Revival

I’m a Pentecostal believer.  That confession has just caused some to negatively prejudice everything I’m about to write.  It may have also assigned undeserved credibility to an entirely different group.  This division of opinion comes after centuries of awakenings and abuse in church history where the Pentecostal experience was, in whole or part, the center of seismic shifts of ecclesiastic direction.  

   

This divisive phenomena is not new.  In the first recording of the Church’s Pentecostal experience Peter had to defend the undeniable manifestations that confused the 120 people present.  He quoted the prophet Joel to help anchor the confusion as to the purpose of this “Latter Day Rain”.   He reminded the audience there that Jesus was a man accredited to them by God through the signs and wonders that followed Him (Acts 2).  In fact, Jesus himself instructed the twelve to utilize these miraculous gifts in conjunction with their inaugural missionary journey (Matthew 10).   And in his final days Jesus helped assuage their doubt by reminding them of the miraculous things that they had seen Him do and telling them that they would do even “greater things” (John 14). 

My study of church history (since it’s conception at Pentecost) has revealed regular outbreaks of these signs and wonders, healings and ecstatic manifestations.  The undeniable trend is that God breaks through in, what appears to be, sudden and unexpected ways to rekindle the mission and refocus the efforts.  Each outbreak is different in geography, scale and lasting impact and most are marked by some controversy.  However, it is clear  that God uses these times and tools to defibrillate the heart and life of His Church.   We call them revivals and I’m praying for one in my community. 

As I pray for revival I’m careful to not focus on the signs and wonders exclusively.  It’s my prayer that these things would give evidence but never be THE point.  It’s my prayer that God’s revival in my community would be marked with the miraculous and sustained by mission.  Too often these geographic outbreaks begin with extraordinary encouragement to existing believers but then sometimes struggle to not become introverted.  You see this as Pentecostal Pilgrims continue to opine the glory days of Brownsville, Kansas City, Toronto and even Azusa Street talking of revival in a past tense. 

I’m praying for a new revival for my town and church.  A fresh pouring of the Holy Spirit that is invited by a repentant and humble group of believers.  A revival brought not for our fame but for His.  A revival not only marked by signs and wonders but, more importantly, by change.  Change in individual lives that turn away from sin and toward grace.  Change in a church that sees itself as loving, missional and able.  Change in a community that sees God’s providence redeem the institutions of industry, government, education and religion.   I believe that true revival isn’t identified by emotion but is evidenced by new life. It’s my prayer that God would use whatever tool necessary to spark that revival in my life, the life of our church and our community.  Pray with me.