Every church craves revival. Longing to see the hearts of our people turn completely to God and actuated by daily life choices that honor Godly principles, we pray, teach and yearn for a revival within those we minister to, our country and our world.
We may define revival one of these ways*:
- “God’s quickening visitation of his people, touching their hearts and deepening his work of grace in their lives.” J. I. Packer
- “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) J. Edwin Orr
- “the awakening or quickening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose.” Robert Coleman
- “the return of the Church from her backslidings, and the conversion of sinners.” Charles Finney
- “an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.” Richard Owen Roberts
- “a community saturated with God” Duncan Campbell
- “the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness, and work by prayer and the Word after repentance in crisis for their spiritual decline.” Earle Cairns
What does the issue of abortion have to do with revival?
The enemy is very calculating. He knows if our church body operates in shame, guilt and condemnation, we distance ourselves from God. Due to feelings of unworthiness, we see people spiral even more farther away from God’s truth. Revival can only happen when we align our hearts to Christ, His promises, His standards and His mercy and grace. With at least 25% of our church attendees having personally experienced abortion, and at least 2-3 times that having been affected by it through a close family or friend, abortion is a wound that is inhibiting many to walk in the freedom of Christ.
Also many Christians don’t believe there is anything wrong with engaging in sexual relations before marriage. The marriage covenant and bearing of children are used throughout the Word to help us understand the covenant we have with God and His love for us. It makes sense the enemy would target the Church in these areas.
By bringing healing and wholeness in the areas of sexual brokenness, we can open the door for revival. Revelation 12:11a says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
When one has received the forgiveness of their Savior empowering them to walk in freedom, their testimony cannot be refuted. The testimony of the redeemed begets freedom for others.
May our message continue to be the same we read in every book, every chapter, and every word of our Bibles – that our Father longs to restore us to Him.
*https://sbts-wordpress-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/equip/uploads/2009/09/revival-handout.pdf
