In the times we live in, churches around the world are focusing on revival and reformation. Since we are praying for revival, let us explore the significance of what it means to be revived.
The word “revive” means to quicken, awaken or revitalize something that is close to death. He who is spiritually dead can therefore not benefit from a revival. Revivals are for the house of God, for His children who have become estranged from Him and whose hearts no longer burn with fervent love for the Lord. For those outside the house of God, more than a revival is necessary i.e. something more akin to a spiritual resurrection. Only Christ can take the spiritually dead and make them live again; that is the miracle of being “born again.”
Charles H Spurgeon wrote in his sermon entitled, “What is a revival?” that revivals should be the exception rather than the norm in a healthy church environment. He wrote as follows: “The tree planted by the rivers of water loaded with fruit needs not excite our anxiety for its revival, for its fruitfulness and beauty charm every one. Such should be the constant condition of the sons of God. Feeding and lying down in green pastures and led by the still waters they ought not always to be crying, "My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me." Sustained by gracious promises and enriched out of the fullness which God has treasured up in his dear Son, their souls should prosper and be in health, and their piety ought to need no reviving. They should aspire to a higher blessing, a richer mercy, than a mere revival. They have the nether springs already; they should earnestly covet the upper springs. They should be asking for growth in grace, for increase of strength, for greater success; they should have out-climbed and out-soared the period in which they need to be constantly crying, "Wilt thou not revive us again?" For a church to be constantly needing revival is the indication of much sin, for if it were sound before the Lord it would remain in the condition into which a revival would uplift its members.”
In Jer 17:8, we find the condition of one who trusts in the Lord and not in men. “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Scripture & other refs: Jeremiah 17:8, Psalms 1:1-3, Excerpts taken from"What is a Revival?" by C H Spurgeon, Dec 1866 edition of The Sword & Trowel.
