Ivan
Pastor
Pastor Ivan is correct. We need to pray for revival...but this starts with the individual Christian, particularly if he's a father, husband, or elder in Christ's Church. May it be so.
This is my understanding of revival, that it begins with me. And I need it. And I will seek it.
It would be wonderful to have another Great Awakening like the first that was based not on manipulation of men and using "new measures" but men and women who come under the conviction of sin and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Edwards noted, though, this can't be something that men "plan" as if the Holy Spirit has to make an appearance whenever men decide to hold a revival meeting.
I think that any such movement will be very unlike what most Americans have become accustomed to after a couple of centuries of tent revivals and crusades where it is has been manufactured and marketed down to a science.
Point well taken and understood. I see it as you do, Rich. I've never had a revival of the "tent meeting" type in the churches that I have been a pastor of, a series of meetings that we called a revival. I paid a price for that early on as a Southern Baptist, but I held my ground.
Revival will only come when God gives it.