Revival
Repent: Revival is a powerful phenomenon that transforms individuals, communities, and even entire nations. However, true revival cannot happen without genuine repentance. Repentance is a crucial step that precedes revival and is essential for experiencing the fullness of God’s grace and power. Repentance is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change of action. It involves acknowledging our sin and turning away from it, seeking forgiveness and restoration from God. Without genuine repentance, revival becomes superficial and short-lived. The history of revivals shows that repentance is a key ingredient for their success. The Great Awakening in America, which began in the 1730s, was a period of spiritual revival marked by powerful preaching, deep conviction of sin, and genuine repentance. People were moved to their core and fell on their knees, confessing their sins and seeking forgiveness. As a result, there was a transformation in their lives, families, and society as a whole. Similarly, the early church experienced revival through repentance. In the book of Acts, we read about the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and they began to speak in other tongues. Peter preached a powerful sermon, and the people were cut to the heart, asking what they needed to do to be saved. Peter’s response was clear: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” — Acts 2:38. Many people repented and were baptized, and the church grew rapidly. Revival cannot be manufactured or engineered by human effort. It is a sovereign work of God, and He requires genuine repentance before He brings about revival. The prophet Joel called on the people to “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” — Joel 2:13. The message of repentance is a call to return to God, to seek His face, and to turn away from sin. This is the only way that revival can take place.
Revival = Missionaries: When people’s hearts are awakened to the truth and transformative power of the Gospel, it often leads to a renewed passion for sharing that truth with others. In the early church, for example, we see that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost led to a boldness and fervor in proclaiming the Good News that eventually spread throughout the world.
Similarly, the Great Awakening revival in America during the 18th century led to a surge in missionary activity, as preachers such as David Brainerd and Jonathan Edwards saw the urgency of taking the Gospel to those who had not yet heard it. This resulted in the founding of many mission societies, such as the Baptist Missionary Society and the London Missionary Society, which sent out countless missionaries to places such as India, China, and Africa. Revival also often sparks cultural changes, as people are transformed by the power of the Gospel and begin to live out its principles in their daily lives. The Great Awakening had a significant impact on American culture, for example, as it challenged the prevailing view that faith in God was a private matter and encouraged people to live out their faith in public. This led to a renewed emphasis on morality and virtue, as well as a push for social reform. In short, revival can be a powerful catalyst for missionary activity and cultural change. When people’s hearts are awakened to the truth and transformative power of the Gospel, they are often moved to share that truth with others and to live out its principles in their daily lives. As we seek revival in our own time, we must be mindful to share the light of Christ with those around us and boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.
Asbury College: The revival that took place at Asbury College in 1970 (yes, it happened before) is a powerful example of how revival can bring about transformative change in individuals and a nation. During that time, students and faculty at Asbury were filled with a renewed passion for Christ, and the impact of that revival rippled out into the surrounding community and beyond. One of the ways that revival can combat cultural trends and beliefs that are contrary to the Bible is by renewing people’s hearts and minds with the truth of God’s Word. Many churches have fallen for secular beliefs that are in direct opposition to the teachings of Scripture. It is only through a genuine revival of the Church that we can hope to see a reversal of these trends and a return to God. Revival sparks a renewed passion for evangelism and missionary activity, which in turn can lead to a cultural shift as more and more people are won to Christ and begin living passionately for Him. The impact of revival at Asbury College was felt not only in the lives of individual believers, but also in the broader society. Many of the students and faculty who experienced the revival went on to become leaders in the Church and in other areas of society, bringing the transformative power of the Gospel into their spheres of influence. This is a powerful example of how revival can bring about cultural change from the grassroots up, as individuals are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and go out into the world as ambassadors for Christ. America is in dire need of revival today. We are living in a time when many of the foundational principles of our faith are being called into question, and we are seeing a rising tide of secularism and moral relativism that threatens to erode the very fabric of our society. But we believe that just as the revival at Asbury College brought about transformative change in its time (1970), so too can revival in our own day spark a cultural shift that leads us back to the truth and the principles of God’s Word.
Praise God revival is starting again! Asbury College (2023) is a great example of revival that is so desperately needed in America to combat the evil that has permeated every aspect of society. We pray, let the fire grow and consume the nations with the purifying Word of truth!
In Him,
Tim and Will