By Dave Butts

THERE is a hope spreading within the Church throughout the land. It is the hope of revival. Revival is an awakening of the Church to the presence of Christ in her midst. Arthur Wallis defined it this way: "Revival then is such a display of God's holiness and power that often human personalities are overshadowed and human programs abandoned. It is God breaking into the consciousness of men in majesty and glory." Here are some brief definitions of revival that will help us understand this growing hope in the Church.

• Revival is the Church falling love with Jesus all over again - Vance Havner
• Revival is a community saturated with God - Duncan Campbell
• Revival is God purifying His church - Erwin Lutzer
• 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
• Revival is ultimately Christ Himself, seen, felt, heard, living, active, moving in and through His Body on earth - Stephen Olford

However you define it, it is clear that God has always worked through revival to bring new life to his people. Whether you look at the seven major revivals in the Old Testament or at the revivals down through church history, God remains committed to waking up his people through seasons of special manifestations of His presence and power.

As the Church today begins to be aware of our great need for revival, the question arises, "How does such a revival come?" One matter is clear: revival comes by the sovereign will of God and not because we have scheduled one. It doesn't even come because we want a revival and have asked God to send one. This time of refreshing is in the Lord's hand and comes when and in ways that only He determines Having said that, a study of the past reveals that there are things that God's people can do to prepare the way for revival. These things do not "force the hand" of God, but rather demonstrate that God is at work within us to prepare the way for another time of spiritual awakening that he is initiating.

The Church's part in revival:

1. A clear understanding of where the Church currently stands with God - When we look at ourselves and see our worldliness and lack of commitment, we begin to understand the need for revival. When it is apparent that the Church is failing to impact or change our society, we begin to express our desperation for a fresh touch from God.
2. A repentant, humble attitude - This builds off of the first point. When every survey indicates that there is very little difference in lifestyles of believers and non-believers, it is time for the Church to repent. As we see that our programs and activities have done very little to change the moral climate of our nation, then we accept our desperate need for God to work in us individually first. We humble ourselves before Him and confess our sins and inadequacies.
3. A movement of united prayer to seek the face of God begins - From our place of repentance and humility, Christians begin to gather together to pray and ask the Lord to revive us. A.T. Pierson said it this way, "From the day of Pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined." Pierson indicates that united prayer gatherings help usher in revival and are essential to sustaining revival.