What is Revival

The Rev’d Duncan Campbell, reflecting on the Hebridean Revival writes what best expresses the meaning of revival to me.

In writing of the movement, I would like first to state what I mean by revival as witnessed in the Hebrides. I do not mean a time of religious entertainment, with crowds gathering to enjoy an evening of bright gospel singing; I do not mean sensational or spectacular advertising — in a God-sent revival you do not need to spend money on advertising. I do not mean high-pressure methods to get men to an inquiry room — in revival every service is an inquiry room; the road and hill side become sacred spots to many when the winds of God blow.

Revival is a going of God among his people, and an awareness of God laying hold of the community. Here we see the difference between a successful campaign and revival; in the former we may see many brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, and the church or mission experience a time of quickening, but so far as the town or district is concerned no real change is visible; the world goes on its way and the dance and picture-shows are still crowded: but in revival the fear of God lays hold upon the community, moving men and women, who until then had no concern for spiritual things, to seek after God.

So from this we can see that Revival has 2 elements: [1] God among his people, and [2] God laying hold of the community.

Further as Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in his preaching of Revival “You cannot revive something that has never had life, so revival, by definition, is first of all an enlivening and quickening and awakening of lethargic, sleeping church members. Suddenly the power of the Spirit comes upon them … they are humbled, they are convicted of sin … then as a result of their quickening and enlivening, they begin to pray. New power comes into the preaching of the ministers, and the result of this is large numbers are converted. So the two main characteristics of revival are, first, this extraordinary enlivening of the members of the church, and, second, the conversion of masses of people who have been outside in indifference and in sin.”

So again the two main characteristics of revival are,

[1] the enlivening of the members of the church, and,

[2] the conversion of masses of people who have been outside [church] in indifference & sin.

The Shorter OED as to [1] return to consciousness [2] to return to life; to regain vital activity after being dead, to live again; [3] to assume fresh life or vigour after nearly dying [4] to become active or operative again; to return to a flourishing state; to assume fresh life or vigour after decline or decay.

And everything begins with God’s people