“But when they told Jacob all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.” (Genesis 45:27, HCSB)
In conjunction with his ongoing series on Joseph, our pastor had an interesting definition of revival that I thought was worth sharing:
“Revival is not a special period of extraordinary religious excitement. Rather, it is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit which restores the people of God to normal spiritual life after a period of coldness and decline.”
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I just read that verse in my NASU and I could help noticing the similarities with the HCSB.
I like that definition. So our goal, or aim should be to live in a constant state of revival? Based on this definition it sounds like we should. I think that is also a scriptural understanding as well.
My normal spiritual life should be one where there is a constant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on my life. I think it was D.L. Moody who said that “we are leaky buckets, and need a constant refilling of the Holy Spirit”.
I thought REVIVAL was a song by The Allman Bros. Band
I like how your pastor defined revival, ElShaddai
I like that definition. On a personal note, I know that debating atheists can be damaging to my walk with God, and has brouhgt me into “a period of coldness and decline” before. And it is in fact the Holy Spirit who revives me, and brings me back. I even blogged on the effects of debating athests back in October: Where God’s Love Isn’t. Funny thing… I left out how the Holy Spirit healed the damage I inflicted on myself. Thanks for the post. I needed the reminder!
I totally agree with your pastor. I think the “normal Christian life” should be one where we are in a constant state of personal revival, where the fire of our heart has been fanned into flame by the Holy Spirit of God.