WHAT IS TRUE PERSONAL REVIVAL
ARTICLE
With so much being called revival today, which isn’t scriptural, Christians need to know what genuine, scriptural revival is. Then, personal revival must be more than just knowing about it; revival must be experienced. This is because revival simply means receiving life again.
In genuine salvation, two points stand out: our sin and Jesus as Savior from our sin. In true revival, these same two points come to the forefront.To be revived, we must see our sin and we must see Jesus. How to see Him, know Him and experience His life is the goal of personal revival.
Personal revival means being emptied of self effort, self confidence, self exaltation and pride. In personal revival, God has all preeminence and becomes recognized in His holiness, divine excellence and majesty.
In salvation, what we as sinners caught sight of was our own sinfulness. It was here that we first recognized our own hopeless condition. It was here that we saw Jesus as Savior and ourselves terribly in need of a Savior. Then, by repentance of sin and grace through faith, we received Jesus as our
personal Lord and Savior.
We made a total surrender of our heart and life to Jesus Christ. Then, we may have drifted away or stumbled in a trial—and sin slipped in. Now, in personal revival, we want to return to our first love and experience life again. We still have eternal salvation; we have just lost the life and love of our salvation. We have also lost our joy.
Just as with salvation, if personal revival is to occur, there must be deep conviction of sin and brokenness over it. Seeing our own sins in light of God's holiness leads us to personal revival. Through repentance and a return to our Lord Jesus by grace through faith, we experience a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Just as we first came to Christ, so we now return in personal revival! “Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore, from which thou art fallen, and repent…”
(Rev. 2:4-5) "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" (Colossians 3:10)
Revival should be one of the top goals of every minister.