Revive (To Restore)

Since the Reformation, we have had many "Awakenings" which is another word for "revival". Luther was the famous who revived (restored). Revive means to "to restore". Many revival meetings were series of Christian services held to provoke those outside of it to become part of it. Webster Dictionary says: " 1 : 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 2 : restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract) Revivals only mentioned in the Old Testament but never in the New Testament because Christ already "restored" what the Old Testament was lacking. Quotes on REVIVAL: “The trouble with the charismatic movement is that there is virtually no talk at all of the Spirit ‘coming down’. It is more something they do or receive: they talk now about ‘renewal’ not revival. The tendency of the modern movement is to lead people to seek experiences. True revivals humble men before God and emphasize the person of Christ. If all the talk is about experiences and gifts it does not conform to the classic instances of revival.” Martin Lloyd-Jones The Fight of Faith Banner of Truth Trust, 1990 Therefore, in a post-Christian world and in an often post-Christian church it is imperative to point out with love where apostasy lies. We must openly discuss with all who will listen, treating all men as fellow men, but we must call apostasy, apostasy. If we do not do that, we are not ready for reformation, revival, and a revolutionary church in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are all too easily infilitrated with relativism and synthesis in our own day. We tend to lack antithesis. Francis Schaeffer Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 39 Many a so-called revival is only a drive for church members, which adds more unsaved sinners, starched and ironed but not washed, to a fellowship where even the true believers have not been aroused for years. Vance Havner Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience. A.W. Tozer Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die-or if need be, to win and die! "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Charles Finney Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again. Vance Havner Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility. Charles Finney Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews .Before he came, they looked and longed for him, and boasted of him and rejoiced in hope of him; but when he came they could not abide him, but hated him, and would not believe that he was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put him to death...So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before. Richard Baxter Trying to run a church without revivals can be done when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk. Billy Sunday We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again. G. Campbell Morgan The average Christian is so cold and contented with his wretched condition that there is no vacuum of desire into which the blessed Spirit can rush in satisfying fullness. A.W. Tozer Alas! can we think that the reformation is wrought, when we cast out a few ceremonies, and changed some vestures,and gestures, and forms! Oh no, sirs! it is the converting and saving of souls that is our business. Richard Baxter I read of the revivals of the past, great sweeping revivals where thousands of men were swept into the Kingdom of God. I read about Charles G. Finney winning his thousands and his hundreds of thousands of souls to Christ. Then I picked up a book and read the messages of Charles G. Finney and the message of Jonathan Edwards on 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' and I said, 'No wonder men trembled; no wonder they fell in the altars and cried out in repentance and sobbed their way to the throne of grace!' Leonard Ravenhill A lot of our activity often mistaken for revival is just the church turning over, but not waking up. Vance Havner Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival [wash my mouth] men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations. Charles Spurgeon Study the history of revival. God has always sent revival in the darkest days. Oh, for a mighty, sweeping revival today! Adrian Rogers There can be no revival when Mr. Amen and Mr. Wet-Eyes are not found in the audience. Charles Finney Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. A.W. Tozer Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned? Leonard Ravenhill If we fight the Lord's battles merely by duplicating the way the world does its work, we are like little boys playing with wooden swords pretending they are in the battle while their big brothers are away in some distant bloody land. Francis Schaeffer Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 142

Theology and Doctrines

Tozer was not a calvnist. He pastored several Christian and Missionary Alliance churches which by any means not even close to Reformed or Calvinism theology. Christian and Missionary Alliance Missionary movement started by Dr. Albert B. Simpson which emerged from the Holiness Movement, in particular Pentecostalism. His formulation is known as the FourFold Gospel: "Jesus our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King". The FourFold Gospel is symbolized in the logo of the C&MA. I followed various theologians from different background. Some are Reformed theologians (i.e. Calvinism) and some are not reformed (i.e. Arminianism). One of my favorite Theologians is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones who Dr. Lloyd-Jones was brought up in Welsh Calvinistic Methodism. If you have never heard of the Calvinistic Methodists the very term may seem contradictory. Dr. Jones pastored Westminster Chapel in London with Dr. Campbell Morgan who was a famous Arminian theologian. Morgan and Lloyd-Jones' association was a fitting example of how Christians can work together even when they differ on secondary issues (salvation). I also have Lutheran theologian books written by german Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of my favorite "Cost of Discipleship". Other Theologians I read are: John Bunyan (The Pilgrim's Progress) John MacArthur (Gospel According to Jesus) Chuck Swindoll (Amazing Grace) R. C. Sproul (Now that is a Good Question) J.I. Packard (Knowing God) Francis Schaeffer (The Church before the Watching World) David Jeremiah (Invasion of Other Gods) Jerry Bridges (Pursuit of Holiness) James Montgomery Boice (Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?) Ray C. Stedman ("What Faith Is" and "True Worship") Many Others There is often a disagreement between Dispensationalism and Covenantism as well salvation (Armenianism and Calvinism). A.W. Tozer made an interesting comparision for us to "think" before believing either Calvinism or Arminianism or somewhere in between. I have a strong feeling that most people are unsure or the are in the "middle" between Calvinism and Arminianism.

Imagine two men reading the same passage of Scripture, one a Calvinist who has been brought up on Calvinistic theology from his youth, the other reared in the Arminian tradition and thoroughly indoctrinated in Arminianism. The passage they read is Hebrews 6:4-6, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance". The impressions the Calvinist receives from these words will differ radically from those received by the Arminian, yet neither one will be conscious of adding to, subtracting from or otherwise altering the passage in any way. Each will understand the words to mean exactly what he has been taught that they mean. The meaning he sees there will appear to him so natural, so logical and right that he will wonder how anyone can see any other. (And sadly enough each will more than likely think the other a hypocrite who receives his teaching from the devil. But that is not pertinent to this particular argument.)"

I read all kinds doctrines from various theologians, perhaps, I closer to an agreement with Reformed for one reason, it is close to traditional as well as close to truth. From the "surface", Christians are looking for any denominations or non-denominational churches who teaches the way people WANT to hear so they could give their time to pursuits more to their liking, such as enjoying the pleasures of the world. My main problem with Churches today are teaching doctrines that are not biblical just to attract people with itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound spiritual docrine which is why my thoughts about Reformed theology is more realiable than any other. I didn't say Reformed theology is truth because on the Bible is truth while doctrines are taught by man and I believe that Reformed doctrines are closer to truth than any other doctrines. I am Spirit-filled Christian FIRST. Secondary is the doctrines I rely on which is Reformed.