Road to Revival

An understanding to the meaning of revival




Revival (Webster )
: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: as
a : renewed attention to or interest in something
b : a new presentation or publication of something old
c (1) : a period of renewed religious interest (2) : an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings
Revival (Dictionary.com )
restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.
an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.
the act of reviving.
Revive (Oxford )
Restore to life or consciousness
Resuscitate
Bring around
Bring back to consciousness
Regain life, consciousness, or strength
Give new strength or energy to
Restore interest in or the popularity of
Improve the position or condition of
Revive (Webster )
: to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again
1 : to restore to consciousness or life
2 : to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state : bring back
3 : to renew in the mind or memory

The Road to Revival

And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
– Ezra 9:8 (NKJV)
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
– Genesis 35:1-7 (NKJV)
The Road to Revival is…
…Often preceded by a period of gross wickedness, sin, moral decay and blatant disregard for God and His commands.
…Often started or sparked by a word from God and usually through one of his servants.
…A path that requires us to forsake all that is displeasing to God.
…A path that requires us to put away all foreign gods, purify ourselves and change our garments.
…A path that requires us to return to a place of obedience and fellowship with God.

All the definitions of “Revival” assume that there was already life, consciousness, vitality or strength prior to the revival.



Things to Remember:

  • Every time we perceive an issue in our relationship with God, the problem is NEVER with him.
  • With God, nothing is impossible.
  • God does not change.