What is your definition of "revival"?

[JimB]

What is your definition of "revival"?

Make it brief, please, like a sentence or two, not a page or two.

Reason: I think we are working with different sets of definitions in these threads about “revival” and may be discussing apples and oranges.

~Jim

If you have confidence in a seed you will simply plant it and let it grow.​

​

 

[Joy]

spiritual awakening of believer conviction of sin and conversions, deliverances healing. but I would say this revival would not stay in 'the church' but the effects would lead to social and political change in society.

 

[MrSnow]

To "revive" means to bring life back. Those who are not in Christ are still spiritually dead, so it only refers to those who have been made alive by the Spirit. It is God putting newness of life back into His people, restoring them to their first love, equipping them to advance the Kingdom, etc.

 

[imperfectchristian]

My definition: Lives being changed and restored.

 

[zaksmummy]

spiritual awakening of believer conviction of sin and conversions, deliverances healing. but I would say this revival would not stay in 'the church' but the effects would lead to social and political change in society.

I'm with you but without the social change necessarily.

 

[JimB]

Well, if the lack of response to this thread is any indication, there is, as I suspected, little incentive to define “revival.” Maybe, we just prefer shooting in the dark. Or could it really be because many of us do not have a clue what we are saying when we use the word and have no generally accepted definition at all?

~Jim

If you have confidence in a seed you will simply plant it and let it grow.​

​

 

[New_Wineskin]

quote
What is your definition of "revival"?

Make it brief, please, like a sentence or two, not a page or two.

Reason: I think we are working with different sets of definitions in these threads about “revival” and may be discussing apples and oranges.


From how people talk , it is a mass conversion of people to Christianity in a region that was supposedly christian to begin with . It "revives" what has gone away .


Edited to add : People also include the revival of so-called "backsliders" to bring them back to the fold .


It is based on a false assumption . And , the results of many of "reivals" don't include such a mass conversion in any way like the events people like to give as examples .

 

[JimB]

From how people talk , it is a mass conversion of people to Christianity in a region that was supposedly christian to begin with . It "revives" what has gone away .


Edited to add : People also include the revival of so-called "backsliders" to bring them back to the fold .


It is based on a false assumption . And , the results of many of "reivals" don't include such a mass conversion in any way like the events people like to give as examples .

We do embellish the past and legends build around charismatic individuals and unusual events. It’s simply human nature to make people and things we admire even more admirable to others and things grow with the telling, are embellished, so that by the time it is entered into a book, it become “history” and, as they say, history is written by the victors and interpreted by their historians, There’s always “another side” to every story. We can never know the real facts. We just do the best we can in the here and now.

~Jim

If you have confidence in a seed you will simply plant it and let it grow.​

 

[New_Wineskin]

quote
We do embellish the past and legends build around charismatic individuals and unusual events. It’s simply human nature to make people and things we admire even more admirable to others and things grow with the telling, are embellished, so that by the time it is entered into a book, it become “history” and, as they say, history is written by the victors and interpreted by their historians, There’s always “another side” to every story. We can never know the real facts. We just do the best we can in the here and now.


The grander the retelling would create all the more disappointment when things don't happen the way we would like . I suppose that doesn't matter to the revivals as they are set up over and over again .

 

[lovesblessing]

Hi Jim!

Here's a book for you that you might enjoy reading, if you haven't already.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0310496616/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

The author tells about some wonderful things that God did in the past during revivals........one where the power of God would fall on people who were heading to the US in boats....about 100 miles offshore of the country......rather amazing.

Oh, and my description of revival, well, how can you re-vive something that was never "vived" in the first place?

 

[ARBITER01]

What is your definition of "revival"?

Make it brief, please, like a sentence or two, not a page or two.

Reason: I think we are working with different sets of definitions in these threads about “revival” and may be discussing apples and oranges.

~Jim

If you have confidence in a seed you will simply plant it and let it grow.​

I don't know if I can put a definition on it, I don't really see it in the bible.

I guess it is some sort of movement of GOD whereby HE decides to do something somewhere for a period of time, but that doesn't seem to be what was happening with Jesus. He wouldn't stay in one area too long at all, certainly not months at a time.

 

[Trish1947]

Originally Posted by Jimbeaux

What is your definition of "revival"?

Make it brief, please, like a sentence or two, not a page or two.

Reason: I think we are working with different sets of definitions in these threads about “revival” and may be discussing apples and oranges.

~Jim
​

Since I don't believe the Holy Spirit goes on vacation...Revival is when men and women have come to the end of themselves, the things of this world, life in general, that can beat them up, and come back to God as their refuge and comfort. He never left, they did. Now to learn how to let God be with you each and every day.. I think revival would be more in line with "the times of refreshing" from the Lord, as the Bible speaks of. Was this too long? LOL...
​

 

[GrapeGirl]

Courtesy of dictionary.com:

1.restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc. 2.restoration to use, acceptance, or currency:

 

[InHisLovingArms]

I believe revival is when people get on their knees and receive all the giftings that God has intended for them, and flourishes in them.

 

[Simon_Templar]

My definition of revival is - Practical, substantive, long term change in people's lives, because of transformation into the likeness of Christ, on a large scale.

 

[JoyToTheWhirled]

A sovereign move of the Holy Spirit, awakening the church to repentence and deeper commitment to holiness, and bringing more souls into the kingdom.

 

[nephilimiyr]

Well, if the lack of response to this thread is any indication, there is, as I suspected, little incentive to define “revival.” Maybe, we just prefer shooting in the dark. Or could it really be because many of us do not have a clue what we are saying when we use the word and have no generally accepted definition at all?

~Jim

If you have confidence in a seed you will simply plant it and let it grow.​

Jim, I know you are used to getting alot more responses to your threads than this but I see no reason to judge and insult people for the lack of interest they have shown. I mean, I've made threads with topics I know interest you but then got no reply from you. Should I then say because you didn't reply to them that you just don't have a clue to what you're talking about and that you're just "shooting in the dark"?

Basically I think everyone is getting burnt out on this subject. Thier lack of response I don't think has anything to do with what you accuse them of.

To answer you're question I have to agree with many here, but t1wGl I think said it short but sweet and right on the spot, "My definition: Lives being changed and restored".

 

[Svt4Him]

Jim, I know you are used to getting alot more responses to your threads than this but I see no reason to judge and insult people for the lack of interest they have shown. I mean, I've made threads with topics I know interest you but then got no reply from you. Should I then say because you didn't reply to them that you just don't have a clue to what you're talking about and that you're just "shooting in the dark"?

Basically I think everyone is getting burnt out on this subject. Thier lack of response I don't think has anything to do with what you accuse them of.

To answer you're question I have to agree with many here, but t1wGl I think said it short but sweet and right on the spot, "My definition: Lives being changed and restored".

Come on, he gave eight hours before talking about how people don't really understand. And it was eight hours in his time zone, so it matters little if everyone is sleeping.

 

[nephilimiyr]

My definition of revival is - Practical, substantive, long term change in people's lives, because of transformation into the likeness of Christ, on a large scale.

I don't think I can agree with this definition. I would say this is the goal of revival though While I was reading your post the parable of the sower and seed came to mind. What is going on in revivals? Answer; seed is being scattered.

To me, revival doesn't mean that it's garranteed that seed wont fall on rocky ground or among thorns, and it is not garranteed that seed is going to always fall into good soil.

The revivals in the book of Acts, not everyone present became believers. It is a fact that people, such as the Galatians, after the revivals that got them saved and baptised in the Holy Spirit fell into corrupting the word and reverting back into even worse practises they were in before revival came to them.

 

[~RENEE~]

It's in my sig