25 Powerful Bible Verses about Revival
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Revival. We’ve all heard this word. It’s used for everything from cosmetics which promise to revitalize your skin to supposed “Spirit-filled” tent meetings. Some say revival happens in our hearts; others say revival is thrust upon someone or something. Which is it?
According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, revival can mean one of four things. We will focus on these three: “a return to a state of activity,” “a renewed attention to spiritual matters and concerns,” and “recovery of life after death.”
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When Christians Talk about Revival, What Do We Mean?
As we look into revival, we must remember it is the Lord God who is the initiator. Although the word revival is not written in the New Testament, three key New Testament passages direct our focus to the gist of what Christians usually mean when we speak of revival: Ephesians 2:1, 5, and Colossians 2:13. We were indeed “dead in our trespasses,” but because of Jesus, we are alive. Therefore, the death we speak of when we refer to revival in contemporary terms is spiritual. If a person does not experience the spiritual revival as just mentioned — as one coming to life from spiritual death — they will dwell in hell after their earthly life is over.
There is a form of revival for believers who have fallen into a state of complacency. The first two Webster’s definitions listed above would speak to that form of revival. We Christians are human, and we are still sinners though we have been saved by grace. We can get prideful, thinking that as long as we’re saved, we can glide through life. The Lord Jesus did not promise us a trouble-free life. In fact, He promised the opposite when He said we would have tribulation in this life (John 16:33a). The Christian life is hard work, yet with a glorious eternal reward—heaven forever in the presence of the Lord.
We face opposition from unbelievers, which often includes family, and we are not exempt from illness or loss. But Jesus died for us so we may live life abundantly (John 10:10) and then with Him forever. That’s good news, and when we consider anything we face here is but a sliver of the glory we will enjoy in eternity, we can rejoice (2 Corinthians 4:17).
The opposition, illness, or the loss of loved ones (unbelieving loved ones especially), among many other things may cause us to lose our heart for revival. But Jesus said to take heart, for He has overcome the world and all its ills (John 16:33b).
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What Will True Revival Look Like in the Church?
There is a belief among some that holding a “revival” (as in a meeting) will exhort the Holy Spirit to come and do His work in people. Yes, we do want the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives and to usher people into the kingdom of God. He is always working (Psalm 121:4). But we cannot, nor must we expect we can “order” Him to do something, even with our best intentions. God’s will is not ours and we should not expect to understand His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must approach the Lord with reverent awe and with expectancy, not expectation, as if we can tell the Lord what to do. He is sovereign, and what we can expect is He will do that which brings Him glory.
For true revival to come to the church and to other people, we must prayerfully seek the Lord and bow to His will. And we must intercede in prayer for those who no longer walk with Jesus or do not know Him as Lord.
Davy Ellison, of the Irish Baptist College, points out four ways to seek revival of our sin-sick and world-weary souls. All regard King Josiah’s reforms as seen in 2 Kings 22-23:
1. Make the Bible the core of everything we do — not just individually but corporately as His church.
2. Genuine repentance. God recognizes true repentance, yet we learn how it looks through Josiah’s response to hearing the book of the law. Godly action follows true repentance.
3. Active obedience. Have we removed any idols which hold a place in our hearts above our reverence for and obedience to God?
4. Remember our salvation. As we celebrate the Lord’s table (communion), we pause to pray and remember what Jesus has done for us. God wants us to remember and cherish our salvation.
Harry Reeder states, “A God-given, heaven-sent revival is desperately needed. But are we desperate for God’s sovereign, soul-searching, and life-changing grace to move?”
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25 Verses about Revival, and How They Can Encourage and Challenge Us
Now that we have considered what constitutes true revival, let’s look at some powerful Bible verses which encourage and challenge us toward revival.
Isaiah 57:15 is good verse to commence our study of revival.
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Italics added)
This is God speaking directly through the prophet Isaiah. God is the One who is high and lifted up, and He is eternal and holy. Not only does He live in the highest heaven (the high and holy place), but He also lives with a person who is repentant (contrite) and humble (lowly spirit).
God is with the person, even the lowly person, to revive his spirit and his heart.
When we repent with a contrite heart and with all humility, God will indeed revive us. The word, revive, here, is the Hebrew word, Qal, which means to be restored to life. What an encouraging passage.
Other verses and passages which speak of revival include:
Pray, repent, seek His face, and He will hear, forgive, and restore.
Psalm 51:2, 7, 10
David’s contrite heart and lowly spirit are displayed as he asks the Lord to cleanse him.
Psalm 80:3, 7, 18-19
Seek the Lord’s favor for restoration of His people. And because we belong to the church, we too are His people.
Psalm 85:4, 5, 6
Seek forgiveness and for God to revive the people for His glory.
“Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!”
Psalm 119:25, 37, 40, 88, 107, 156, 159
We should bear our souls before the Lord and ask for life according to God’s word, His love, and His mercy.
Ask the Lord for restoration to Himself.
Habakkuk requests God’s mercy and that He be known for it. Thank God for His mercy and magnify His name because of it.
The Lord provided physical and spiritual revival.
Seek first God’s kingdom. Do not worry, for He will give you all you need.
Is there any greater look at revival than through what Jesus did for us?
A call to repent and turn to God, and God would send Jesus.
When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
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A Prayer for God to Use Us to Bring about Revival
Lord God,
We tend toward laziness. It’s too easy to feel safe in our salvation while neglecting our call to share the good news with a lost and dying world. Please forgive us. Will You bring us out of our unfruitful comfort zones and turn our hearts to be wholly true to You? Revive us, Father, and as You work in us, work through us for Your perfect and glorious purposes. Bring revival as only You can and do it for Your great name and for Your kingdom. Bring many to repentance and faith so they may bring glory to You. You deserve our complete trust and faith. Bring revival, Lord!
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
If we pray for revival, the Lord will certainly show us a positive answer. But be prepared to get busy! Ask the Lord to allow you to get in on what only He can do. We cannot control anyone’s decisions, but we can share the good news and show the love of Christ to them. It is the Lord God who increases the harvest of His righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10; James 3:18). This is not a time to be lazy or complacent. Revival is for God’s glory, and His glory is our call. May He bless your efforts to share the good news. May He revive our hearts.
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