What Is a Revival?
Share
Perhaps you’ve heard the word “revival” and been confused — is it a church meeting? An event? A worship service gone wild?
Flipping through books as a child, I assumed from the pictures that a revival had to be in a tent with hordes of people gathered before a robed man, his finger pointing heavenward. Of course, a tent has nothing to do with it, but to my child’s perspective, the tent was everything.
But research reveals revivals have been going on since the ancient days, from the time of Moses to two months ago on a college campus in Kentucky. Some describe it as a glimpse of heaven on earth — children of the Lord dancing and singing in perfect freedom, awash in joy with hearts afire for the Risen Christ. Others use the term to describe vastly renewed or increased spiritual interest, with new believers cropping up in droves.
So what is a revival? Put simply, a revival is typically a gathering of Christians that reflects an urgent and bold spiritual awakening, where hearts and lives are transformed and people commit themselves anew to following Jesus.
What Does "Revival" Mean?
The word revival combines two Latin words, “vivo,” meaning to live, and “re” meaning again. It’s like a rebirth or a re-awakening, an invigorating experience where the Holy Spirit moves freely among believers, setting their hearts on fire for the Lord.
For a good description of a revival, take a look at Acts 2, the Day of Pentecost, when the believers were gathered together and the Holy Spirit settled on them. They began to speak in other tongues, and their teaching became contagious, drawing 3,000 into the Christian flock that day.
Revivals can look different. People might pray individually or together at a revival, or begin to sing, dance, or otherwise express joy as they worship God. Repentance of sin is a huge theme, as people become painfully aware of the separation between themselves and God and desperately desire to renew their connection and become holy once more. Powerful evangelism occurs, as does reconciliation and forgiveness. Joy flows seamlessly through the people as pain, despair, and brokenness give way to freedom in Christ.
A person can certainly experience revival individually, but typically it is not as evident or groundbreaking when witnessed in one person as in several thousand gathered together. Usually revival in an individual is called a spiritual awakening or a spiritual renewal, and it is a powerful moment in that person’s life when they commit — or recommit — themselves to the Lord. But when that individual connects with another individual who also surrenders to the will of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit begins to move and transform them, that spark can become a fire – and ultimately an explosion among believers.
That explosion is what we typically refer to as a revival: when a group surrenders to the Spirit so completely that hearts and lives are changed and drawn to Christ in a tidal wave of Christian renewal, drawing others to Christ along with them.
What Is the History of Religious Revival in America?
There have been a number of mass revivals since the start of America. One, known as the First Great Awakening, occurred around 1730-1740 in the American colonies after a few key preachers grew passionate about genuine repentance and belief in Almighty God after society had grown more lukewarm in their beliefs. While many pilgrims initially came to America hungry for religious freedom, their zeal quieted as the years passed. But the fervor of the Holy Spirit through preachers like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, and John and Charles Wesley caught the hearts of millions and drew many to the concept of personal salvation.
Then, in the 1820-1850s, America experienced the Second Great Awakening. The nation, which had settled down after the Revolution, began creeping toward a more sinful culture, and preachers led many back to holiness and righteousness. It had a tremendous impact on American society and initiated a number of social reforms, such as temperance, the anti-slavery movement, and women’s rights. It added huge numbers to the Baptist and Methodist denominations.
Another revival in 1857-1858 was called the Businessman’s Revival, culminating in 10,000 men praying daily at lunchtime.
Other revivals occurred — after the Civil War, among returning soldiers; in bigger cities like Chicago, particularly after the Chicago Fire of 1871; in Los Angeles between 1906-1915 sparking the Pentecostal movement; on university campuses in the early part of the 20th century; Billy Graham's crusades, and then the Charismatic Renewal and Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the “Asbury Revival,” which started at Asbury University in Kentucky Feb. 8, 2023, and lasted more than two weeks, drew upwards of 70,000 people to participate in the mass event, largely comprising Generation Z.
Do We See Revivals Anywhere in the Bible?
We see revivals throughout the Bible. In the book of Exodus, after the people rebelled and worshipped a golden calf when Moses took such a long time on Mount Sinai, Moses and the people repented and begged God for mercy. Moses’s intercession and their mass worship is one example of a revival in the Old Testament.
Likewise, in Book of Jonah, we know the prophet Jonah fled God instead of preaching God’s word to the people of Nineveh. But after he was swallowed by a whale, Jonah changed his mind and went to Nineveh. The Ninevites ultimately received his message with gladness and repented, leading to revival of that city. Other revivals in the Old Testament came during the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
In the New Testament, a great revival resulted from John the Baptist’s preaching in the wilderness as he paved the way for Jesus. Revival occurred under Jesus and his disciples as he taught and performed miracles. Revivals blossomed among early Christians, such as the revival in Samaria under Philip, in Caesarea under Peter, and throughout Paul’s missionary journeys.
Bible Verses about Revival
Verses abound throughout Scripture on the concept of revival, particularly about spiritual awakening and mass recommitment to the Lord among the people. Here are a few key verses:
2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Isaiah 57:15, “For this is what the high and exalted One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
Joel 2:28-32, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved….”
John 16:7, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
James 4:8, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
A Prayer for Revival in Our Communities
Just as in John 3:3 Jesus said no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again, we know Jesus is the way to heaven and salvation. Because of this, it is critically important that all people have the opportunity to know about Jesus. While we spread Jesus to others by sharing the Gospel, a revival is a fast and effective way to bring in many new believers. Therefore, let us lift up this prayer to the Lord:
Almighty God,
Thank you for the Holy Spirit that you give each of us. Help us to surrender to Your Spirit so You can move through us in mighty and powerful ways. Help ignite the flame of Your Presence in each one of us in an explosion of Your holy presence. Turn our hearts and minds to You and help us to repent of our sins and tear down the walls that divide us from You. Help a wave of revival to wash over our cities and towns now and forevermore until all can hear Your word.
Amen.
Just as revival saved so many souls in days of old, it can continue to do the same today. Let us pray for revival.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/James Coleman
