Know the Holy Spirit: Revival

On Wednesdays we “walk in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today is our next to last post in this short survey of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology): Knowing the Holy Spirit- Revival. Previous posts include:
Know the Holy Spirit: Week 1
​Know the Holy Spirit’s Story (2)
Know the Holy Spirit: Covenant (3)
Know the Holy Spirit: Union with Christ (4)
Spiritual Gifts-Why I am an (open) cessationist (5)
Know the Holy Spirit: Help for Spiritual Growth (6)
Know the Holy Spirit: Sanctification (7)

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                                         Introduction
North Korea is the worst place on earth for Christians, ranking number one for Christian persecution. But in 1907, less than 120 years ago, a movement that had been building for years culminated in the Pyongyang Revival. In January of that year, missionary William Blair and the first Korean Presbyterian minister Kil Sun-joo led tens of thousands in mass confession of sins, deep repentance, emotional and public prayers, and a renewal in commitment to live for Christ. The movement launched a wave of church growth across the Korean Peninsula and contributed to the regional Christian strength now seen in places like S. Korea and Singapore. The story of how N Korea moved from revival to persecution is for another time (It includes Japanese occupation and Christian refusal to participate in emperor worship, making them political enemies, the rise of communism (which is atheistic), and the systematic campaign to eliminate Christians in the 1950’s). More on the revival can be heard in this interview with Collin Hansen, or in his book “A God-sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir.”
 
The extreme example of Pyongyang is an invitation to wrestle with the nature of revival, and the question of knowing the Holy Spirit through revival. We will approach the topic from a Biblical and reformed perspective, one that will lead us to join the prophet Habakkuk praying, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known….” (Habakkuk 3:2)

​                 What Revival is not... and what is Revival
Abuses and misuse of Biblical revival are easy to unearth and should be lamented, movements disguised as renewal but serve the purposes of people, programs, personalities, or profit. From the “holy laughter” of the Toronto blessing (1994) or the New Apostolic Reformation (ongoing) promoting prophetic decrees, dominion theology, and name it/ claim it practices. The manipulative leadership and practices of these false movements should be lamented, driving us to the joy of discovering Biblical revival and knowing the Holy Spirit through His work.
 
Biblical revival is not an event that man manufactures but a result of God’s sovereign appointment where the Holy Spirit works in extra-ordinary ways through God’s ordinary means of grace. Jonathan Edwards, a key figure during America's First Great Awakening, described true revival as “a surprising work of God” that led to "gospel clarity, deep repentance, and transformed lives.”  Charles Spurgeon said, “We cannot create a revival, but we can pray that God would be pleased to send it.” 

Lord,  in the midst of the years, revive your work.

                    The Spirit and the Word
True revival is Scripture-centered, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-empowered, producing holiness and not spiritual hype.
 
Consider Ezekiel 37:1-10. In Ezekiel's vision, God sovereignly called him to a valley of dry bones, commanding the prophet to speak His word to the desolate scene. In faith, Ezekiel spoke God’s Word. By the Holy Spirit, the bones were revived- resurrected to life! The work of God in reviving His people is marked by grace alone, through the Spirit’s work through God's word, awakening the  dead and renewing the spiritually asleep for the conviction of sin and cultivation of fruitful lives set apart for the glory of Jesus and His kingdom.
 
Biblical revival always includes the centrality of God’s Word and the Spirit’s use of Scripture. Consider ten examples from the book of Acts, a book often described as a history of the Holy Spirit:
 
1- Pentecost was foreseen, prophesied, by the Word (2:16).
2- Receiving God's Word expanded the church (2:41).
3- Signs & Wonders gave authority to the apostles as church centered on their teaching as God's word (2:43).
4- “The Word of God increased” as disciples were added to the church (6:7).
5- Those scattered from persecution “went about preaching the Word…” (8:4).
6- “The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the Word” (10:44).
7- “The Word of God increased and multiplied” (12:24).
8- In evangelism “Paul reasoned from the Scriptures” (17:2).
9- The Word of the Lord was preached for two years, until “all he residents of Asia” heard it (19:10). The Word of the Lord continued to “prevail and advance mightily.” (19:20)
10- The word of God advanced the Kingdom of God “unhindered” (28:31; 2 Tim 2:9).

Biblical revival always includes a movement of holiness, the Spirit transforming God’s people to be more like Jesus, a move marked with repentance, recovery of God's word, accountibility, and renewal- both personal and social. Consider the Welch Revival (1904-1905), a powerful awakening in Wales that transformed thousands of lives, particularly among working class coal miners. The revival quickly spread across Wales, bringing a wave of repentance, prayer, and transformation. One of the hallmarks of this revival was its significant impact on the coal mining communities, where many miners experienced profound sanctification transforming their personal lives and notably, their workplace conduct. Stated simply, their filthy language and lude behavior were transformed, as were their communities.
 
Tim Keller communicated about revival often. In this article on revival, Keller detailed how revivals wake up sleepy Christians, convert nominal Christians, and bring conscious non-Christians to faith through the recovery of the gospel, the normalization of repentance, anointed corporate worship, and the multiplication of disciples.
 
“God in his providence intensifies the normal operations of the Holy Spirit… You don’t pray for upheaval; you pray for revival. You pray for revival and say, “Do whatever it takes.””

In his book Center Church, Keller continues with the Holy Spirit's work saying there is
““An intensification of the ordinary operations of the Holy Spirit — conviction of sin, joy in the gospel, boldness in witness, repentance, worship, and love.” (p. 238)

In his 1974 essay “The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way,” Francis Schaffer distinguished between the reforming  and the reviving work of the Spirit.  I love this quote:

"Reformation speaks of a restoration to pure doctrine, revival of a restoration in the Christian’s life. Reformation speaks of a return to the teachings of Scripture, revival of a life brought into proper relationship to the Holy Spirit. The great moments in church history have come when these two restorations have occurred simultaneously. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation, and reformation is incomplete without revival. May we be those who know the reality of both reformation and revival, so that this poor dark world in which we live may have an exhibition of a portion of the church returned to both pure doctrine and a Spirit-filled life." 

Beyond a personal experience, revival is a deeper engagement with God through the Holy Spirit’s extra-ordinary use of God’s ordinary means of grace. For this reason, personal revival catalyzes personal and corporate reformation marked by sanctification. This will be seen in the Spirit's reviving work of deep repentance; dependent prayer; wonderful worship (with expositional preaching); prioritizing the sacraments; personal Bible study and meditation; praying God’s Word; Christians leading through God’s Word; discipling others; passionate desire to reach others for Christ; stewarding vocation for the mission of Christ, sacrificial service to neighbors and neighborhoods; and unity.

Revival is more than an experience, it is the Spirit of God using the word and work of God for the worship and work of God in, among, and through the people of God. Revivals have happened throughout redemptive history, and will happen again. Let us join the prophet Habakkuk praying, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known….” (Habakkuk 3:2)

                                     Richly Dwelling
- Do you pray for revival, that God would "revive His work" in your days? Why or why not? Take a moment to ask Jesus to revive you with His word and His Spirit, and your church, and your community.... Plead with Jesus, "Lord do it again!"

-Where are abuses or misuses of revival that turn you off to the idea of revival?

-How does knowing the Holy Spirit's pleasure to extra-ordinarily use God's ordinary means of grace make revival both less intimidating and more inviting?

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