What is revival?

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:12

Restore means to take back to the starting point. Synonyms: revive, quicken. Meaning "to take back to the beginning; to live again."

Revival is for God's people. We possess everlasting life, but are we living it? "Revival" should be the norm! It is God's standard for the normal Christian life. We have the opportunity to live victorious, Spirit-filled Christian lives every day. When we are converted, we are brought from spiritual illness to health; from pride to grace; from the abnormal to the normal.

Revival requires a recognition of sin. Revival is for those who are guilty. It requires taking responsibility.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. -Psalm 51:2,3

Conviction of sin is a work of God. When we begin to "go through the motions" in our relationship with God; when we do not give Him our full attention, everything becomes mechanical and routine. We get in a rut. We don't even realize that we are living without the power of the Spirit, rather we are living in our own power, trying to serve the Lord in our own strength, ignorant of our own poverty. We become weak and useless, being blind to our own sin and moral decay. We lack sensitivity to sin in our lives and (even as the psalmist in the text) fall into sin and out of fellowship with God.

David was given the truth about his sin in II Sam 11:1-7. It is God's mercy that reveals the truth to our hearts.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Prov. 16:6

Revival requires repentance. We must agree with God about our sins, accept the consequences, and ask God to forgive and cleanse. There must be earnest seeking of reconciliation with God.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps. 51:17

Revival results in rejoicing and restoration. We have been cleansed; there is nothing (no sin) between us and God. Full fellowship is restored and we rejoice in His great mercy and grace.