Why There's No Revival

[Allin]

I've wondered for a long time why revival has been so long in coming to the United States (to anywhere, really). I've heard of past revivals but never really had much interest in them since I was looking forward to what God is doing in our times.

"LORD, I have heard of Your fame, and I stand in awe of Your deeds; renew them in our day, and in our time make them known" (Hab. 3). Amen.

Well, I began reading books and articles about old revivals since they were all I had now. Reading the first book-- 'Azusa Street' by Frank Bartleman-- well, the Holy Spirit really manifested in the place, and I was like, "Wow, this book is old as is the revival. But the Spirit who brought that revival is very much alive and well." I heard people talk about how much they want revival; people prayed for it; people worshiped for it; people fasted for it; and people thanked God for it. But where was it? I began to realize that there is something that God desires more than He desires to send revival, and it's to establish righteousness in His People. Revival has always come and gone... but God wants a habitation, not a visitation. He wants to establish righteousness in Christians so that whether or not other Christians are 'doing good', that person is, and when there are no more songs and 'goosebumps and glory', there is still consistency of Christlike living in Christians: true Christianity with or without revival; this is what God is after more than revival: "What You are after is truth (righteousness) from the inside out" (Ps. 51:6a, The Message).

"Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You" (Isa. 26:8).

I began to realize that revival is often so long in coming because 1.) many are asking amiss (they want revival... but they don't want God and 'the remembrance of Him'), and 2.) most people aren't hungry enough. Laden with comforts all around (and the enemy wants to keep it this way till he falls out the sky suddenly with the bondage that is more visible and apparent than the invisible bondages we experience today), we especially in America just truly find it hard to be hungry for God. God is 'a GentleMan' and doesn't impinge on or foist Himself on even those who desperately need Him. He waits. When a land or people or place is full of comfort and convenience, they can hardly cry to God in earnest. Yesterday, I looked around me and said to my friend, "What do we need revival for? Everyone is doing good enough. Even homeless people have enough to not really need God, and those in severe bondage have enough distractions to not sincerely cry out to God. Will God come to a place where He isn't really wanted? Isn't God entering our sphere what revival is..." It seems apparent now that revival will only come when people truly want God to be glorified, and things will unfortunately have to get to a point of oppressive bondage where people realize that only God can save them to bring about this authentic desire for God to "renew [His works] in our days, and in our time make them known."

I used to attend the Atlanta Vineyard (church) from '98-'00 where the youth sang 'Now to Live the Life', a song by Matt Redman: Now To Live The Life by Matt Redman | Song | Free Music, Listen Now (first song on the page, click play button). The main lyrics were and are a sobering prophecy or portent of the overall Church of our and the last days:

Verse 1:

Many are the words we speak
Many are the songs we sing
Many kinds of offerings
but now to live the Life (2X)

Chorus:

Help us live the Life
Help us live the Life
All we want to do
is bring You something real
is bring You something true...

 

[babyboyblue]

Are you asking why there's no revival in your church? Many churches across the United States as well as the world holds revival series regularly.

 

[mpaper345]

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked(Revelation 3:15-17).


1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away(2 Timothy 3:1-5).


1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer(1 Timothy 4:1-5).



2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables(2 Timothy 4:2-4).


8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth(Luke 18:8).


11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men(Proverbs 30:11-14).


The last generation before Jesus gathers His saints unto Him.This generation will be the worse in attitude than any generation before it,highly selfish,highly arrogant,greedy for money,want to exalt themselves above even their parents,think they are alright with God but not clean,and violent and outspoken against other people.



Is there too many lukewarm people claiming to be with Christ,worldly people that claim to be with Christ,who are unresponsive to righteousness,and too many people in the secular world who are worse in unrighteousness,unresponsive to righteousness,to even have a revival happen.


4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed(Matthew 16:4).


I know this applies to when Jesus spoke to them concerning that generation of that time,but the same truth applies that a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,because they will not believe by faith but need a physical manifestation of something miraculous to believe,and the last generation is the most wicked and adulterous.


A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,and shall any sign be given it.


Will God allow a sign such as a revival with miracles to reach a wicked and adulterous generation.


Has God allowed enough revivals and miracles to reach people,but they are getting worse,with the last generation being the worse of all,so no sign shall be given it,or nothing given them that is miraculous because they refuse to believe by faith.


I do believe that there could be revivals,but will there really be,with the very many worldly people that claim to be with Christ,that far exceeds the number of people who claim to be with Christ that act like Christ,and the world that is worse in attitude and morals than time past.


Only time will tell,but the revivals might be over,at least not on the level that some would want,but I cannot say anything for God knows what He will do.

 

[Allin]

Babyboy, you said, "Are you asking why there's no revival in your church? Many churches across the United States as well as the world holds revival series regularly." I don't go to a church now, so I wasn't talking about any specific church. I'm not talking about revival series but about the kinds of things they experienced in the Book of Acts-- the real model of how 'church' is supposed to be in our times (and even greater than then according to the Bible).

Hi, Paper. You sound like you acknowledge the way things are. You said, "Will God allow a sign such as a revival with miracles to reach a wicked and adulterous generation. Has God allowed enough revivals and miracles to reach people,but they are getting worse,with the last generation being the worse of all,so no sign shall be given it,or nothing given them that is miraculous because they refuse to believe by faith. I do believe that there could be revivals,but will there really be,with the very many worldly people that claim to be with Christ,that far exceeds the number of people who claim to be with Christ that act like Christ,and the world that is worse in attitude and morals than time past. Only time will tell,but the revivals might be over, at least not on the level that some would want,but I cannot say anything for God knows what He will do." Good questions, and true. Things now are reaching the point of where 'revival is impossible'; but "where sin abounds, Grace abounds much more." I acknowledge how bad things are, but revival (to make alive again) is the only thing that effects salvation, therefore, we will be seeing some more of it... and on levels greater than in the past because of the necessity of the hour (and according to Paul--- that the glory of the New will greatly surpass that of the old; according to the OT-- that the latter rain will be greater than the former; according to Jesus who said the works in the last days will be greater even than His; and according to God who said of His Name, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again"). As Leeland sings in 'Tears of the Saints', "Even churches have forsaken love and mercy. May we see this generation in it's search and desperation for Your glory. This is an emergency" (Leeland - Tears of the Saints (With Lyrics) - YouTube). I agree that God's glory (revival) is required and not just sought in our time. First time I listened to that song, I put it on repeat and listening to it at least fifty times straight, and wept and wept and wept and wept... for the churches first (the unsaved who think they're saved), then for 'non-Christians' (those who are apparently 'the lost').

There are many reasons there are no revivals today, but following the pattern in the Book of Judges (sin and rebellion, then bondage and crying out for 'revival', then 'judges' who brought revival), we can see that this is just how God has worked in the past and so will work "in our day and in our time." Understandably, however, it seems that there will be little or no 'revival' which really is God entering our sphere in power.

 

[babyboyblue]

Babyboy, you said, "Are you asking why there's no revival in your church? Many churches across the United States as well as the world holds revival series regularly." I don't go to a church now, so I wasn't talking about any specific church. I'm not talking about revival series but about the kinds of things they experienced in the Book of Acts-- the real model of how 'church' is supposed to be in our times (and even greater than then according to the Bible).

I remember back 2005, we had a revival locally. 1500 people were added to the church after just a few short weeks. It was awesome. The pure unadulterated Gospel converts hearts. Why no reform? Because a watered down form of the Gospel is being preached. People are being told they can be saved in their sins, instead of from them so, why change?

 

[SantoSubito]

I think all of you are wanting the wrong kind of revival. We do not need a bunch of circuit riding preachers speaking to crowds around the country. What we need are radical and pious men like St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced everything and could not even hold onto his cloak because "He always saw someone who needed it more than I". Or St. Anthony who even when he could barely walk was joyful everyday and denounced the money lenders who took advantage of the poor all the while being supported by fellow monks because he could no longer stand on his own. At that speech in the town center he proclaimed to the usurers "I will drive you out in the name of God!" He was truthful to his promise.

We need men like that. The Gospel should be preached by our lives, not by our words, for words without example can fall on deaf ears. But when men see the Gospel personified and brought to life in men like St. Francis and St. Anthony they can not help but be convinced.

 

[Allin]

Babyboy, you said, "Why no reform? Because a watered down form of the Gospel is being preached." We're in a state of emergency (spiritual emergency because of spiritual death and spiritual lukewarmness), and most people aren't aware of it. It's good to hear about what happened where you live in 2005. I see your flag but don't recall... Is that Jamaica?

Santo, you said, " I think all of you are wanting the wrong kind of revival..." What you don't realize is that when these last revivals from God (the ones that are from God, because in these last days, as Jesus warned, many false revivals will take place) take place, God will say how they happen and where they happen. He will dictate every part of it; it won't matter whether we want circuit-riding preachers or radical and pious men. God tailors revival to the need of the hour, not to what people want. When He sent Elijah and John the Baptist, there were people who hated their harshness; but God tailored them to the need, not for the people. The same goes with many of the people God sent to bring 'revival' from OT to NT. My friend, it has nothing to do with what we want; it has everything to do with what God wants and what we need. God sent Moses to be "a ruler and a prince" over those who'd rejected him and accused him for trying to be "a ruler and a prince" over them. Jesus didn't ask God to give us the revivals or revivalists we want, and God didn't answer that He would do just that. Rather, Jesus said to God, "Father, glorify Yourn ame!" And God immediately replied, "I have glorified it, and will will glorify it again." (Jn. 12:28). God doesn't glorify those we glorify: idols, starts, religious men and women, angels, doctrines, denominations, religions, races and cultures, national pride, etc.; He only glorifies His Name; and whether He uses a donkey or a radical and pious man, it is solely that His Name (and not the person or thing) will be glorified. Because of this, we can't boast in those we deem spiritual nor exalt the radical and pious over the circuit-rider; because only God is worthy of any praise:

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD'" (1Cor. 1:26-31).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe7M...C03D2E75BC4&lf=BFp&playnext=14&shuffle=543510. "Ascribe greatness to the Rock so high."

 

[Allin]

Whoops, wrong link. Here's the proper link to 'The Stone' by Jars of Clay: The Stone - Jars of Clay - YouTube.

 

[Crossfire]

There's no revival because the modern church, across the board, has slipped into apostasy. Most modern churches have embrace the Antinomian lie that a person can be saved in their sin thus there is reason to seek intimacy with God. They believe that there is no real repercussion for sins committed thus they are just fine in their fallen state.

If you have studied church history, it seems every great move of God begins with a revival of sorts and begins to spread. However, after a few decades, the fires of revival wax cold as a dead religious mindset begins to kick in resulting in another new denomination. It happened with the Lutherans, the Calvinists, the Quakers, the Baptists, the Methodists, the Holiness and, most recently, the Pentecostals.

However, if you are student of revival, you are most likely are aware that God inspires a major revival every 100 years or so (give or take) which, oddly enough, parallels the cycle in which the judges / prophets appeared in the Old Testament.

Regardless, it's that time again to see a great turning back toward God. If it doesn't happen then, I believe it is a possibility that we could be entering into the end time apostasy which the Apostle Paul states in 2 Thess 2 will preceed the unveiling of the Antichrist.

 

[HhhLGA89]

Are you asking why there's no revival in your church? Many churches across the United States as well as the world holds revival series regularly.

Don't you think a revival has everything to do with when God wants it to happen and not when a scheduler wants it to happen? I know that it must be birthed from longing hearts, but don't you think God governs that? I'm just asking, I'm not saying yes or no.

 

[Allin]

Hey, Cross. You're right about the apostasy. "Knowledge puffs up, but Love edifies" (1Cor. 8:1). A lot of knowledge-seeking has pressed out the flame of devotion to God.

You said, "If you have studied church history, it seems every great move of God begins with a revival of sorts and begins to spread. However, after a few decades, the fires of revival wax cold as a dead religious mindset begins to kick in resulting in another new denomination. It happened with the Lutherans, the Calvinists, the Quakers, the Baptists, the Methodists, the Holiness and, most recently, the Pentecostals." I haven't studied church history. I used to like history in high school but never was drawn to church history (since looking at church now, it leaves much to be desired and doesn't exactly promote a yearning to look into its history). I have, however, read some instances of revival. Frank Bartleman's 'Azusa Street' was the first. In a small Nashville church, someone gave me the book to borrow. I didn't care for past revivals but decided to take a gander at it. A few pages in, when I read of Bartleman's sorrow over the death of his little daughter and how he sought God to take it away by pressing him into the search for revival, the Holy Spirit began to be very manifest. Before I knew it, He was right there, wrestling with me as I didn't want anything to do with the old revivals. I was practically wrestling with the book and weeping. I had to close it, and every time I re-opened it (at least that same day), He was there at once, wrestling me; so I had to keep the book closed for that day

I believe there will simultaneously be great apostasy as well as revivals in our time. Isa. 60 talks about it in part. Moreover, the entire Bible talks about it. Whatever the case, the generation before my generation, my generation, and every generation after were certainly born into the worst and best of times. It's hardly fitting for anyone to choose denial these days since our days are when many hidden things have come and will be coming to light.