Revival: What is Revival?

by Marilynn Chadwick

The dictionary defines “revival” as “coming back to life” or “increasing in strength or intensity.” An Emergency Room doctor might revive a patient whose heart has stopped. While the word “revival” doesn’t appear in Scripture, “revive” does.

Psalm 85:6 says, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

Isaiah 57:15b says, “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Clearly there are moments where God’s people find themselves in need of restored hope, new life, fresh perspective.

Episodes in the Bible and throughout church history, where Christians are revived, reveal a pattern. These movements were characterized by fervent prayer, repentance of sin, a commitment to holiness, and boldness in proclaiming the gospel.

Unbelievers were saved in vast numbers and entire communities experienced the impact of God’s grace. This often led to dramatic societal changes. Taverns emptied, crime decreased, and marriages were restored. Children were often found at the forefront of historical revival movements.

These same marks of revival are present in the Gospel movements sweeping throughout the world today, especially in the Global South.

Over the next several days, we’ll explore these and other characteristics of revival – a timely discussion in light of what has now come to be known as the “Asbury Revival” on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, KY in February of 2023. Other college campuses across the nation have since experienced their own revival movements as well.

We will be asking this question: If revival is real, then what does it mean for me?

His Final Words: The Goodness of Friday

by David Chadwick

Jesus’s final words came on the heels of two very important days that we in the Christian faith know as Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. What made Friday so good? Because the cross secured our eternal life forever!

Thursday and Friday paved the way for Jesus’s last words to be released in power, precision, and purity…paving the way for a future and a hope for all who put their trust in him.

Jesus was arrested at midnight in the Garden of Gethsemane. Note that in that moment, he could have called down a legion of angels (600 to be exact!) to help him. But he didn’t. He had already submitted his life to the will of the Father: death on the cross. He knew he had to drink the cup of God’s anger so we wouldn’t have to do so. Jesus became the atonement for our sins.

Isaiah 53:5 says that the chastisement that brought us peace was upon him!

Think about the next hours of Jesus’s life. Arrested and then graciously saved the ear of Malthus – performing miracles and healing in the midst of betrayal and rejection. Brought before Annas and Caiaphas and falsely and unjustly charged. He was beaten and mocked. Imprisoned for several hours. Brought before Pilate. Lashed 39 times by the Romans, which was often referred to as “intermediate death.”

A crown of thorns crushed down on his skull, mocking him as the king of the Jews. Abused by the crowds as he carried his cross to Golgotha. Nails piercing through his hands. A spear stabbed through his side. Six brutally long hours suffering on the cross. After bearing the punishment and chastisement, Jesus was taken down and placed in a dark and dank tomb!

My dear friends, it should have been our tomb! All of Jesus’s experiences should have been ours! And on top of all of the suffering and punishment for our sins, we also deserve an eternity in hell! We don’t deserve the glory of the Lord apart from Jesus. But he did it all for us out of love. His love for us is SO great!  

Pause for a moment and think to yourself…I am in that tomb with Jesus. There is no hope for me apart from his resurrection power. Might it happen? In the darkness of this moment, do I realize the price he paid for me? Is there a power that can open the prison door and set me free? Might it come soon---in a day, or two, or three? Can I possibly live in hope that my sins are forever forgiven and God truly has a plan and destiny for my life? Now? Forever?

The answer is “YES! Sunday’s coming…!”

His Final Words: Victory in Gethsemane

by David Chadwick

Over the past couple weeks, we have been looking at some of the significant final words that Jesus spoke on the cross.

But for the next two days, I want to go back a few days and look at the last hours in Jesus’s life before he went to the cross and died.

In church history we refer to today as Maundy Thursday. This was the day that Jesus celebrated his last supper with his disciples from probably around 6-10pm. They shared a long meal together, a Seder/Passover meal.

Jesus’s patience, long-suffering endurance, and compassion is seen as he washed the disciples’ feet after they started arguing as to which one was the greatest (John 13:1-13). In John chapters 14-17, Jesus goes on to offer the high priestly prayer for his disciples. These same words would go on to encourage and champion disciples of Christ for all of time.

After their meal, Jesus walked to Gethsemane. He went into the garden and brought Peter, James, and John with him. He wanted company, as we all need in times of trial. He went to pray for one hour. The disciples couldn’t stay awake even for one hour of prayer! Their spirits were willing, but their flesh was weak.

During this time, Jesus asked the Father if there was any way other than the cross. He simply couldn’t imagine being separated from the Father for even a second. For all of eternity, since before the beginning of time, they had always been together.

But the Father said “no.” So, Jesus fully submitted to him.

Think about this for a moment. We were all lost in a Garden called Eden, in Adam’s rebellion in his sin, but we were saved in a Garden called Gethsemane. When Jesus submitted to the Father’s will to go to the cross, the victory was won. Satan’s last attempt to keep him from the cross failed. Make no mistake about it. Satan was in that garden, tempting Jesus not to drink of the cup of God’s wrath.

But Satan failed. Jesus won.

And our victory was forever secure!