The Resurrection of the Unsaved

Revivals That Stay

Revivals are among the charter rights of the church. They are the evidences of its divinity, the tokens of God’s presence, the witness of his power. The frequency and power of these extraordinary seasons of grace are the tests and preservers of the vital force in the church.

The church which is not visited by these seasons is as sterile in all spiritual products as a desert, and is not and cannot meet the designs of God’s church. Such churches may have all the show and parade of life, but it is only a painted life.

The revival element belongs to the individual, as well as to the church, life. The preacher whose experience is not marked by these inflows of great grace may question with anxious scrutiny whether he is in grace.

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Satan Hates Revival

Originally printed in the Gospel Herald, June 17, 1952

A real heaven-sent revival puts Satan on the job with all his available followers, in order to counteract the influence of revival. Let us not confuse a genuine soul awakening revival with the superficial run-of-mine “not-more-than-one week” variety where so much formality prevails that the Holy Spirit has very little chance to work. We have no desire to minimize the decisions which are made, but unless the lukewarm and cold ones are awakened to their dangerous condition and revived, it is hardly a revival. Rev 3:15-16: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Genuine revival must be preceded by much prayer and by Spirit-filled preaching of the Word of God and denouncing of sin. Revival can never come about unless people are made aware of their own sinfulness and coldness.

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