Revival that is motivated and sustained externally is not true revival; it is merely externalism. Revival must be inspired and sustained from within, without external hype.
In other words, true revival is intrinsic, not extrinsic.
Therefore, true revival is more than prayer meetings and revival conferences, even though these are some of the means and channels of grace that spark revival.
True revival is the igniting of the all-consuming Refiner-fire in the inner man; it is the expression of the all-sanctifying Christ-life in the soul; and it is the manifestation of the all-prevailing Spirit-dynamics through the body. When true revival happens, its intensity and passion will be sustained and growing internally without the need for external stimuli.
While true revival is inspired and sustained internally, its resulting influence and impact are external. Like a contagion, true revival will become the source for its own transmission in the external environment. Like a fire accelerant, true revival will supply its own spiritual fuel to spread the fire of revival to its community round about. Like water flowing from the internal of the temple (Ezekiel 47), true revival will spring up a mighty river that will transform the city and nation where it is situated.
When true revival embodies every member of the church in true oneness, its holy fire will intensify and spread across every strata of society without bounds; it will burn up every work of the evil ones and bring transformation to the land.
“And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:40-47)
“But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” (Acts 19:9-20)
In true revival, what is inspired and sustained in the internal being will become the external stimuli that will ignite greater true revivals in the city.
Let true revival begin!
“A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, and making God and His love triumph in the heart and life.” – Andrew Murray
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