DESIRING JAN - MAR 2025

Revival
Issue: 01
Volume: 11

From Desiring Revival

Tertullian is credited with the quote, “The blood of time you heard a message on Hell, with a Preacher who
the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Such were the times wept as he preached? Two: Ears to discern the strange
that the Church found herself to be the most vibrant in sounds. The Church, which is alive, is militant in its outlook of
representing her Lord and Saviour. In the refiners fire is the its commission. Doctrine and contending for the faith keeps
metal made pure and the brightest of saints in God’s the Bride pure. With the influx of good being called evil and
kingdom shone during the darkest of night. The rich man the world in distress, the need is to declare the qualities of
who came to Christ was unwilling to let go of his god of the Goat vs the Sheep. Third: The ability to produce life by
gold, for it made him self-reliant. Prayer is the language of the power of the Spirit, not just decisions. Life manifests itself
the poor and when the Church feels like she is rich, she by the dramatic change it makes, the ability of that early
never ventures to knee work. Such work is hard for the flesh church to see God work where the only outcomes were
and demands sacrifice. Repentance, Revolt, or Revival that affected the community.
During the imprisonment of Richard Wrumbrand Four: The Fear of God and the response to the holiness of
behind the Iron Curtain, at the beginning of his time in God seen in the way we worship week after week, instead
prison, Richard recounts how many of those who were put in of the glib services that we are confronted with. Does one
prison had great regrets. Their life of ease would not afford sense the magnitude of what it means to meet with God
them to go the extra mile in reaching a need, but when they during our services, or do they come home after having a
found themselves under great oppression, what they were “good time?” Five: The active work of prayer is ingrained
forced to do was much more demanding than where they into the life of the Church. Any Church that operates without
would have stopped in freedom. a dedicated weekly nights of corporate prayer is
We are at a time of ease where the future of backslidden. This would be beyond our normal services,
America seems to be in the apathy of what “we” were able such as Friday nights from 9 pm until midnight or later.
to accomplish in electing a new President. In our willingness We could call out more, but these are fundamental.
to compromise we have chosen the lesser of two evils. Now From such a life comes zeal in outbursts of evangelism,
we can sit in our easy chair while singing the Hymn, sacrifice, tears, and such that would be seen. The Laodicean
“Marching to Zion.” The true health of a Church is not Church had everything going for them, but God, and God
determined by the financial abundance, decisions, or people saw through it. I tremble for what lies ahead in 2025.
thanking the Preacher for a great message. The true health Irrespective of fundamental, contemporary, Bible-
of a Church is determined by, One: Eyes to see the coming believing, the need of our day is to repent. May
Judgment and prepare for it. Do we really believe in a God grant us favor to awaken us from our dead
literal Hell that burns forever and ever? When was the last condition so that He alone may be glorified.
 “The church is so subnormal,
if we became normal, it
would amaze us.”
- Leonard Ravenhill

W h y th e re is n o R ev i v a l
Excerpts from a sermon by Al Whittinghill
Surely every honest person in the church of the Lord Jesus today must have a deep inner
awareness that something is wrong! Isn’t it true that there is an ominous sense of danger as one considers
the Biblical characteristics of the New Testament church and then compares them to the state of the church
in our day? Contradictions abound! We may try to cover this uneasiness in many ways - humor, amusement,
busyness, keeping a positive attitude, distracting ourselves from acquiring the trinkets of time, new building
programs, and creating successful religious organizations; but the symptoms of Divine displeasure saturate
our nation on every level. There seems to be a rumor from the Lord that is letting His people get the sense of
impending trouble if we do not have a serious change in the attitudes of our hearts. God is seeking to get the
attention of the nation, beginning with His church. Will we not listen to Him before it is forever too late? Just
think of what the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be like in our day if God had His way! No one wants
revival in the church more than He Who died to purchase her and make her His very own precious, holy
Regeneration
Bride!
Jesus stated, “Except a man be
10 reasons why we have no Revival born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.” - John 3:3. In
1. An attitude of wrong priorities: Revelation 2:4-5 makes it clear that the Lord desires that loving intimacy
with HIM be the center of everything. Most people are so worn out by their work that they have nothing left religious America, where the
for Jesus. Someone once said, ”Most Americans worship their work, work at their play, and play at their Bible is commonly quoted, the
worship.” Some, who cannot bear a long worship service, feel cheated if the sports match is short.
question of what is the
2. An attitude of complacency: Complacency is our state when we are self-satisfied and have a casual fundamental nature of a true
approach to God. The church of Laodecia in Revelation 3:15-17 shows the attitude of those who become
born-again Christian must be
content in lukewarm living and become blinded to their true condition. Why do we need revival? After all,
God is blessing us! Revival will come only to a desperate church, not a contented one. addressed. To those who claim
their access to God through
3. An attitude of resignation: Some Christians say, If God wants to send revival, He will. This negates our
responsibility as a church to seek His face! Others might say, We already have revival just claim it. This self-
Christ because of a decision they
deceived approach hardly bears comment. made or pronounced
by their denomination
4. An attitude of prejudice, or misconceived notions about revival: We say that we are open to God, but we
really mean as long as He works within our expectations or preconceived terms of reference. It must be as a Christian, the
traditional, respectable, and rational with no out-of-control display of emotions, (This might even be the question is:
same one who goes to the ball game and paints himself and shrieks for his team.) We want order! The
mysterious, irrational, or supernatural has always tended to make the carnal mind nervous.
“You say you believe, but why? Is
5. An attitude of loving comfortable truth: The Bible warns us that in the last days, men will have itching
it because you were told what to
ears. It is a necessity that preachers NOT scratch them. Preach love to us not all that stuff about self-denial
and suffering.”We don’t want to offend anyone.” believe, or is it the reality of the
Person who was revealed that
6. An attitude of the love of reputation: This really is just the fear of man or pride (see John 12:42-43 for a
glimpse of it). We have a great fear of losing our dignity.
made you believe?”

7. An attitude of ignorance of God’s Word: Psalm 11:3 states, If the foundations be destroyed, what can
the righteous do? Hosea tells us that God’s people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge of God.
Jesus said to the Pharisees in Mark 12:24, Do you not therefore err because you do not know the
scriptures, neither the power of God? All throughout the Bible and history, revival has come only as God’s
people begin to take His word and His promises seriously. Search the scriptures, and let them search you!

8. An attitude of disunity: Factions in the body are proof of carnality. This grieves and quenches the Holy
Spirit greatly. Discord is the very opposite of the one accord that we read of in the book of Acts that
made her such a mighty vessel of God. Unforgiveness hidden in the church is like a bullet left in the body!
Are we more concerned about our opinions and interests than we are about the honor of God?
Continued on Page-4
 A necessary precursor of any great
spiritual awakening is a spirit of deep
humiliation growing out of a consciousness
of sin, and fresh revelation of the holiness
and power, and glory of God.
- John R. Mott

Path to Victory
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
There is a growing conviction
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with
the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
everywhere, and especially
- 1 Corinthians 10:13. among thoughtful people, that
unless revival comes, other
The path to victory is not made of a checklist that one can forces will take the field, that
follow in a mechanical way, it is a way of life to be applied will sink us still deeper into the
based on the context of the temptation. Below are some mire of humanism and
ways to actively engage with the enemy, and effective materialism.
combat is the combination of many when facing temptation. - Duncan Campbell

- Reckoning of our Position in Christ, abiding in Him (Romans 6)

- Battle of the mind to reject the thoughts of the old man (1 Peter 1:13) When sinners are careless and
- Resisting the enemy on the ground of the blood of Christ (James 4:7) stupid, and sinking into hell
- Truth of the word of God and the God of the word (Matthew 7:24-27) unconcerned, it is time the
- Faith in the ability of God to uphold His word (Hebrews 11:6) church should bestir themselves.
- Putting on the whole Armor of God and resisting steadfast in faith (Ephesians 6) It is as much the duty of the
- Accountability with others and personal testimony (1 Corinthians 9:27) church to awake, as it is for the
- Being above board in what you see, who you are alone with, willing to be firemen to awake when a fire
corrected, being humble, etc. (1 Corinthians 10:31) breaks out in the night in a
- Self-evaluation of any seeds of the enemy that are sown, or weeds that are
great city.
growing, before they become a tree that cannot be easily moved (Romans 12:21)
- Charles G. Finney
- Discerning the voice of Satan and the thoughts he puts, and to reject it, claiming
His victory on the Cross (Philippians 3:13)

The four great tenets of Evan Roberts at the dawn of revival at Loughor, Wales.

(1) Confessing openly and fully to God any sin not confessed to Him before
(2) doing away with anything doubtful in ourselves
(3) giving prompt obedience to the influences of the Holy Spirit in the heart
(4) confessing Christ openly and publicly before the world
 Jesus, wherever Thy people meet
W h y th e re is n o R ev i v a l - William Cowper
1 Jesus, where'er your people meet,
Continued from Page-2 there they behold your mercy seat;
9. An attitude of compromise: Proverbs 14:14 says, The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways. where'er they seek you, you are found,
Compromise never happens because of ignorance. It is a sin against light! It is a going back on what God has and ev'ry place is hallowed ground.
shown us to our own ways. He whispered; we were stirred; yet we forgot, ignored, suppressed, or disobeyed
the truth. We can rationalize our unwillingness to obey God in many ways, but none of them is valid!
2 For you, within no walls confined,
10. An attitude of prayerlessness: Real revival is always transported to earth on the wings of the desperate, are dwelling in the humble mind;
believing prayers of God’s people. God will not do, apart from prayer, what He has promised to do in answer such ever bring you where they come,
to prayer. He will wait until we come to Him with humble, repentant, believing hearts. The greatest moves of and going, take you to their home.
God always follow prayer.

3 Dear Shepherd of your chosen few,

God is faithful to His word. Nobody wants a revived church more than He does. If we will
remove the hindrances to real fellowship with Him and seek Him as He longs to be sought
your former mercies here renew;
and found, then He will surely pour out His glorious life-giving Spirit on us. Why is there here to our waiting hearts proclaim
no revival? It is only because His church has been content to try to live without it. Turn us the sweetness of your saving name.
again, O God of hosts, and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

4 Here may we prove the pow'r of pray'r

to strengthen faith and sweeten care,
Revival in N. Ireland. 1859 to teach our faint desires to rise,
and bring all heav'n before our eyes.
By John Edgar, D.D., Professor of Divinity, Belfast.
5 Lord, we are few, but you are near;
THE origin of the present revival in Ireland can be clearly traced to one congregation, and one nor short your arm, nor deaf your ear;
man, a plain, honest, faithful, and laborious Presbyterian minister, who uses wisely and powerfully
God's own means, and no other means, for effecting reformation. The work of revival had been making
O rend the heav'ns, come quickly down,
steady and large progress under his ministry before public attention was arrested; and by agents of his and make a thousand hearts your own.
training, the good work of the Lord was prosperously and widely spread. Wherever it was spread, God
honoured His own means; and His blessing accompanied the faithful application of His own truth to
the understanding and heart.

HOW THE REVIVAL BEGAN. What Happened in N. Ireland?

I now proceed to show how the blessed revival came. One of
Compiled from ukwells.org
the three congregations which I have taken as samples, had enjoyed,
in succession, the services of three faithful ministers; and a church
discipline of considerable strictness had kept it comparatively pure; yet September 1857 was the month when
its pastor was so deeply impressed with their want of spirituality, that, Jeremiah Lamphier began to pray during lunchtime
on the Sabbath before the commencement of God's great work among them, he told them all his mind in New York. This time of prayer grew from one
regarding their lifeless state, and his want of success. He felt deeply himself, and his people felt too. person to thousands, and a great revival spread
This led to much prayer and searching of heart before God; and on the Thursday after, at the prayer-
across the eastern side of America…. many events
meeting, the revival showed itself plainly, and one person was so deeply affected as to cry aloud for
mercy. "I knew," says the minister of another of these congregations, “that there were always a few continued that affected Ireland, and…
praying people in the neighbourhood, and there were always attempts to keep up prayer-meetings
among us ; but till the very week of the revival there appeared no general desire for them, and scarcely In December 1858 the move of God reached
any better attendance on them, nor helpers to my ministry raised up, except that the Sabbath-school nearby Ahoghill and from then on it spread over the
had been gradually increasing in scholars and teachers, and attendance on public worship had been a
whole of Ulster and then to Wales, Scotland and
little improved.”
England, becoming the greatest revival the UK has
On Sabbath, June 19th, a prayer-meeting was held, at which more people than usual attended, known since at least the Great Awakening of 1735,
and their pastor thought he saw a shaking among the dry bones. Before the dawn of next morning he with around one million coming to know Jesus as
was raised from bed, to visit a family who had been praying all night. Another prayer-meeting was their Saviour. Unlike the rest of the UK the revival
held on the following Tuesday, larger than had ever been seen in the neighbourhood for any religious
in Ulster was spread through converts from Connor
purpose, at which two persons screamed, and were carried out. Their pastor, before going to bed, was
sent for to see a third, whose cries to Christ were piercing and loud. Another, and much larger, and elsewhere, giving their testimonies, and as they
meeting was held on the following Thursday evening, which continued till daylight; after which, for did so the revival spirit poured out. There were no
five weeks, without interruption, a large meeting was held every evening, the house of worship being well known revivalists in Ulster, the revival came
sometimes too small to receive them; while at the manse, by ten o'clock forenoon, crowds assembled, through word of mouth and through ministers
in deep spiritual anxiety. Some days every room in the house had an awakened one in it, surrounded
visiting areas of revival and then bringing it back to
by groups of praying friends; no bustle or noise—all calm, solemn, prayerful, reading God's Word, or
singing psalms. Thus the work went on; and it is remarkable, that the very first day the congregation their churches. Around 100,000 were saved in
met really to pray for the outpouring of the Spirit, that day they got it, most copiously and gloriously. Ulster during 1859.

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people

https://desiringRe vival.org
may rejoice in thee? - Psalm 85:6