“In this ambiguous world the final issue of the moral conflict is not in doubt. Christ is not struggling to the seat of power. He is already on the throne!”
“Pentecost brings the gripping assurance that Christ is not in retreat but gloriously on the advance, not melting into the distance but moving with might into our immediate circumstances. It is not enough to see Christ going away, even if you know he is going to a throne: you must also see him coming with power (by the Spirit); to see him coming with that power you will have to experience this vitalizing invasion, the rush of supernatural energy, that came to the Upper Room. Pentecost makes Christ our great Contemporary, takes him out of the mists of antiquity into the swirl of current events, and gives Him hands to grapple with the urgent issues of this present hour!” (Macpherson)
Introduction
As you read Acts 2, and commentaries about the amazing event and experiences of Pentecost; you will find that many writers choose to emphasize the similarities of Acts 2 with other Biblical outpourings and Historic revivals.
Revival is not strictly a Biblical word: the closest is revive or reviving (Hebrew: khaw-yaw) meaning to make alive, nourish up, preserve alive, quicken, restore, be whole. It is used fourteen times in the Old Testament and twice in the New. Why is it not more of a New Testament word? For the simple reason, that New Testament Christianity is revived Christianity. They were living spiritually empowered lives in light of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as LORD and Christ.
Psalm 85:6
Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
Habakkuk 3:2
O Lord, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
The Hebrew word here means: to make alive, recover, repair, restore, to make something whole again once split up I pieces. The equivalent word in the New Testament is that used by Paul in:
II Timothy 1:6
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God which is in thee.
Meaning: to fan into flame, to revive. Some prefer “spiritual awakening” like what happened in Acts 2:17. It may refer to the quickening of individuals, but revival includes and exceeds them.
Revival is more than big meetings, religious excitement, quickening of the saints, being filled with the Holy Spirit, or a great harvest of souls. One may have one or all of these without revival, but revival includes them all.
It is not just missions, campaigns or crusades. Revival is a thing of special times and seasons of spiritual blessing and breakthroughs.
Revival is Divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. It is God revealing Himself to us in overwhelming love, awful holiness and irresistible power. It is such a manifest working of God that human personalities are overshadowed and human programs abandoned. It is man retiring into the background because God has taken the field. It is the Lord working in extraordinary power on saint and sinner alike.
Revival is essentially a manifestation of God; it has the stamp of Deity on it which even non-Christians are quick to recognize. Revival must of necessity make an impact on the community and this is one means by which we may distinguish it from the more usual operations of the Holy Spirit.
Distinction between Revival and Evangelism
Revival is what the Church experiences; evangelism is what the Church engages in. Revival is periodic; evangelism is continuous.
“Revival and evangelism are not identical, although the word ‘revival’ is frequently used to designate soul-winning efforts directed towards unbelievers. Revival will always vitalize God’s people…but revival is not always welcome. For many its price is too high. There is no “cheap grace” in revival. It entails repudiation of self-satisfied complacency, of easy preference of the good to the best, and of idols…Revival turns careless living into vital concern…exchanges self-indulgence for self-denial. Yet revival is not a miraculous visitation falling on an unprepared people like a bolt out of the blue. It comes when God’s people earnestly want revival and are willing to pay the price.” (Christianity Today April 9, 1965).
Features of Revival
Read Acts 2:1-14, 37
Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filed with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and was confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. But Peter standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
All the historic features of Revival can be seen in these verses in Acts.
1. Divine Sovereignty:
“…when the day of Pentecost was fully come…” –v 1
Every genuine revival is clearly stamped with the hallmark of God’s sovereignty. In this passage in Acts there was a fullness of time with divine ordering of believers and nationalities. God has a time for every outpouring, a time that must be related to a thousand other plans that He alone can determine.
2. Spiritual Preparation:
“…they were all together in one place…” –v 1
“…with one accord continued steadfast in prayer…” –v 1:14
The word of God presents side by side the two foundation stones of revival – the sovereignty of God and the preparedness of man. The Word and history teach us an attitude of indifference and fatalism must be abandoned before revival can be expected. If the blessing comes then we may be sure someone has met the conditions and paid the price. Yet…we cannot have revival as if God is at our beck and call.
3. Suddenness:
“…and suddenly there came…” –v 2, 7, 12
Revival may be likened to a strategic attack; in the spirit world a surprise factor. In revival, God works suddenly and unexpectedly; often even the mass of believers are taken unawares, while wonder and astonishment grip the hearts of unbelievers.
The effect of the sudden working of the Spirit in revival is also very striking in the conviction of sinners.
4. Spontaneous Working:
“…there came from heaven…” –v 2
Revival is the result of divine, not human impulse. It cannot be worked up. Fulfilled conditions do not provide the motive force of revival. A movement bears this mark of spontaneity when men cannot account for what has taken place in terms of personalities, organizations, meetings, preaching, or any other consecrated activity; and when the work continues unabated without any human control. As soon as a movement becomes controlled or organized, it has ceased to be spontaneous – it is no longer a revival.
5. God-Consciousness:
“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them.” -v 3
“…they were cut to the heart, and said, What shall we do?!?” –v 37
The spirit of revival is the consciousness of God. The effects of such manifestations of God are threefold; men are made aware of the reality of HIS presence and love, the awesomeness of HIS power and HIS holiness. This manifestation…was intensely personal…It was God moving in power and holiness toward them; they themselves were the objects of God’s activity. This is an outstanding feature of revival and it is easy to see why it results in overwhelming conviction both among the saved and the lost whenever there is sin.
6. Anointed Vessels:
“…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” –v 4
With the stirrings of the Spirit that are the precursor of revival, there is born in many hearts a wholesome dissatisfaction with that vague and mystic view of being filled with the Spirit that leaves one in the dark as to what it is, how it comes and whether or not one has received it.
7. Supernatural Manifestation:
“…they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance…” –v 4, 12, 43
The most ordinary conversion of a sinner is a supernatural work, but it is not manifestly so. Here is meant that which is in the eyes of men manifestly supernatural and which can be accounted for in no other way. It is that which produces in the hearts and minds of onlookers the reaction described here: “they were all amazed and perplexed saying one to another “What does this mean?”
8. Divine Magnetism:
“…and when this sound was heard, the multitude came together…” –v 6
In revival, the presence and work of God attracts people, draws attention, and often brings about an unbelievable spiritual connection or unity in meetings, prayer or relationships.
9. Apostolic Preaching:
“…Peter lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them…” –v 14
Although some souls are saved in revival apart from preaching such times are nearly always characterized by a powerful proclamation of truth. Sometimes the outpouring has come by preaching; sometimes the preaching has come by the outpouring.
10. Missions and Evangelism:
Most missions and ministry movements have been the fruit of personal renewal and spiritual revivals. This was true of Pentecost which was both a revival and a missions event. Symbolically, the whole world is represented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Each person hears the wonderful works of God in their own language. This puts an emphasis on the mission of the Church to make disciples of all nations. It’s connected to the promise of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh. Pentecost stands as a sign to the Church on its birthday that it is called to take the gospel message to every cultural and people group in their own language.
(Adopted from Notes on Revival, by Winkie Pratney)
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