Sometimes it helps reframe our thinking to ask a different question than that which has been asked before.

The term "Revival" is often used by Christians. But where did the term come from? Is it a Biblical concept, or an idea constructed by men? When did this term first emerge among Christians?

I believe in God moving among His people. I long for the salvation of precious people. But what of the origins of the term?

Does anyone have any study or any insight?

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Travis

Travis,

Ive been thinking about that very thing for a few years now. The Lord doesn't seem to let the term sit right anymore. Lately, I don't even have liberty to pray for it, and am checked every time I try (and I've been present for genuine revival, and the Lord for some reason has used my preaching in it, so I'm not biased).

What we deem as revival seems to me to be the normative state of believers, and those that are not "revived", I have begun to feel may actually need salvation (or sanctification/baptism with the Holy Spirit).

Deep in my spirit I feel that the pursuit of revival has allowed for the church to become apostate, seeking experience rather than salvation, and some ethereal work rather than Jesus.

What is usually deemed revival historically, is nothing more than salvation en masse; but since it happens usually in church buildings or among professing believers, our discernment is biased more towards a renewal than something brand new.

EDIT: When the Lord moved among our house fellowship in CA years ago, and before my wilderness, I was being led to believe that "revival" was an outpouring of the second blessing, as when the Holy Spirit moved in power among us it was when that was being taught. We had people trying to pile into our apartment and spilling outside to hear and seek God among us. But Satan got a foothold and division spread, and the work was quenched. Just an observation.

John 12:32 (KJV)
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all [men] unto me.”

Q… But how do we do that?





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elizabeth

Elizabeth: I think John 12:32 is Jesus speaking prophetically of His death, resurrection, and ascention. He said He would be lifted up from the Earth. In a sense that happened on the cross, although I am not certain that is what He meant. For sure that happened when He returned to the Father. He said that no man comes to the Father except he be drawn of the Holy Spirit. He said later in John that it was necessary for Him to go so that the Holy Spirit, the drawer if you will, could come. Just my take on that scripture.

So I guess I am saying that I don't think that this is our job, to figure out how to draw men. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to preach Jesus wherever we go, to make the gospel known.

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Travis

Greg: That is what I found to be true as I researched as well. The etymology of the word "revival" does not show much usage at all before the 17 or 1800's. So does that make this idea of renewal and awakening an idea from scripture, or the idea of Mather? And, what consequences does this have on how the idea has developed over time?

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Travis

Thank you Brother Travis, for your thoughtful answer.

As I continue to meditate on this Scripture, … this is my thoughts,..

When we are *Born of God,.. His Spirit has come to live in us,..
or have His *Life in us, then as we *walk in The Spirit, in everything, ,… letting Him speak through us.,,always, then we are *lifting Him ,.. (and not the *flesh up.)
(Christ in you, the hope of glory)..(not I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me).

And that Spirit of God will draw men unto Him.

What do you think?

…………….♥️
elizabeth

I agree 100% with what you are saying, I just don't think that it is what John is saying in this passage.

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Travis

You've posed a critical question, Travis - what does "revival" mean, is there an equivalent concept in the New Testament, and what is it supposed to accomplish.

I think Farley handles the topic very well in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6yFrqZtxo

What do you think?

More broadly, you might also want to check out this interview with Farley - where he discusses the danger of "adopting our own language to talk about God instead of getting to know God in His language, and the words He chose to express His love toward us":

https://www.acc.edu.au/podcast/andrew-farley/

That advice actually resonates with what Ron Bailey (Philologos) used to do on these forums - insisting that we use biblical vocabulary and language, so that our thinking is based on the truth. I can better appreciate his rigorous approach these days.

On the topic of "revival" - in so far as God is working amongst believers, I believe "visitation of God" or "movement of God" might be better phrases to use than "revival".