Have you ever witnessed a church holding a week of revival meetings, seeming to have large attendance; and then the following weeks it becomes apparent that nothing has changed? To answer the question, "What is revival?" maybe I should first suggest what is not revival.

It is not people joining a church, nor denominational movement, nor even national magazines claiming that millions of Americans have been born again that constitutes a revival. These things may accompany revival, but in and by themselves they are not revival. So, what is revival?

All the great revivals in history were born in periods of intense spiritual and moral darkness. The center of that darkness is humanistic philosophy based upon man's intellect, reasoning, ideals and objectives. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator," Rom. 1:25.

As the result of this humanism, God sends His judgments: leaving men over to themselves, working that which is unseemly, with vile affections burning in their lust one toward another, a reprobate mind, [or a mind void of sound judgment], unrighteousness, fornication, murder and children disobedient to parents. Rom. 1:21-32.

In true revival there is a moving of the church toward separation from secular humanism not only in philosophy, but in dress, life style and practice; returning back to teaching the true character of God.

In a true revival the church goes back to teaching that man is by nature sinful, that he is born a lost sinner, that God hates and punishes sin, that those who do not repent are eternally lost and go to a literal burning hell. It teaches that men can be saved by grace through faith, by the quickening operation of the Holy Spirit, bringing them to the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon through His blood, by being made righteous by the imputed righteousness of Christ as a work of grace and mercy.

True revival is true repentance, which is real penitence. It is sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence, which is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Such revival is so beautifully described in Joel 2:12-17, where the Lord said, ". . . Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garment . . . ." "And let them say . . . ." Here is the prayer, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?"

Lord, look on all assembled here,
Who in thy presence stand
To offer up united prayer
For this our sinful land.
 
Oft' have we each in private prayed
Our country might find grace;
Now hear the same petitions made
In this appointed place.
 
Great God of Hosts, deliverance bring;
Guide those that hold the helm;
Support the state, preserve the king,
And spare the guilty realm.

Why should the world look at you and me and ask the foolish question, "Where is their God?" When God's people are humble and contrite of heart, are walking in the fear of the Lord, when Christ is formed in them, when they love God and keep his commandments. The world can see God in them and will not ask, "Where is their God?" It is such a force of righteousness in that culture that marks a period of true revival.

When we do not see our heritage, or our children, given over to the reproach of the heathen; but we will train up our children in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6. Amen.