A friend of mine (you know who you are) gave me the book Revival and Revivalism as a gift this year, and I'm enjoying it immensely. It's a thorough historical look at revivals in early American history, and it's surprisingly enjoyable to read; one might expect such a book to be rather didactic, but it isn't. It's so refreshing to read of true revivals in our history, and what should be the earmarks of a true revival. One such "sign" is the absence of denominational boundaries. Here are excerpts from chapter three:
"True revivals rarely remain within denominational boundaries...Being a Christian was seen to be more important than being a Baptist or a Methodist or a Presbyterian...One mark of an outpouring of the Spirit of God is the presence of a stronger catholicity of spirit among believers. Only when churches put adherence to Christ first can the world begin to recognize the real identity of those who bear His Name."
The stories in Revival and Revivalism are refreshing. There is no hype, no gold dust, no craziness or dubious doctrine: only the Spirit of God bringing conviction, redemption and times of refreshing to men and women, young and old.
1 comment:
I've never read Revival and Revivalism but have read stories in the bible about revival that occurred on the island of Paphos, at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Thessalonica, Corinth, and all were true and brought on by the Spirit of the Lord, God. The men who would preach and start these revivals would constantly have to stay on the move because the Jews (who, of all people, should have recognized a move of God) would start to blaspheme, contradict and oppose the message, so much so as to inflict murder on the Apostles doing the preaching. The Apostles were constantly being attacked by the people who should have been open to a genuine move of the spirit of God. What motivated these persecutions? And what stopped the revival on many occasions? ENVY- just one of the many hindrances to revival..."not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6) So whatever means the Lord chooses to get the attention of people, by miracles, gold dust, mannah from Heaven, a congregation of 5,000...I choose to rely on what the Spirit of God is doing with that ministry to turn hearts toward Him.
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