Reexamining Revival
Forum category
I decided to write this article because I have some concerns about revival. Now before I go farther, please let me state that I am not opposed to revival. In fact, I am praying that this country would have a revival. When I say that, I mean a REAL revival, not just worldly sorrow over the consequences of sin.
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My thoughts about revival have changed somewhat since preaching through the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and then Judges. As the children of Israel were led out of the promised land, they needed to learn much about God. God had revealed Himself to them in supernatural ways, but they still did not have the proper relationship with Him.
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Even after the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, and the water from the rock, they still did not believe God enough to enter the promised land and were cursed to wander the wilderness for 40 years. That brings us to the book of Numbers. To a large extent, it is a book about a backslidden people in need of revival.
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Then we get to the book of Joshua. The unbelievers who would not enter the promised land have passed away and to a large extent the book of Joshua is characterized by an obedient people who are serving the Lord.
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Next is the book of Judges. There is a major contrast between Judges and Joshua. Whereas Joshua was characterized by “we will serve the Lord“, Judges is characterized by the backsliding of Israel as, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
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As I preached through the book of Judges I was also struck by another depiction- revival. Essentially the book is a repeating cycle of backsliding and revival. Things would get really bad, God would chasten, and then there would be a revival, but what stuck out was that the revivals did not last.
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I believe much of the reason that the revivals did not last is because of the depravity of man, but I think there is another important reason. During the time of Judges, the backslidden people turned to God when they wanted something from Him. During the time of Joshua they were actually walking close to Him.
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Revivalism is generally directed at a backslidden people and calls for them to make huge changes. I would rather see people consistently walking with God so that those HUGE changes are not needed. For example in the book of Judges, Gideon did a good thing and tore down an idol on his father’s property, but wouldn’t it have been better if that idol had never been built?
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One of the characteristics of revival is big changes over consistent incremental growth. As pastors we need to be training our people about who God is and what it means to walk with Him so that the incremental growth is occurring so that we do not have to call on a Gideon to tear down the idol.
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I do not want to live in the book of Judges, even with all it’s revivals. I’d rather live in the book of Joshua, and consistently walk with God in a way where sin is regularly recognized and corrected rather than waiting for the backsliding to get so bad that a major revival is needed.
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My thoughts about revival have changed somewhat since preaching through the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and then Judges. As the children of Israel were led out of the promised land, they needed to learn much about God. God had revealed Himself to them in supernatural ways, but they still did not have the proper relationship with Him.
-
Even after the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, and the water from the rock, they still did not believe God enough to enter the promised land and were cursed to wander the wilderness for 40 years. That brings us to the book of Numbers. To a large extent, it is a book about a backslidden people in need of revival.
-
Then we get to the book of Joshua. The unbelievers who would not enter the promised land have passed away and to a large extent the book of Joshua is characterized by an obedient people who are serving the Lord.
-
Next is the book of Judges. There is a major contrast between Judges and Joshua. Whereas Joshua was characterized by “we will serve the Lord“, Judges is characterized by the backsliding of Israel as, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
-
As I preached through the book of Judges I was also struck by another depiction- revival. Essentially the book is a repeating cycle of backsliding and revival. Things would get really bad, God would chasten, and then there would be a revival, but what stuck out was that the revivals did not last.
-
I believe much of the reason that the revivals did not last is because of the depravity of man, but I think there is another important reason. During the time of Judges, the backslidden people turned to God when they wanted something from Him. During the time of Joshua they were actually walking close to Him.
-
Revivalism is generally directed at a backslidden people and calls for them to make huge changes. I would rather see people consistently walking with God so that those HUGE changes are not needed. For example in the book of Judges, Gideon did a good thing and tore down an idol on his father’s property, but wouldn’t it have been better if that idol had never been built?
-
One of the characteristics of revival is big changes over consistent incremental growth. As pastors we need to be training our people about who God is and what it means to walk with Him so that the incremental growth is occurring so that we do not have to call on a Gideon to tear down the idol.
-
I do not want to live in the book of Judges, even with all it’s revivals. I’d rather live in the book of Joshua, and consistently walk with God in a way where sin is regularly recognized and corrected rather than waiting for the backsliding to get so bad that a major revival is needed.
What do you believe contributes to the modern church body that might reflect the conditions of Israel and their need for “revival” due to their constant reversions? By that I mean what general trends do you believe would be observed in a church body which produce a lackluster body and not one growing incrementally which needs no corporate revival?
Alex wrote:
“What do you believe contributes to the modern church body that might reflect the conditions of Israel and their need for “revival” due to their constant reversions? By that I mean what general trends do you believe would be observed in a church body which produce a lackluster body and not one growing incrementally which needs no corporate revival?”
There are any number of issues that we could select and ride as hobby horses to use as an argument for the need for revival, but I believe what really characterized Israel during their backslidden condition was a lack of belief in God. Therefore, I believe that the the sort of church that is in critical need of revival is a church that does not really believe in God’s sovereignty and the authority and reliability/inerrancy of God’s Word. I would add as well a church where lack of belief is evidenced by no desire to follow God’s commands (I John 2:3-6). I believe these were definitely characteristics of Israel during the time of the judges.
On the other hand, all believers are sinners and need incremental growth, no matter how strong our belief or how mature we are. (I John 1:8-10).
There are any number of issues that we could select and ride as hobby horses to use as an argument for the need for revival, but I believe what really characterized Israel during their backslidden condition was a lack of belief in God. Therefore, I believe that the the sort of church that is in critical need of revival is a church that does not really believe in God’s sovereignty and the authority and reliability/inerrancy of God’s Word. I would add as well a church where lack of belief is evidenced by no desire to follow God’s commands (I John 2:3-6). I believe these were definitely characteristics of Israel during the time of the judges.
On the other hand, all believers are sinners and need incremental growth, no matter how strong our belief or how mature we are. (I John 1:8-10).
The biggest problem in the book of Judges is that the people kept reverting back to “doing that which was right in their own eyes.” That is the biggest sign today that professing believers and unbelievers are in desparate trouble with God.
Joe wrote:
“The biggest problem in the book of Judges is that the people kept reverting back to “doing that which was right in their own eyes.” That is the biggest sign today that professing believers and unbelievers are in desparate trouble with God.”
Good Point Joe (no doubt that comes right from the scriptures). The big question though is if the best approach is to consistently challenge believers to believe God and do what He says, or to just have some big revival event once a year where we encourage them to finally get right. I fear that sometimes knowing the big event is coming gives some carnal Christians an excuse to put off growth rather than living consistent lives. BTW, I am not against having a special speaker in to bring a challenge, I am just raising some questions.
Good Point Joe (no doubt that comes right from the scriptures). The big question though is if the best approach is to consistently challenge believers to believe God and do what He says, or to just have some big revival event once a year where we encourage them to finally get right. I fear that sometimes knowing the big event is coming gives some carnal Christians an excuse to put off growth rather than living consistent lives. BTW, I am not against having a special speaker in to bring a challenge, I am just raising some questions.
It appears that the Israelites were more consumed with their stomachs than their hearts. Their backsliding appears to be for economic reasons, falling before fertility gods, rather than trusting the true and living God who must be believed on and depended on by faith, not sight. The American church as well as those who come to America from other countries fall before the god of covetousness which is idolatry. The big word is Money. You cannot fall before God and Money at the same time and have the right results.
David Little
Discussion