Revival

And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:1

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God

out of the fish's belly, and said,
I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD,

and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I,

and thou heardest my voice.

For thou hadst cast me into the deep,

in the midst of the seas;

and the floods compassed me about:

all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;

yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:

the depth closed me round about,

the weeds were wrapped about my head.

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;

the earth with her bars was about me for ever:

yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,

O LORD my God.

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD:

and my prayer came in unto thee,

into thine holy temple.

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that that I have vowed.

Salvation is of the LORD.

and the LORD spake unto the fish,

and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Jonah 2:1-10

What is revival – that is, what is biblical revival? Passing many churches in this nation, you will see signs advertising “revivals” and many of these types of gatherings are receiving national, if not, global popularity.

Is the jerking, shaking, and spasmodic body movements accompanying these revivals biblical or is it another spirit manifesting in loss of control, hysteria and trance. What is this falling down backwards and writhing on the floor in some ecstatic state? Is THIS the quickening of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter the Father sends in Jesus name? Jesus Christ told us what to expect when the Spirit is present:

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:


Let us examine what SCRIPTURE defines as revival and try the spirits of those ministries who are claiming that the Spirit of the Almighty God is present in their meetings. A study of the Word of God will reveal, that those ministries are outside the parameters of true Christianity and preaching “…another Jesus”, blaspheming the truth of the Word of God.

The Lord warned us that many would come in His name, proclaiming to be Christ.


Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Go ye not thereafter after them! If they say, “He is in the desert…go forth NOT, He is in the secret chambers – BELIEVE IT NOT!” If they say, He is in Kansas City or Pensacola, what will you do?


Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not there: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.


The Bible warns us against deceiving, lying spirits whose sole purpose is to drive us far away from the truth of the scriptures. In fact, both Old and New Testaments have much to say regarding false prophets and exhortation that we test their words and judge righteously.


1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.


I recently viewed a “revival” on Daystar Television and was concerned to see so many overcome by emotionalism and hysteria. If the scriptures tell us that He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment, why is it that none of these manifestations of the Holy Spirit were occurring? I saw men and women shaking, having little to no control over their bodies, I heard chanting and, NO SCRIPTURE.

We are instructed to study to show ourselves approved unto GOD, and if we are Christians, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who will lead us and guide us into ALL truth. If this is not the biblical revival that the scriptures reveal, then what is it?

Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.


The apostle Paul wrote that we were to have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to reprove them, for all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light. The Light of God is revealed in the Word and testified of by His Holy apostles and prophets. As Christians, we are expressly forbidden from partaking in these “unfruitful works of darkness”:

1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.


1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Biblical Revival

God has quickened (revived) us, who were dead in trespass and sins. We were translated from death to life WHEN we repented of our sins and believed the gospel. If we have indeed obeyed the gospel:

We became a new creature:


2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


We receive a new heart:


Eze 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:


We have passed from death to life:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We receive Gifts of the Holy Spirit:


1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.


1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.


1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.


1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;


1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;


1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:


1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

We produce the Fruit of the Spirit:


Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,


Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.


We overcome sin:

1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.


1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

We are born again:


1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.


We proclaim the Gospel:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We pray and God hears us:


1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.


We have power with God:


Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed

We are hated by the world:

Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.


The apostle Peter teaches us in 2nd Peter 1, to add to our faith, temperance, which is self-control. The Holy Spirit brings peace, calm and clarity to our beings, causing us to walk circumspectly and upright, conducting ourselves in manners as becoming Christians. The Spirit does not cause us to exhibit wild behavior, nor does He cause us to let go with wreckless abandon. He does not chant, He does not cause us to writhe, He does not cause us to move our body with violent jerking motions. These actions are found NO WHERE in scripture.


The breath of God IS His Holy Spirit. It brings us life:

The Spirit of God hath made me,

and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Job 33:4

And when he had said this,

he breathed on them, and saith unto them,

Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Joh 20:22

Biblical revival is therefore evidenced by repentance, bringing restoration to a soul that was alienated from God. The very fact that we must be quickened, as defined by scripture, is because of sin. An individual who is in right standing with Christ, has no need of spiritual revival, as his life is hid in Christ.


Psa 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.


Psa 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?


Psa 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?


(Hos 14:7) They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

(Hab 3:2) O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

When the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the destruction of the Temple, Jesus said, “Destoy THIS temple, and in 3 days I will raise it up.” Indeed the temple He spoke of was His body. The glory of the gospel is truly revealed in those words, that through His death, the shedding of His precious blood, we who were dead, would be raised with Him, forgiven of our trespasses and spiritually revived unto life. This is revival.

(Hos 6:2) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.