Sponsor |  Mgbobi | Jan 15, 1:35pm | When I read acts, I am stricken in my heart. There were so many miracles and healing. People were saved by the thousands, and the character of Believers was amazing. (selling all and sharing all) What we are now is so very far away from that. You can call it what ever you want to, but we need to change, and we need to do it fast. Jesus actually said "these things and greater shall you do because I am going to the father" (referring to the miracle power of Jesus) There is so much that can be done that isn't being done. ~150,000 people died today and its possible that more than 80% were not Christian by the Bibles definition.
Revival is a word meaning to revive or awaken (from the dead) This is what the church needs. I don't think however that revival is a bunch of people running down to one city or another from all over the country to attend a church were a "revival" has happened. Revival is when You or me, as an individual, get 100% sold out on God. Revival happens when we tell God "no matter what you tell me to do, I'll do it". Revival to me is when we get sick of seeking "prosperity" and say "God prosper your kingdom at my expense today". That is revival to me, and that is what I believe the Bible teaches is the normal Christian life. |
|
| 
Sponsor | | Ewtn2000 | Jan 16, 7:05am | | So back to the question at hand. Is the word Revival in Scripture. If not, are the Churches who then have revivals, going against scripture? |
|
|
Sponsor | | Mgbobi | Jan 18, 1:15am | | Revival is an idea, you have to look for more than just the word in scripture, you have to see if the idea is represented. Sometimes for the sake of convenience we sum up complicated doctrines into one word. (such as Trinity) This is our way of not complicating an already settled issue for many. Revival as an idea is a mass turning of hearts to God in repentance and a change of behavior that spreads rapidly through a community because of fearing God and seeking his ways. Ezra, Josiah, and Hezekiah all caused "revival" like experiences in Israel. For a new testament justification, look to Revelations and the letter to the church of Ephesus (calls for a return to their first love). Also, look to the letter to Sardis; it literally says to "Wake up! strengthen what remains and is about to die". This is a very urgent cry. Acts also presents a time of "revival" when the early church was growing by leaps and bounds and meeting _every day_. They were giving amazing amounts to the Church and miracles were being done left and right. Now if that is not revival, then I don't know what is. |
|
|
Sponsor | | Ewtn2000 | Jan 18, 6:13am | | "...you have to look for more than just the word in scripture..." Correct, TY Mgbobi, perhaps we should all remember that. |
|
| 
|  fireforchrist | Jan 25, 10:06pm | For a real example of Revival read this by Finney or at least read the first chapter though it does not really get into revival until later.
books.google.com/books [books.google.com/books]
I would also recommend this book of lectures on revival. I think the first one is very good if you do not read anything else I have here read this.
books.google.com/books [books.google.com/books]
This web page covers the history of terminology of Revival. theoldtimegospel.org/revival/rev_mess02.html [theoldtimegospel.org/revival/rev_mess02.html]
Revival has been called a number of things such as awakening, fire, fullness, glory, and many other things. The fact that there is such a panorama of words to describe this pentecostal type of occurrence is because it is so indescribable and supra natural and it never is exactly the same two times in a row. One thing that a Revival always is accompanied by, is repentance. In fact a revival is preceded and followed by repentance with everything in between made up of repentance.
The meaning behind the word revival is scriptural even if the term is not in the Bible.
The Bible has the occurrences such as what happened at Pentecost, prophesy, healing, mass conversion, Nations or Cities all repenting at once, and the glory of God's presence such that people fall on their faces before him. Revival is just a word to describe those movements of God which are extraordinary, not the norm.
Today Revival has come to be an eclectic word and it is misused when something humanity is doing (hype)is called revival. |
|
| |<1-10 | Is "Revival" biblical? History? Needed? | | |
You need to Sign-up for StumbleUpon to post to this forum
| |
Apologetics → Discussion