A personal view….

With Revival currently being prophesied almost universally, I’m constantly amazed at the wide differences in peoples definition of ‘Revival’!

First and foremost, I’m not posting this to provoke an argument — if for no other reason than the variance is so wide that it’s impossible to encompass all variations into a single definition!

Suffice it to say that this is my personal view — no more; no less!

Two definitions from Oxford Languages, posted on Google:

“An improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or something.”

“An instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again.”

So far, so good! That is sufficient for a basic understanding of ‘Revival’ — but it omits the God element!

However, if we preface each definition with: “A move of God, by His Holy Spirit, that causes …”

So we get these definitions –

“A move of God, by His Holy Spirit, that causes an improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or something.”

“A move of God, by His Holy Spirit, that causes an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again.”

Hmmm — not bad but, to me, there’s something still missing!

Another definition, Biblically, is this –

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia – Revive; Reviving
REVIVE; REVIVING re-viv’, reviv’-ing:
revive is the translation of chayah, “to live,” “cause to live,” used of restoration to life (Genesis 45:27; Judges 15:19, etc.); of rebuilding (Nehemiah 4:2); of restoration to well-being (Psalms 85:6 (the Revised Version (British and American) “quicken”); Psalms 138:7; Isaiah 57:15; Hosea 6:2; 14:7); of Yahweh’s gracious work for His people (Habakkuk 3:2, “revive thy work in the midst of the years,” etc.); “reviving” is the translation of michydh “preservation” or “means of life” (Ezra 9:8,9). “Revive” occurs in the New Testament as the translation of anazao, “to live again” (Romans 7:9; 14:9, the King James Version “Christ both died, and rose, and revived,” the Revised Version (British and American) (omitting “and rose”) “Christ died and lived again” zao).
In 1 Maccabees 13:7 the Revised Version (British and American) we have “And the spirit of the people revived,” anazopureo, “to stir or kindle up as a fire,” the same word as in 2 Timothy 1:6, the Revised Version (British and American) “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee,” margin “Greek: `stir into flame.'”
In view of the frequent modern use of “revive” and “Revival,” it is worthy of notice that it is to Timothy himself the exhortation is addressed. We too often merely pray for “Revivals,” forgetting that it is for us to “stir into flame” the gift of the Spirit which we have already received of God. It is ours from Him, but we let it lie dormant, as a slumbering ember merely.
^©W. L. Walker : taken from Bible Study Tools : Revive; Reviving (Used for reference only — not necessarily my opinion.)

Many, many Churches over use the word Revival to advertise some of their meetings, e.g. “Revival here on Sunday night — don’t miss it!”

What they’re really meaning is that ‘we’re having a good old fashioned Holy Ghost meeting and, you never know, God might move!’

Really, Revival in this Church only and for two hours on one day only — really? That’s Revival?

Well, it is, or might be, for one or two people — but is that really Revival?

Then a Church might have a mini-outpouring for a couple of days.

A few people get healed — a few get saved — but it doesn’t really affect anyone else in the town or area; only those who attend one or more times before everyone goes back to whatever their normal is.

No lasting effect other than those saved or healed. It’s wonderful, but is that really Revival?

To me, the meetings in 2023 at Asbury (above) were close to beginning a Revival!

I for one really had high expectations and hopes — until The Holy Spirit was closed down and the meetings ceased abruptly.

The meetings in 2008 at Lakeland, Florida, came pretty close to Revival until that well known downfall brought it to another abrupt close.

The main ingredient missing from all these was what I call the ripple effect of Revival.

The ripple effect is that:

• First, Revival changes the lives and morals of those present.
• Second, the effect of those changed lives affects those around them.
• Third, these effects spread to the wider — citywide, countrywide, and worldwide.

The ripple effect is comparable to dropping a pebble in a still pond. The ripples spread wider and wider until the whole pond is affected.

• The Hebrides Revival spread worldwide.
• The Azusa Street Revival spread worldwide.
• The Welsh Revival spread worldwide.
• The Argentine, Toronto, Brownsville, ‘Bay’ Revivals all spread worldwide.
• Lakeland was starting to spread and broke down.
• The Fisherman’s Revival (Lowestoft, England in 1921) only affected locally.

My favourite example is the Smithton Outpouring, 1996, as a result of Brownsville.

This started as a single church of under 100 people in a town of just 600 people. It peaked when 3,000-odd people a week invaded this little town to experience The Holy Spirit and Salvation.

THIS is the way I define Revival.

• It’s not a happy-flappy Holy Ghost meeting!
• It’s not a couple of good meetings when a few get healed, saved, touched by The Holy Spirit!
• It’s not even a period of good presence of God but which peters out and dies!

All these things are pretty wonderful — BUT they have very little effect outside their church or perhaps outside their immediate area.

NO!

Revival Changes Cities, Countries, and The World.

Revival spreads like a wildfire through both Communities and areas — and even Countries!

Just my view and opinion….

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

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Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of Revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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