Holy Spirit’s Role in Revival: Secrets to Hosting the Presence
What is the place of the Holy Spirit in revival?
Abraham Kuyper says, “The work of the Holy Spirit that most concerns us is the renewing of the elect after the image of God” (1979:8). In revival there is a renewing of the Christian by the Holy Spirit. There is a change, transformation, passion, and hunger for God that occurs. “When God pours out His Spirit, Christians are spiritually revitalized and the unsaved in the community are awakened to their need for Christ, resulting in a significant harvest season for the Church and reformation of society” (Towns 1997:180).
In the Old Testament it was predicted that there would be those times of renewal and refreshing when the Holy Spirit is poured out—“until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high” (Isa. 32:15). In Isaiah 44:3, God speaks that “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (NIV). Revival occurs when the Holy Spirit is poured upon us.
Ray Ortlund says, “revival is a season in the life of the Church when God causes the normal ministry of the Gospel to surge for- ward with extraordinary spiritual power” (2000:9). This surging forward with extraordinary spiritual power is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and the church. This is called the “unctioning or anointing” of the Holy Spirit that comes from Christ (Owen 2002:160). “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (1 John 2:20). This anointing abides in believers and teaches them concerning all things (1 John 2:27). Believers are anointed with the Holy Spirit given to them by Christ. “This anointing, that is, the Holy Spirit, conveys teaching by illuminating the minds of believers to understand the mind of God and the mysteries of the Gospel” (Owen 2002:162). Revelation, understanding, and wisdom are more easily received from the Word during seasons of revival because of this heightened sense of God and the anointing with the Holy Spirit. Because the anointing with the Holy Spirit opens our eyes that we more clearly see the wonderful things of God, believers are established in the faith. “The anointing brings satisfaction, refreshment and joy to the soul in the clear apprehension of saving truth…the anointing remains the spring from which secret refreshment and support are ministered” (163).
Along with the anointing of the Holy Spirit during seasons of revival, there comes an empowerment. The Holy Spirit invigorates, resurrects, and brings new life. He also gives power for service. He is the power of our power. In the Scriptures there are several occasions when the Holy Spirit empowers leaders for special service—Joshua, Gideon, David, Josiah, Peter, and Paul. Most notably the Holy Spirit anointed and empowered Jesus for His mission of redemption and revival (Isa. 11:2-3; 42:1; 61:1). In the new covenant age, there was an empowerment in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out in great abundance and fullness. The new covenant age was predicted in Joel 2:28-32 and accomplished in Acts 2:1-4.
The Holy Spirit purifies, but during the season of revival there is an extra emphasis placed upon holiness. There is greater manifested wisdom, discernment, and revelation for holy living. There is a greater awareness of God’s presence that is brought by the Holy Spirit during revival. Wayne Grudem says:
Although the Holy Spirit does glorify Jesus, he also frequently calls attention to his work and gives recognizable evidences that make his presence known. Indeed, it seems that one of his primary purposes in the new covenant age is to manifest the presence of God, to give indications that make the presence of God known (1994:641).
In revival, the Holy Spirit stirs an intense desire for more of God (2 Tim. 1:6). Interventional and intercessory prayer become more evident and passionate—“Lord, rend the heavens and come down” (Isa. 64:1). Conviction comes by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8); repentance of known sin and deliverance from bondages become a common occurrence (2 Chron. 7:14; Isa. 57:15), and provides fertile soil for the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is Lord in greater measure and fullness with a spirit of unity and peace woven into the spiritual fabric of the church (Eph. 4:3). “Revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God” (Towns 1997:185). Relationship with the Father and the Son reaches new depths because the Holy Spirit glorifies them. The glory of God becomes very evident. Jurgen Moultmann says, “The glorifying of the Son and the Father through the Spirit sets men on the road towards the glory for which they themselves are destined” (1993:59). There is also a fresh sense of grace and generosity present in revival as was evident in the early church (Acts 2:44-45), producing a new and transformed community. Swindoll says, “the main agenda of God’s Spirit [is] transformation” (1993:37).
Concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in revival, R.A. Torrey wrote:
When any church can be brought to the place where they will recognize their need of the Holy Spirit, and they take their eyes off from all men, and surrender absolutely to the Holy Spirit’s control, and give them- selves to much prayer for His outpouring, and present themselves as His agents, having stored the Word of God in their heads and hearts, and then look to the Holy Spirit to give it power as it falls from their lips, a mighty revival in the power of the Holy Ghost is inevitable (1906:18).
The Providence of God
Is revival providential? To answer this question a working definition of providence is needed. Providence is a most significant factor in revival. Wayne Grudem defines providence as follows:
God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes (1994:315).
Grudem further states, “Moreover, the biblical doctrine does not teach that events in creation are determined by chance (or randomness), nor are they determined by impersonal fate (or determinism), but by God” (315). God is governing His creation in their every action, causing them to act as they do. This is known as concurrence, which is the second point of Grudem’s definition. God accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11). God works, brings about, or accomplishes (Greek, energeo) all things according to His will and plan. While His will is not clearly evident from observing that which is around us, it is evident through the rev- elation of Scripture.
Providence is God’s interaction with creation at every moment of history. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates it as:
God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible fore- knowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy (1995:33-34).
While some things can be explained in the natural such as rain falling, grass growing, and the sun and stars’ activities, it is also the work of God to cause these events. This is known as “events fully caused by God and fully caused by the creature as well” (Grudem 1994:319). All our actions are under God’s watch care and providence “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We also know that our success or failure comes from God Almighty, “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another” (Ps. 75:6, 7). All our talents and abilities come from God who also influences even rulers in their decisions. He has also endowed us with the freedom of choice, and we are held accountable for our choices. God cooperates and participates according to His plan and working and according to our choices— thus the principle of concurrence in providence.
Perhaps 2 Chronicles 7:12-15 more fully illustrates this principle:
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
When we participate with God’s plan and working, then He does what He says He will do. Now, one factor that has not been considered is the issue of time: when God will do what He says. The timing of God’s action is not always revealed, but He will respond providentially to His people. Therefore, our actions have definite results and do change the course of events.
