There is great danger when a church, in its generations, fails to see genuine revival. Complacency becomes the norm, the church becomes lethargic, and the whole body ceases to expect to see any movement of God. This revival is not mere excitement, nor is it theater to be produced, but it must spring from the attendance of God’s presence. C.H. Spurgeon addressed the need for God’s presence in a genuine revival.
“Moreover, every attempt at revival of religion which proves a failure,—and fail it must without the presence of God,—leaves the Church in a worse condition than it was before; because, if it should prove a failure, from the want of any stir at all; then God’s people fall back into their former lethargy, with an excuse for continuing in it; or if a false stir be made, a reaction follows of a most injurious character. I suppose the worst time in the Christian Church is generally that which follows the excitement of a revival; and if that revival has had no reality in it, the mischief which is done is awful and incalculable. If no excitement shall come at all, the mischief is still as great; God’s people, being disappointed, have little heart to listen to further exhortations to future zealous action, become contented with their Laodicean lukewarmness, and it becomes impossible to bestir them again. If a revival should apparently have success and yet God be not in it, perhaps this is even worse.”
In addition to the absence of any stirring, there is the man-made excitement that is worked up from the flesh and not of the Spirit. There is an equal danger in both situations in that the church has normalized church activities absent of God’s presence, or she has found a substitute. Spurgeon was urgent on the matter.
“O dear friends, we have felt in our souls, not that we may have revival, but that we must have it; and when we think of the incalculable damage that shall be done to us all if the Lord does not visit us, I am sure we must again draw near to the angel and wrestle afresh, with this determination, that we will not let him go unless he bless us.”
(Pastor Wagenschutz)
