“Revival” and “revivals” are not necessarily the same thing.
A revival could refer to a series of special church services where preaching, singing and fellowship took place. Revival, on the other hand, could be defined as an experience or season in the life of an individual, or a church, where a closer walk with God, a greater emphasis on holiness, an increased burden for lost people, a renewed fervency in prayer and a fresh hunger for God’s word become the new way of living.
I have experienced several seasons of revival in my life, and I have been in churches where revival took place.
Here are five observable realities I notice when revival is happening in my life:
1. Revival brings a greater sensitivity to sin: Revival makes me more aware of my shortcomings. When a Christian sees how he or she falls short of the glory of God, that is an indicator that the Spirit of God is at work in our lives. Instead of giving way to despair, we must run to Christ and fall on the mercy He has shown us on the cross. This sensitivity can also serve as a prompting to seek greater sanctification and perhaps even reconciliation with those we may have offended. When we mostly notice the sins of others, that is an indication that we need revival.
2. More faithful personal evangelism: One indicator of revival in King David’s life, as seen in Psalm 51, was a concern for people who were far from God. After David confessed his sin to God he prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.” One fruit of personal revival is an increased concern for unsaved people. Too often I do evangelism on a schedule instead of from a place of sensitivity to the work of the Spirit and a love for lost people. If you are not regularly and actively sharing your faith, you need revival.
3. More fervent prayer life: When I am in a season of personal revival, I notice an increased fervency in prayer. Someone said that we should pray out loud so we can hear the sound of our own voice to determine if we are even remotely engaged and serious about our concerns. I have found that practice helpful as it is easy to pray routine prayers – as Don Whitney has said, “saying the same old things about the same old things.” Revival sharpens our prayer life.
4. Greater hope in God’s work: The Apostle Paul encourages the Galatian Christians with these words: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9). There are numerous ways that those in ministry leadership can grow tired in our ministries, but one of the quickest ways is when we labor and do not see results. Revival seems to buoy our confidence that God is at work even when we cannot see the fruit.
5. Increased love for God’s people: One clear evidence of revival in the life of a Christian is that we have a greater love for God’s people. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). In revival we seem to be enabled to have a greater capacity for love and patience with fellow children of God. God is glorified in this.
There is certainly more that could be said about the fruit of living a revived life. Those who live in a spirit of revival will demonstrate a greater patience with lost people, the ability to be less easily annoyed, a stronger desire to spend time with God in His word, a greater appreciation for the local church, a stronger confidence in God’s provision and more. This short list, however, may be enough to prompt pastors, elders and ministry leaders to sense the need for revival in our own lives and to pray with the songwriter of old that God might “revive us again, fill each heart with his love, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above.”
