We have talked about why we even need revival, why revival is not just an even and why revival is not primarily a tool of evangelism. Let’s move on and talk about how a revival should to more than just give us an emotional charge
Psalm 85:6
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
God is clearly all for us expressing joy, and even emotive joy over the blessings He has clearly given us. In our verse above, the Psalmist clearly asks to be revived so that the people can rejoice. We see this in other places as well:
After his sin with Bathsheba and his restoration(revival one might say) David had the following to say:
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
The congregation sang the following in song to celebrate their return from captivity in Babylon:
Psalm 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Who can forget David dancing for joy upon the return of the Ark of the Covenant in 2 Samuel 6?
Obviously, joy and excitement at revival and restoration is very appropriate and highly encouraged by our Lord. Why then, do I raise this issue? What do we need to consider when we balance the emotional aspects of revival?
Did revival make me happy, or did it make me change? I can be whirling in the aisles and barking like a dog during service, but If I leave as the same person I came in as, then I was not revived.
Was the focus on the emotional aspects of revival, or on the sound preaching and admonishment of the Word of God? If the focus is on how excited I got, then I have become the focus and not God. If I, or anyone else was the focus, then we were not revived
Truth in Palmyra 
June 5, 2018 at 09:21
“I can be whirling in the aisles and barking like a dog during service.” You actually get all pentecostal on us in your revival services? 🙂
You make an excellent point it this post: “If I leave as the same person I came in as, then I was not revived.”
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June 5, 2018 at 09:24
No, LOL, we don’t. That’s actually another topic that is probably going to come up. We tend to be somewhat less lively than stones, to be honest. And, thanks!
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June 5, 2018 at 11:00
RE: emotional aspects of revival vs. admonishment of the Word of God
Excellent point, Wally! The point is not how “charged up” we feel out as we’re walking out the door of a revival service (done that), but was there a real change in our hearts that resulted in greater commitment to the Lord’s leading through His Word a week, a month, and a year after the service?
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June 5, 2018 at 11:27
Thanks, Tom. Sigh. Even in our rather boring place we can get pretty excited about a sermon that was preached and just gush over the speaker and how good he did. Then…..nothing. I mean huh?
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June 6, 2018 at 10:15
Wally, maybe that dynamic is part of what’s holding things back…? Is the focus of enthusiasm for the speaker (and how good he did) or is it for what was *spoken*?
It may be worth investigating..
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June 6, 2018 at 10:38
Actually, it needs little investigation, Anita. You actually rather got the point. Often, that is exactly the case. Our speaker this year, who is well known to us and a good friend too, was great. He put his heart and soul into it. He approached it a bit different than others in the past, though. He was in contact with some of us prior to his coming and laid some ground work. It was a bit different this year, and I think the outcome is already showing to be different than in the past. There are some evidences that some actually HEARD what was said, and furthermore, have acted on it.
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June 5, 2018 at 19:39
I enjoyed this you are right revival is not about emotions first; it is about God!
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