Revival and the Local Church
Spring 2023
When Noah exited the Ark, God promised, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). God orders the world by seasons.
What is true of the natural world, is true spiritually. Every Christian, church, and denomination—if they advance at all—go through seasons. Seasons are a sign of life.
America’s greatest theologian, Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), believed that the advance of the Church was largely through unusual periods of blessing. He said, “Though there be a more constant influence of God’s Spirit always in some degree attending his ordinances; yet the way in which the greatest things have been done towards carrying on this work, always have been by remarkable effusions, at special seasons of mercy.”
Note what he said. The greatest advances of the work of God are always by remarkable effusions of the power of God at special seasons of mercy. No local church enjoys a uniform experience of outward signs of divine favor. What is true of individual Christians is true of local churches. We are weak and sinful, and incapable of a perfectly consistent and vibrant spiritual life. As a result, when the fires burn low and the life of the church is dim, it is necessary to seek God that He might bring His people out of their winter season and into a spiritual summer of growth and harvest.
These seasons of awakening—which we call revival—are peppered throughout Church history. Sometimes the revival is part of a larger movement, such as the Protestant Reformation. At other times it is very localized. Edwards’ grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, testified to—what he called—five harvests during his ministry. These were definite spiritual awakenings within his community.
Recognizing revival in the local church
In general, revival is a sovereign work of God, in answer to the prayers of God’s people, that results in an enlivening Christian experience in the heart of believers. Patterns of church attendance increase, and desires for the things of God are multiplied. Subsequently, there is less energy given to carnal things, more devotion to prayer, study of the Word, and evangelism.
In his book, “The Great Awakening”, Joseph Tracy records scores of accounts of what happened in local churches. Some were greatly influenced by evangelists like George Whitefield. But other churches seemed to be stirred simply by the news of what God was doing elsewhere. Detailing the account of the work of God in Wrentham, New England (1741), we learn that “The powerful awakenings and convictions on persons’ minds spread from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, so that by midsummer there were instances in all parts of the town under great concern to know what they should do to be saved. Yea, it appeared to us, so far as we could observe in our respective parishes, that very few houses, if any in the town, were passed by and left without some observable spiritual concern on some or other of the family. Our people, in general, became much more attentive in time of public worship. Their countenances being generally solemn, listening, and tender, showed their extraordinary appetite for the word; and it became a very common thing with us to have a great part of the assembly in tears at hearing the word, and especially when they heard the glad tidings of the gospel, and they were invited to rest their weary souls in Christ the Saviour. While we endeavoured with great plainness to show unto sinners their guilt and danger, and to open the awful contents of the law to them, these truths would often have their proper effect, in alarming guilty consciences, and filling the minds of many with great concern for their own souls; and then the gospel news of a Saviour, and the freeness of divine grace, would marvellously melt a great part of our congregations into tears, and persuade them, by divine help, to seek the great salvation.”
The report continues, “Our people grew very desirous of lectures, that they might have more frequent opportunities for spiritual instruction, and to join in social worship; where we found God often bestowed his blessing. Many of our people, living three or four miles or more from our places of public worship, are necessitated to tarry at or near about the meetinghouses, through the intermission, between forenoon and afternoon exercises; and there used to be little else but vain and worldly talk among most. But upon the late remarkable divine influence on people's minds, there was a wonderful change in this regard among, we think, the greatest part of our people. It became a common thing for them to retire in small companies to different places, for religious conferences or reading, and sometimes these exercises were mixed. And more lately there are several societies that spend part of the intermission in praying, reading, and singing together. So that on many accounts the intermission, as well as time of public exercises of God's worship, is very remarkably holy to the Lord, esteemed honorable, and a great delight unto the more serious among us. And even the time of travel to and from our places of public worship has often been sweetly redeemed for pious discourse between two or three, as they walk in company together.”
This account helpfully illustrates what happens during revival. There is a greater attentiveness to God’s Word, and greater influence upon believers and unbelievers as they hear the Word, often being moved to tears. New meetings also spring up because of the increased hunger. There is more prayer, singing, fellowship, and spiritual discussion which permeates all of life.
Setting our sails for revival in the local church
Although global and national revival is desirable, it is the experience of revival in the local church that we need to bring before God in prayer as a matter of urgency.
William Burns (1779-1859), pastor of Kilsyth in Scotland, witnessed revival in his congregation and district. When he was asked to speak on “The Mode of Conducting a Revival,” he gave several points of practical advice. I cannot relay his sermon in full, but I will touch on three points and make some practical suggestions:
1. Holiness to the Lord should be inscribed upon all and everyone engaged in such a work…all who bear the vessels of the sanctuary should be holy.
This is a call to look inwardly. If we desire spiritual awakening in our local congregation we must examine our own hearts for any carnality and worldliness that lives unchallenged in our lives. Sometimes, like Hezekiah, we have to realize that the temple of God has become cluttered with unbiblical things and it needs to be removed (2 Kings 18:4). In place of such, we cultivate a sincere and sober walk with God.
2. Prayer, unceasing and earnest, is that wherein the great strength of a revival of religion lieth. This it is which draweth down the pure, life-giving, animating influence which sets all hearts in motion…the concert of united and continued and persevering prayer for the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit requires to be earnestly pressed and embraced. It has been remarked, as an important and encouraging fact in the history of the revivals with which we are best acquainted, that the moving spring of them all has been prayer—believing, earnest, united.
This is a call to meet consistently. Both at church and at home, we must attend the means God has used in the past. We must physically gather together and consistently pray for the outpouring of the Spirit, power in our evangelistic efforts, the unction of God upon the preached Word, and divine help in preparing another generation of preachers.
3. Another means of carrying forward revivals is the appointment of days of fasting and of thanksgiving.
This is a call to pray urgently. When we are struggling with spiritual barrenness, when we see a lack of forward progress, when the enemy seems to be taking more ground, and causes of discouragement seem to be multiplying, what do we do? Give ourselves to seasons of urgent prayer. Our sovereign God appoints winter seasons, not to bring us to despair, but to put us on our knees that hope might be inflamed afresh. However, when was the last time you fasted and prayed? Or when was the last time your church had a day of prayer? Given the current spiritual climate, should they not be more common?
Charles Spurgeon said, “We never do anything in this world until we set our faces thoroughly to it. The warriors who win battles are those who are resolved to conquer or die. The heroes who emancipate nations are those who count no hazards and reckon no odds, but are resolved that the yoke shall be broken from the neck of their country. The merchants who prosper in this world are those who do their business with all their hearts, and watch for wealth with eagerness. The half-hearted man is nowhere in the race of life.”
Truth be told, God is more willing to pour out His Spirit than we are to seek for it. May God enliven us to see the coldness and deadness of our hearts, and to seek Him for genuine revival.
Rev. Armen Thomassian
Minister of Faith FPC, Greenville, SC