J. Edwin Orr, the leading authority on revivals, equates revivals with evangelical awakenings and defines the latter as follows:

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1 1 PRAYER AND REVIVAL Webster's New World Dictionary defines revival as "a stirring of religious faith among those who have been indifferent, usually by a dramatic, fervid preaching, and meetings... characterized by public confession of sin, and a profession of renewed faith." J. Edwin Orr, the leading authority on revivals, equates revivals with evangelical awakenings and defines the latter as follows: "An Evangelical Awakening is a movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church of Christ bringing about a revival of New Testament Christianity... An Evangelical Awakening may be said to effect the revitalization of the lives of nominal Christians, and the bringing of outsiders into vital touch with the divine dynamic causing every such Awakening the Spirit of God." OLD TESTAMENT REVIVALS The term "revival" points to a kind of recurrent activity. In the Old Testament after a period of spiritual declension as in the days of the Judges, there would come a season of spiritual quickening as in the times of Samuel. There were such awakenings in Judaism also under David, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Ezra. In the both the Old Testament and the New Testament the cry for revival springs from the sense of judgment. In the Old Testament the coming of revival is God comforting His people after judgment (Ps 79:4-9; 80:12-14; 85:4-7; Hab 3:2). It is also God stirring the hearts of His people by a great visitation (Ps 80:14; Jer 29:10-14), coming to dwell with them (Zec 1:3,15), pouring out His Spirit on them (Joel 2:28) as He quickens their consciences showing them their sins and exalting His mercy. In the New Testament Christ calls the seven churches of Asia to seek revival from His hand as an alternative to the judgment He would otherwise inflict on them (Rev 3:14-22). The following Scriptures from the Old Testament speak of revival. "Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You?" (Ps 85:6). "O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the year" (Hab 3:2). "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. Your right hand shall save me" (Ps 138:7).

2 "Come, and let us return to the Lord: for He has torn, and He will heal us. He will revive us" (Hos 6:1-2). Isaiah the prophet prayed, "Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make Your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You! For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways" (Isa 64:1-5). 2 What is Isaiah asking for? An unusual sense of the presence of God to replace the feeling that God is far away. This is not a reference to God's omnipresence (that God is present everywhere) since he already knew this. Rather it is a prayer for the realization of God's presence and of His working in judgment and mercy in people's lives. Revival hits when God comes down! At the end of Isaiah's prayer we see the characteristics that God is looking for in those to whom He comes. They are the people who "waited, did what was right, and remembered God's ways" (Isa 64:4-5). As we look at Old Testament revivals we find this same pattern. The last great revival that swept United States was in This means that most of the people in our country have never seen an extraordinary display of God's power. What typically happens is that when there is no great move of God the people drift in its commitment to the Lord. When we do not see, when we only hear of God's power, we easily become like the generation that outlived Joshua "who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel" (Jdg 2:6-10). When revival hits there is an outburst of a mighty work of God where His people are restored to spiritual vitality. PRESCRIPTION FOR REVIVAL The Old Testament has typically been neglected in the study of revival. Yet it is here that we find the best prescription for revival:

3 "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Ch 7:14). 3 God provides here the basis for revival not only in that day, but also for all peoples in all times. Here is the most extensive list of the features that characterize a biblical revival. Here we see the divine/human interplay in revival. Four words announce God's conditions for revival. These four words capture the human responsibility: humble, pray, seek, and turn. Then God will respond by doing three things: hear, forgive, and heal. Examples From the Old Testament we see at least ten revivals under various leaders. There was a revival under Jacob in which his own family was told: "We must get rid of our idols" (Ge 35:1-15). Three reasons were given in Genesis 35 why they were to do this: only cleansed people can meet God (vv. 1-4), only God can protect His people when they are in danger (vv. 5-8), and only God can change them and bless them (vv. 9-15). Under Moses there was another revival in which the people were told: "We must confess our sin" (Ex ). During some of the worst of times for Israel under Samuel there was a revival as the people were told: "We must serve the Lord alone" (1 Sa 7:1-13). While a nation was seeking to serve a god named Baal, Elijah shouted to the people: "We must let God be God" (1 Ki 18). They were not to try and make God into something He is not. When Judah was threatened to be conquered by Zerah and his armies from Ethiopia, King Asa cried out: "We must seek the Lord's face" (2 Ch 14-16).

4 4 When a huge opposing army confronted King Jehoshaphat, he looked to the Lord as he gathered the entire population of Judah to pray. He ordered them: "We must earnestly pray" (2 Ch 20). God used Hezekiah to reopen the temple and re-institute services of worship and sacrifice as he told his people: "We must turn back to the Lord" (2 Ch 30). The people of Judah are told to turn to God with an unqualified trust (v. 6), turn to Him with a wholehearted obedience (v. 6), turn to Him with joyful service (v. 7), and turn to Him with a submissive spirit (v. 7). King Josiah told his people: "We must humble ourselves before the Lord" (2 Ch 34-35). They were called to humble themselves before Him (2 Ch 34:1-13), before His Word (2 Ch 34:14-28), and before His people (2 Ch 34:29-33). Because God's people again drifted into sin God permitted Judah to spend 70 years of captivity in Babylon. One hundred one years after Josiah's reign, prophets Haggai and Zechariah came to restore the people to their God. Under Zerubbabel the people were told: "We must renew the work of the Lord" (Hag 1; Zec 1:1-6). They were called to set priorities for the work of God (Hag 1:3-6), get involved in the work of God (Hag 1:7-12), and receive God's enablement to do His work (Hag 1:13-15). Nehemiah and Ezra led the people in spiritual renewal as they had led them in returning to the land and providing administrative guidance. Nehemiah told them: "We must rejoice in the Lord" (Neh 8). As these exiles returned and finished rebuilding the walls and gates they were told to rejoice in three ways. They were to rejoice by satisfying their hunger for the Word of God (Neh 8:1-8), by finding the joy of the Lord as their strength (Neh 8:9-12), and by uniting to proclaim God's faithfulness (Neh 8:13-18).

5 All lasting revivals have their beginning in the restoration of God's Word to its rightful place of prominence. It is the Word of God that tells us about all these revivals. Here in the Old Testament then we find ten words or phrases that God used to call the people back to God: get rid of, confess, serve, let, seek, pray, turn back, humble, renew, rejoice. We find then that prayer is powerful only when it is accompanied by a humble and contrite heart that is repentant as it seeks to make things right with God and others. 5 NEW TESTAMENT REVIVAL There is not much about revival in the New Testament. Why? They did not need a revival. They had life already so there was no need for a re-viving. The Day of Pentecost could be called a revival in that there is a tremendous move of God as He ushers in the coming of the Holy Spirit in His fullness to dwell in believers permanently, and to guide, teach, energize, and equip them to live godly and fruitful lives (Jn 14-16). When the disciples came to Jesus and asked when He would usher in His kingdom He answered, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority" (Ac 1:6). Then He added, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses... to the ends of the earth" (Ac 1:7-8). Thus an outpouring of the Spirit was predicted and soon fulfilled as 3000 people were converted by Peter's first sermon at Pentecost. But first, the disciples gathered for prayer (Ac 1:14). As revival intercessor Armin Gesswein has pointed out, "Pentecost does not begin with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; it begins with a praying congregation. It is born in a prayer meeting." (Emphasis added) There is a church in Jerusalem which is formed and functioning in powerful praying. While they were all together in one place, there came from heaven a sound like the wind, and it filled the whole house. The apostle Peter confirmed that the outpouring fulfilled the prophecy of Joel. He then preached the death and resurrection of Christ. What was the response? The hearers were pierced, stabbed, stung, stunned, smitten "cut to the heart" (Ac 2:37). "Brothers," they said to the apostles, "What shall we do?" The response was not a mild request for advice, but an agonizing, desperate cry for help.

6 6 PENTECOST AS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER All this happened as a result of prayer. In Jesus' high priestly prayer recorded for us in John 17, Jesus prays for oneness: "that they may be one, as we are" (v. 11). "that they all may be one" (v. 21). "that they also may be one in us" (v. 21). "the glory I have given them... that they may be one" (v. 22). "that they may be made perfect in one" (v. 23).1 Luke used another word to describe this oneness, one not used in Scripture before: "one accord" or "together" (Ac 2:1). In Jerusalem this oneness is evident for the first time in the prayer meeting. This was the prayer for which Jesus had asked. And it was in a prayer meeting that it was first given. Jesus had also pointed out in this prayer that two things would happen to the unbelieving world: they would know that God loves them and they would know who Jesus is the Messiah. This was answered on Pentecost as thousands were convicted of their sin of unbelief and brought into the kingdom of God. Luke shows us in the book of Acts how that the apostles continued to urge their hearers to change and turn to God and how they responded by the thousands. And no hostile power seemed able to hinder them. Persecution followed, but the work of God so advanced that the gospel spread throughout that whole region and eventually reached Europe, North and South America, Africa, and the Asia. CHRIST'S MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES "Repent... or else..." (Rev 2:5,16). It was only 40 years later that Jesus has another message to God's people. Jesus' last word or message to the church was not "The Great Commission." The Great Commission is the church's marching orders. The last word to the church was, and continues to be, "Repent!"

7 We see this in the first few chapters of the Book of Revelation where Jesus brings a message of repentance to the seven churches of Asia. The same conditions exist in churches today. By the time these letters were written these churches had been established for about 40 years and its membership was of second and third generation Christians who had not witnessed God's power for themselves the way their ancestors had. Much of Christendom had become second-hand and so these believers had begun to take things for granted. 7 Smyrna and Philadelphia Jesus gives words of commendation to two of the seven churches: Smyrna and Philadelphia. Smyrna for her faithfulness in suffering (Rev 2:8-11). This church struggled against two hostile forces: a Jewish population strongly opposed to Christianity, and a non-jewish population that was loyal to Rome and supported emperor worship. Persecution and suffering were inevitable in an environment like this. It was not surprising then that this church suffered poverty, slander, imprisonment, and even death. And she was faithful to the end. Philadelphia is commended for two things. First, for remaining faithful to the Word of God. Jesus said, "You have kept My Word" (Rev 3:8). Philadelphia is also commended for being faithful in proclaiming His Word while enduring persecution patiently (Rev 3:7-13). Because of her faithfulness Jesus said, "I have set before you an open door" (Rev 3:8). Her faithfulness led to greater opportunities in spreading the gospel. But with His heart aching, our Lord cries to the other five churches, "Repent!" Why? Because of sin. Ephesus Lost love characterized the church at Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7). Jesus begins by commending this church for her hard work and perseverance: "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance" (Rev 2:2). She was also commended for having preserved Christian orthodoxy, "I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not; and have found them false... you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (Rev 2:3,6). This church discerned between true and false teachers and embraced the truth. Yet Jesus told her, "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Rev 2:4). Tertullian, an early church father, writes that it was said of the early Christians, "How those Christians love each other!" But at Ephesus the glow of her love for Christ was gone. It had faded. She had lost her reckless enthusiasm for Christ. Now her relationship had become formal, cold and calculating.

8 8 The church today, like the church at Ephesus, has a work to be done, a fight to be fought, and a creed to be championed. But above all it has a Person to be loved, with the love we had for Him at first, a passionate and undying love. Pergamum Moral laxity (compromise) characterized the church at Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17). Although this church was true to the name of Christ and faithful to Him (Rev 2:13), it needed to repent. Jesus said, "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. And you have others who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans" (Rev 2:14-15). Although the church as a whole did not believe or practice the doctrine of Balaam, the church allowed in her fellowship those who did. She was unwilling to exercise church discipline. She was now taken to task by Jesus because she had become tolerant of false teachings and immoral practices. Our Lord is not only anxious that we should love Him and that we should suffer bravely for Him, but also that we should believe in Him and hold to the truth (1 Ti 4:16; Titus 2:1). Otherwise we will cause confusion. Thyatira Moral laxity (libertinism) characterized the church at Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29). Yet Christ said, "I know your works" (Rev 2:19). Love, faith, service, perseverance, and doing more than ever are very positive traits of any church. Yet there was the proliferation of activity-- busyness which deceived many into thinking it was therefore a healthy church. One of Satan's greatest strategy is that if he cannot get us sinning he will get us so busy that we have no time for the most important thing in life: nurturing our relationship with the Lord. Busyness is not holiness. Accommodation with the world also plagued this church (Rev 2:20). She was not willing to deal with sin and stand up for righteousness. She was not separate, but like a chameleon fit in with the culture of her day. Sardis Lifelessness characterized the church at Sardis (Rev 3:1-6). The city of Sardis was known for its great wealth and fame. This was also true of the church that met there. This church was in all probability large in numbers. This was a church that had acquired a name. Its reputation as a progressive church had spread far and wide. It was well regarded in the city and in the neighborhood. It was known by the other six churches in the province for its vitality. Yet Jesus popped her bubble of pride and said to her, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Rev 3:1).

9 9 Although this church was faithful to the truth, it was guilty of a cold, dead orthodoxy. It had the Word without the Spirit. And the Bible says that the letter of the law kills while the Spirit gives life. There was no life, no vitality, in the church. She had form but no force: "a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Ti 3:5). The badge of discipleship is not great buildings, stained-glass windows, robed choirs, impressive statistics, and not even correct doctrine, though that is essential. The badge of discipleship is love (Jn 13:35). Laodicea Lukewarness characterized the church at Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22). This church had not been infected with the poison of any special sin or error. We read of neither heretics nor of immorality. But the Christians in Laodicea were "neither cold nor hot" (Rev 3:15-16). They were content with their own spiritual condition. They lacked wholeheartedness, so that the adjective "Laodicean" has passed into our language to describe someone who is complacent in religion, politics or any other sphere of life. She was respectable, sentimental, nominal, and skin-deep. She was a little too cold to be hot and a little too hot to be cold, a little too bad to be good and a little too good to be bad. Cold water is not nauseating, neither is hot water, but lukewarm water is sickening. This church was living close enough to the church to be warmed by the church and close enough to the world to be chilled by the world. Our Lord says, "It were better if you were cold." This church was proud of her riches as she said, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Rev 3:17). Worldly materialism was her pride. We dare not equate God's blessings with big budgets. Bigger is not always better and more is not always a sign of God's blessings. God wants churches growing closer to Him. As the church of Jesus Christ we not only need to hear the kind and gentle words of Jesus who offers forgiveness, hope, encouragement and comfort, but we also need a vision of the glorified Christ among the candlesticks, with His eyes as fire, His feet as brass, and His voice as the sound of many waters; with seven stars in His right hand, a double-edged sword proceeding from His mouth, and His countenance as the shining sun (Rev 1-3). Here we have the greatest preacher of revival none other than the glorified Christ of the book of Revelation. The church needs to face Christ. He is the issue. We must settle with Him. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he did not feel comfortable! Neither did Habakkuk nor Daniel nor Paul nor John. Our Lord is one who does not smile at sin or winks at iniquity. We need a true and complete vision of God in His holiness and Christ in His glory that will bring us to repentance.

10 10 THE OFFER OF FELLOWSHIP Christ ended His message to the seven churches on a positive note: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me" (Rev 3:20). We tend to apply this verse to sinners, but it was spoken to the church, a self-sufficient church, with Christ on the outside. "If anyone" said Jesus. This means one person can start a revival. As someone has said, "Christ is waiting, not for a committee to pass a resolution, but for one person to let Christ in." Jesus promises that He will come in as a guest and stay as host, "I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." In other words, Jesus promises to come in and have fellowship. Too often in our homes we put Christ in a picture on the wall, but too often He is not the Head of the house. In our churches we may put Him in stained-glass windows but never let Him in the door. We may carry His name on our lips but never crown Him in the throne-room of our hearts. The way to revival, in heart, home, or church, is to open the door to Jesus. Jesus' parting words were, "I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have, so that no one may take your crown." (Rev 3:11) May we hold on to what we have and be true to God's calling!

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