“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10a,b NASB).
“Wilt Thou not Thyself revive us again, That Thy people may rejoice in Thee?” (Psalms 85:6 NASB)
–Begin Part 2–
A Historical Example of Genuine Revival
There have been many powerful genuine revivals recorded in history. While we cannot share or discuss them all, there is one, in particular, I would like to highlight. It occurred between 1949 and 1953 in the Hebrides Islands situated southwest of Scotland.
There was a man named Duncan Campbell whose ministry consisted of person-to-person visitation, open-air meetings, and sharing the gospel with whoever would listen. He consistently emphasized the power of the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry. In 1949, he went to Lewis Island in the Hebrides.
In his account of what transpired, he emphasized that he did not bring revival to the Hebrides. He asserted that he was privileged to be there leading in the movement, though God began moving in the parish of Barvas before he even arrived on the island! As Duncan Campbell notes, genuine revival is not orchestrated by the efforts of an organization or a man. It is an act of God – the working of the Holy Spirit.
In his interview, Duncan declares some remarkable truths about revival. He stated that evangelistic campaigns or special meetings do not equate to revival. Even though these events may report large numbers of people coming to Christ, he reveals the real criteria of revival.
What are the real criteria for a revival to be a genuine revival? What are the earmarks of revival? He laid it out simply. If a community is left untouched and churches continue as before, then revival did not take place. Revival, he shares, results in God moving into the community. They become awakened, or “God-conscious.” He describes the Holy Spirit gripping people in such a way that they take off from work and cease in their labors so that they may give themselves to seeking God. As people in desperation, would be weeping and crying before the Lord, they were met with the presence of God in powerful ways. More and more people would gather, and the move of God did not stay within the walls of the building. From there, he said, revival would continue in the streets of the villages, as well in the homes and meadows nearby. As it began in the spirit of repentance God brought conviction, renewal, and revival to the members of the parish in Barvas. As the crowds overwhelmed the structure, many would wait upon God in their cottages, and anywhere they could gather. These are the earmarks of genuine revival. This is the revival for which we must cry out.
Again, genuine revival erupts in the wake of repentance and renewal, and it results in a Spiritual awakening and a visitation of the Holy Spirit in the surrounding community. This is that for which we must seek God and for which we must be in intercession continually.
What We Shall Do Then
The marks of the move of God that originated at Asbury University are repentance and renewal. The prominence of these is easily seen in the reports and news that have come forward from that 10-day event. Students and eventually tens of thousands of others engaged in repentance and experienced the ensuing renewal of the passion of Christ in their lives. This move resulted in many coming to Jesus as well. This move can very well be a prelude, a forerunner, to massive revival – only “if we will follow on” (Hosea 6:3b KJV emphasis mine) in God’s moving. So we all must follow suit in what God is doing, intimately knowing the working of the Spirit in this time of repentance and renewal.
Have you spent time with God in repentance? Have you gathered others to join you? Have you touched upon the depths of desperation so that you like David would cry out, “Wilt thou not revive us again?” There are many occasions when the church has walked in the glorious light of the life of Christ working the works of Him who sent us. But that was then. This is now. And as the culture of the world decays at an unprecedented pace, and the masses demonstrate their pain, turmoil, and feelings of futility, hopelessness, and feeling lost intensify, there is a great awakening at hand.
Complete Repentance
But for revival to be conceived, repentance must be enjoined – complete repentance. Simply turning away or repenting from sin is only the first phase of repentance. Many are those who have asked for forgiveness and have changed their mindset, repenting, of particular sins. However, genuine repentance is complete when and only when we repent from our sinful condition, and while in the process, we also turn toward God. In Hebrews 6:1, the Word of God reveals this very foundational process: “repentance from” is followed by “faith towards God” (emphasis mine). The truth of our condition must be met with the grace of God in Christ in order for repentance to bring forth the fruit desired by God. We become changed and are more conformed to the image of Christ through this process. In this, repentance is complete.
Complete Repentance Leads To Renewal
Still yet, what is conceived must be consummated. So as we repent and turn towards God, we must seek God in repentance until we find Him. And we will know that we have found Him when we can declare “I found Him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me” (Song of Solomon 3:4 KJV). When we seek God in repentance, we will encounter Him and be overcome with a renewal of passion and love for Jesus that cannot be contained as we experience Christ in the purity of devotion.
This unfettered, unhindered moving of God is so powerful and significant it will not be a private experience, for it will be brought into our mother’s house – the church, the Body of Christ – the chamber of her that conceived us! For the fruit of repentance brings about a public confession, a public presentation. By its nature, it embraces, exhorts, and encourages others. Let us, therefore, gather together and be gathered together in prayer and supplication in this hour. Let us seek God in this season of repentance and renewal, for He will be found by “those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
Renewal and Revival
But there is more! For it is in this stage that the church itself is renewed to a point of revival – being revived as weariness and the heavy weight of sin are replaced with joy as they are countered by meekness, purity, and holiness. And in renewed purity of devotion to Christ, the church is revived in the power of the Spirit. The surrounding community then can experience a Spiritual awakening. Those who are lost and undone can connect their hunger for God with Christ. Those riddled with unrest and anxiety wondering if there is more to life than what they see are released by the peace that comes from knowing Jesus. Those who have given up searching for a solution to their life’s ills – even looking to calm the pain and rage from their inner turmoil, confusion, and pain find the answer, hope, and healing through the moving of God in their lives.
Revival occurs as the church is restored to be the light of the world, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, salt that has been restored in its strength. Thus the light of God can be seen by those in darkness, and the flavor of God will be tasted and discovered by those who’ve never encountered Him! Let us continue to “follow on to know the LORD” in His going forth. For “He shall come to us as the rain, as the former and latter rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:3 KJV). And the people of the nations shall respond as the moving of God awakens them to their need and the reality of His Christ!
Father in Heaven, we present ourselves to you. We open our hearts to the searching and working of your Spirit. We desire and welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There are areas of sin that we need to confess, and of which we need to repent and renounce. Purify our hearts Oh, Lord. Purify our devotion to you. Jesus, we long for You to become our one desire, pursuit, and passion. We long to be renewed to a greater purity of devotion to You. Let our hearts, souls, and lives become Your own. I humble myself before you Oh, God. In Jesus’ name receive my petition. Amen.
You can read more here: “When the Mountains Flowed Down” at https://www.revival-library.org/revival_histories/evangelical/twentieth_century/hebrides_revival.shtml
Hal Garms eWord Messages 