Scheduling a Revival?

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Recently I noticed a sign in front of a church in our community which said, "Revival Oct. 16 with ??? ????" (???'s supplied by me).  Can people schedule a genuine revival?  According to Habakkuk 3:2, revival in the Bible is God's work in which He breathes new life into His work.  It is a manifestation of the grace of God in which mercy is poured out on God's people instead of the wrath that they deserve.  Revival is certainly something to pray for.  Habakkuk prayed for it.  But can you imagine Habakkuk scheduling a revival?  If people schedule a revival, people may show up.  But if God's people pray for revival and God answers in mercy, then God will come in power.  May more churches do the latter and see the silliness of the former.

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Revival
An evangelical Christian meeting: a meeting or a series of meetings of evangelical Christians intended to awaken religious fervor in those who attend â€" Christian or not. (English Dictionary)
Stimulation, revitalization, renewal, etc.. seems to the thrust of this definition of the word. If this is the definition we land on, then Gospel preaching in general, including corporate worship, must be at least in some sense an attempt at revival. If so then this means when we schedule services, outreaches, etc.. we are in some sense “scheduling a revival” because we gather to hear the Word preached to the end that our souls would be stimulated, revitalized, and even renewed!
Unfortunately, when the word revival is used in advertisement of an event, it is usually associated with some weak theology which relies on fancy means or philosophy to tickle the emotions to bring forward or see a hand raised. Thinking that we can call down some power of God by our feeble weak efforts can only lead to false conversions, and those ensnared by such are in a worse place than where they started.
Here I believe is the key to understanding true “revival”:
If we faithfully engage the people and do not preach philosophy to charm them but rather preach the truth and aim at their hearts, then call it whatever you want - I would personally anticipate God (the Spirit) to work according to His own good pleasure in those who hear and revive them by “Power of God” (the Gospel) in the inner man to lay hold of Christ by faith.
Some great preachers of the past scheduled “revival meetings” so in the case of understanding, we might just end up splitting “revival” hairs! Just Call it an evangelical scheduling and no one will argue!

We saw this as well and it caused us to pause and think about how the cart somehow got put before the horse at that church.

Jonathan Edwards, the well-known 18th century pastor and theologian whose works are often ascribed as central to the "First Great Awakening" actually preached a sermon titled "Signs of True Revival". Edwards uses 1 John 4 as his proof text and lists 5 signs that provide clear evidence of revival:

1. When esteem for the true Jesus is raised

2. When Satan’s kingdom is attacked

3. When people come to love the Scriptures more

4. When men are led away from falsehood into truth

5. When there is an increase in love to God and man

While the entire sermon is absolutely worth reading, #2 puts a fine point on what revival ought to look like:

"we may safely conclude that if a people:

have their love of ordinary, worldly pleasure, profits, and honors lowered;

are weaned from eagerly chasing such things;

have a deep concern about eternity and the eternal happiness that comes through the gospel;

earnestly begin to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness; and

are convicted of the ugliness and guilt of sin, as well as the misery to which it leads, then the Spirit of God must be at work."

also:

"So, whenever we see people made aware of:

the ugliness of sin;

God’s anger against sin;

their own natural lostness because of sin;

their own need of eternal salvation;

their need of God’s mercy and help; and

their need to do what God has commanded in seeking salvation, we may certainly conclude that it is the Spirit of God at work!"

I pray for evidence of a revival in our midst but think that scheduling one is rather presumptuous.

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