“Revival” is a popular word among some Christians but with a very different meaning than previously. The more recent signs and wonders-based “revivals” don’t present confession and repentance as essential and they prefer the “rain your blessing down” songs over “I Surrender All.”
Biblical revival includes both the “if” and the “then” in: “IF you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, THEN rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (I Samuel 7:3). And don’t forget those same two parts in II Chronicles 7:14.
Historically, “Revival Meetings” were times when ones’ commitment to God was to be revived or stirred up, and there was typically the element of going deeper with God. Back then we took promises like Isaiah 57:15b seriously: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” There was an expectation of hearts being turned toward God.
This goes deep. Biblical revival reaches to the core issues of life. It addresses the objects of our love and affection. The things that make life good for us. Our source of identity. And it calls us to deliberately separate ourselves from anything that interferes with our love for God.
Biblical revival implies confession and repentance not only for sin like porn or tobacco, but for our spiritual pride and separatist spirit which so brutalize the unity Jesus prayed for – along with repenting of our indulgence in the fleshly pleasures that American opportunity offers.
Exuberant worship can appropriately accompany Biblical revival but without such repentance it is only “resounding gongs or clanging cymbals.” And yes, authentic signs, wonders and miracles including deliverance and healing will hopefully accompany and confirm the presentation of the Word through Spirit-filled and sanctified servants of God, but they won’t become what the revival is about!
May it be so!
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
May 30, 2026
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