How Does True Revival Come?

 

          Not long ago, in my reading, I encountered a quote, which was actually a question posed by the late teacher and author Leonard Ravenhill.  (Learn more about Ravenhill by following this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Ravenhill ) Writing more than 50 years ago, he asks:

               What are we Christians doing?  To use a very tattered phrase, are we just

               ‘playing church?’  With all our revival campaigns, are we getting folks

                into biblical regeneration?  Is it really a comfort to know that the recent

                converts will become just like us?  What if they are as lazy and

                self-excusing in the matter of personal devotion to Jesus and active

                engagement in soul-wining as the rest of our listed church members?  Is

                that a thrilling thought?  Or is it a spine-chilling one?  If ‘like produces like,’

                does this prospect of the new additions to the church furrow our brows or

                flood our hearts with joy?” (Leonard Ravenhill; Revival Praying; 29)

Food is a good and desirable thing.  We likely have our personal favorites.  I for one, really like Mexican food.  But when I am already full or when I am sick I don’t want any Mexican food.  However, when I am hungry, my mouth waters at the thought of tacos, tamales, and enchiladas!  I also like to get a good night’s sleep each night, but when I wake up well-rested, taking a nap is the furthest thing from my mind.  However, the night before I yawned and stumbled to bed, anxious to put my head on my pillow and close my eyes.  The difference is in the appetites.  Both you and I have a daily appetite for food and sleep.  However, I am not so sure we have a strong, compelling, and passionate appetite to see revival.

          We are not opposed to the concept of revival nor to seeing it take place; but we are also not necessarily inclined or motivated to work toward aiding it in taking place either.  In many cases we are, as Ravenhill says, “just playing church.”  He calls them out for this lackadaisical approach which stems from a lackadaisical attitude. 

           In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things have become new.”  The “regenerate,” according to the New Testament standards, will never be content to merely “play church.”  Salvation is far too real and earth-shattering for them.  It seems like they are a different person now; and indeed they are!

          There is an old hymn written by B. B. McKinney nearly a hundred years ago entitled “Lord, Send Revival.”  The chorus of that hymn says “Lord, send a revival, Lord send a revival, Lord send a revival, and let it begin in me.”  We have been repeatedly taught that revival should begin with us.  However, my observation over 20 years in ministry, is that most people could more accurately sing “Lord send a revival, and let it begin with anyone else but me.”  Many readily point out the ways others need to change but are not so quick to identify and then change problems within themselves.

          When Ravenhill asks “Is it really a comfort to know that the recent converts will become just like us?” he is pointing to the inherent danger of existing believers negatively influencing new believers.  One of the saddest things I have ever observed – and I have done so on a number of occasions – is to see new believers lose their enthusiasm and become complacent and even spiritually lazy.  Most always, one of the biggest contributing factors is their observation of other Christians.  

          Ravenhill goes on to write that they are prone to “be self-excusing in the matter of personal devotion to Jesus and active engagement in soul-winning as the rest of the ‘listed’ church members.”  It is hard to be the only one with enthusiasm.  So often the one possessing enthusiasm is brought down by those who don’t have it.  This negative pier-pressure can even be leveled against pastors.  In one former church I served as pastor, a person commented positively one day about my enthusiasm.  Another person quickly responded to her that ‘he will soon figure out how we do things around here.’  And sadly, that lady was correct.

          What is the answer for the problem Ravenhill identifies?  It is the problem we have probably all observed.  I believe people need to become biblically literate and devote themselves to the basic and fundamental practices they have known from the beginning.  There is nothing any more foundational to the Christian life than Bible study, prayer, and church gatherings yet all too many of our folks don’t seem to know that at best, and at worst don’t seem to care.

          At a time when the church of the Lord Jesus ought to be energized and magnified it is perhaps at its weakest point.  These days simply watching the evening news should cause us to pick up our swords (Bibles) and be ready to go to war!  But sadly we are preoccupied with any number of things which drain us and severely hinder us from having the enthusiasm we might have had for the things of God.  Well, the devil is more than happy to bring us a spiritual blanket, prop up our feet, serve us snacks, and keep us comfortable and away from doing God’s work.

          If revival is to come to our homes, our churches, and our nation it is going to come when we say goodbye to our zones of comfort and become equipped, brave, and willing to engage the culture around us which is increasingly marching lock-step with the enemy.  Satan’s lies are hurling all around the church today and we are scared to death to try and engage the culture because we are low on confidence in “Christ our Warrior’ who has already conquered sin, death, and the grave.  All we need to do to get genuinely revived is spend some time thinking about many of the things we already know.   Indeed, this is how revival comes. 

In Christ, 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor