What is Revival?

Stephen Olford has an excellent definition of revival:

“the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith and obedience.”

2 Chronicles 7:14, given to God’s people, lists four conditions necessary for revival.  They are:

1. humble yourselves;
2. seek My face;
3. pray; and,
4. turn from your wicked ways.

Once we meet these conditions, the Lord promises:

1. to hear from heaven;
2. to forgive our sin; and,
3. to heal our land.

Revival is not the evangelistic “tent meetings” of yesteryear.  While the mass conversion of unbelievers is a joyful experience and much-needed ministry, it is not revival, since one must be “vived” (alive) in order to be “re-vived” (made alive again).

Neither is revival the nightly sermons given in a church by a guest preacher for one week out of the year.  While these types of meetings can lead to revival, most often they serve to renew believers (and the church) in their faith by encouraging them with preaching/teaching, prayer, testimonies, and signs and wonders.

Rather, revival is the hard work of a people–of God’s own people–convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sinfulness.  It is a people realizing they have lost their first love, becoming complacent.  Realizing they have become too much like the world, losing their ability to be salt and light.

Revival is God’s people doing business with the Lord–repenting of their sins, asking Him for forgiveness, and making a renewed commitment to keep His commands.  And, it is the Lord extending forgiveness, pouring out His Spirit, and healing the land.  It is the Lord renewing a right spirit within us.  It is the Lord making all things new.