is it relevant but very needful. as Paul writes in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Thanks for the deffinition Watchman ;)

Now, back up a few verses..."Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partakers with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light" Ephesians 5:6-8

Can a "Christian" be light and be in darkness, or rather, in need of light? Or is Paul saying that when we walk as children of the light, God uses us to shine on the "dead", shedding light? Do you see the incompatibility of being alive in Christ...in the light...being the light and being in darkness?

Revival, by the definition, is reviving something that has been alive. Correct? So revival would not pertain to the unregenerate, right?

This is where I am just not sure if we are really looking at this correctly. This revival thing we all talk about and hope for.

Ok, so lets say "Revival" is for today. How does it come? What 'brings about' revival?

 

[watchman F]

Thanks for the deffinition Watchman ;)

Now, back up a few verses..."Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partakers with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light" Ephesians 5:6-8

Can a "Christian" be light and be in darkness, or rather, in need of light? Or is Paul saying that when we walk as children of the light, God uses us to shine on the "dead", shedding light? Do you see the incompatibility of being alive in Christ...in the light...being the light and being in darkness?

Revival, by the definition, is reviving something that has been alive. Correct? So revival would not pertain to the unregenerate, right?

This is where I am just not sure if we are really looking at this correctly. This revival thing we all talk about and hope for.

Ok, so lets say "Revival" is for today. How does it come? What 'brings about' revival?

Do you now how many regenerated people are asleep living in blindness and sin? That certainly need and awakening/ revival

 

[Nathan]

Do you now how many regenerated people are asleep living in blindness and sin? That certainly need and awakening/ revival

Well, to answer your question, I do not. But I totally understand what you are saying.

This is where it gets interesting to me. And this is where people's interpretation of what "revival" is gets mixed up and lost in translation.

See, I am not sure that a regenerated person (fair enough to say Christian?) can be asleep or blind. However, I do think, and can prove without doubt, that a regenerate can definitely go back to living in sin.

To say that a person "blindly" went back into sin, or sinned, is to say that God does not do what He said He would. He sent His Spirit to "teach us all things", and to "train us". Now, is the Spirit going to sit idle and do nothing while we "fall asleep" or "wonder off" into sin?

I would have to say that He would constantly be tugging at our hearts. Could you fall asleep if someone was yelling in your ear or shaking you? Could you wonder off blindly if someone was yelling at you and pulling you the opposite direction?

So then, if someone was to say that the Spirit would leave after fighting back against the Spirit, which is what would have to happen in order for you not to be living in the way He set out for you, then "...Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him." ESV Romans 8:9

But Paul contrasts this in the following verse, "But if Christ is in you [so either He is or He is not], although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life[some life or complete life?] because of righteousness." ESV Romans 8:10

So here is where I am at, and truly until just this past couple of weeks I had not considered it, but I cannot see where born again believers need revival. They need discipline sometimes in order to get them inline with God's will, but revival, a waking from the dead or sleep, I cannot see.

Here is my thoughts on why "revival" might just be a hindrance. After all, the argument can be made 'what does it hurt to call a revival, don't people need to be encouraged to live godly lives?' And at face value, that is a GREAT idea. But is it really?

Does it not put the power of God up on a shelf, and say that IF we do this and that or the other, God will pour out a "fresh new revived Spirit" on us? Has He not ALREADY poured out His Spirit on us? Are we not to live KNOWING that in Him there is fullness? When we say that revival can come, that means that there is 'something' that we are lacking. So if we truly believe in revival, how can you truly believe you have been given all things that pertain to godliness?

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." ESV 2Peter 1:3-4

Ok, so, the regenerate goes back into sin. Right? I mean is that not one of the basis of revival? So we, by believing in revival, tell this person "hey, God is not happy with you, you are "out of fellowship" with Him, hey, no worries, you have salvation, but you really need to be revived so that you can live a life pleasing to God." Because if the person did NOT have salvation still, then they could not be classified as regenerated, right? Worse yet, if you wanted to classify them as that then what about the passages in Hebrews, Peter, and James?

No, this is NOT about O.S.A.S. and its NOT about "loosing your salvation" and its NOT about "falling from grace".

What its about is the truth of God's Word that say's everything He has given us we already have, LIFE. Let me ask you this, do you walk down the street, see a person who is coughing or snoozing(you know they are sleeping because they are snoring), and do you start giving these people mouth to mouth resuscitation? That would be silly, there is no need.

But then the person says, 'exactly! the person lying there who just got pulled out of the water and is not breathing DOES need CPR, that is what revival is'. Then I ask you again, is God a liar? Does He say He is going to do something, and then only halfway do it, or stop doing it at a point? If God said He has given us LIFE then why do we need more?

 

[Nathan]

Just to make it clear, I am not trying to 'push' and idea or anything. I just wanted some thoughts from others than myself on this. When something like this hits me like it did, I will do the standard 'question and answer' thing to myself. I ask the question, and then answer it based upon popular/standard ideas and thoughts. I will challenge myself as though someone was sitting there that was a big proponent of the other side.

This will usually take care of most of my questions, but sometimes, like this, I can not seem to get by the bigger hang ups that arise when the answers 'seem' right, but when scrutinized, they fall apart.

I was hoping that someone has either had this question before and came to a conclusion that they could not prove inaccurate, or there was someone who has had this question and wanted to study more to bounce idea/thoughts off of another person.

Again, this is not an attack on any doctrine or theology. I want to stick to the question at hand. Revival, the "refreshing of life", as it applies to the day and age we live in Biblically.

See, I get why there was revival in the Old Testament, before Christ came, before the Holy Spirit was poured out on all man kind. I get the fact that they would be up and down, wondering around as lost sheep, and there would have to come times of "revival" to renew the life/promises that God had given.

Does someone have any more thoughts on the subject?