What is revival?  It’s an extraordinary period of God’s blessing as larger measures of the influence of the Holy Spirit are experienced.  There’s blessing inside the church as Christians: are renewed and empowered; become tremendously aware of God’s presence; become very conscious of their sin; and feel an exuberant joy as sin is confessed and forgiven.  And there’s blessing outside the church too as Christians witness, and numerous and remarkable conversions follow. 

Perhaps the simplest way to understand revival is that it is God’s work speeded up.  God does not work in different ways in revival.  But He does work on an altogether different scale.  So, for example, the church preaches the gospel normally, but in revival the church cannot stop preaching the gospel.

Why are we looking at revival for the next few Sundays?

Firstly, because it is a biblical theme, and we need to engross ourselves in everything the Bible says.

Secondly, because our land is in spiritual decline.  Evidence of this is everywhere.  Fewer and fewer people are coming to church, fewer and fewer pastors are coming through, etc.  Things have been worse before, though; for example in the 1500s and the 1700s.  But then, God stepped in.  He sent revival.  The church burst back into life.  Thousands of people were saved.  And the whole fabric of society was changed for the better.  If we are Christ-loving, tender-hearted, spiritually-minded people, we ought to long for the same to happen today.

This morning we are looking at a test case of revival in the word of God.  We will consider what happened at Thessalonica when Paul preached there.

Thessalonica was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia.  In Acts 17, in the early 50s AD, Paul and Silas preached there.  People were saved, but then there was a riot and Paul and Silas were run out of town suddenly.  Paul wrote I Thessalonians (probably) from Corinth not long afterwards.

For me, the most important verse in the Bible about revival is II Thessalonians 3:1.  Paul wants the Lord’s message to spread rapidly and to be honoured.  He wants enormous expansion and extreme earnestness.  That’s what you get in revival.

i Enormous expansion

II Thessalonians 3:1 says, “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.”  Paul wants the gospel to spread rapidly.  Literally, he wants it to run.  He does not want it to stroll around, taking its time to save people.  He wants it to run, bringing salvation to everyone it touches.  He wants enormous expansion.  This is how it had been amongst the Thessalonians (note the words “just as it was with you” at the end of the verse).

What happened, then, in terms of enormous expansion at Thessalonica?  I Thessalonians 1:4-10 tells us.

Firstly, there was massive power in preaching.  Look at v4-5.  God’s word came home with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction.  Paul knew as he preached that his words were coming across with mighty power.

That happens in revival.  It happens in the everyday life of the church; but it happens on an altogether different scale in revival.  Pray for it!

Secondly, people welcomed the message despite suffering.  Look at v6.  The Thessalonians received the gospel, even though it involved them in great suffering to do so.

That happens in revival.  It happens in the everyday life of the church; but it happens on an altogether different scale in revival.

Thirdly, people are radically converted.  Look at v9.  The Thessalonians turned from their idols to God.  They were radically changed.

Perhaps we fail to understand the grip which idols can have over the lives of men and women.  It’s all to do with fear.  People are terrified of upsetting their idols and of being damaged as a result.  But the Thessalonians had turned from their idols to God.  They had burned their bridges.  They had unreservedly turned their backs on their old way of life and had fully committed themselves to God.

That happens in revival.  It happens in the everyday life of the church; but it happens on an altogether different scale in revival.  Alcoholics become sober.  People who are addicted to swearing wash their mouths out.  Those living immoral lives break with their sin.  Idolaters start to follow the Lord.  Pray for it to happen!

ii Extreme earnestness

In II Thessalonians 3:1, Paul also says that he wants the message of the Lord to be honoured, as it had amongst the Thessalonians.  He wants men and women to honour it by submitting to it and by shaping their lives according to it.

I Thessalonians 1:4-10 tells us how that was seen in Thessalonica.

Firstly, the church rapidly grew in Christ-likeness.  Look at v6-7.  The Thessalonians became a model church.  They imitated the apostles.  And so they imitated Christ.

As we’re going to see in future weeks, there’s often a lot of disorder associated with revival.  Unusual phenomena happen: people shrieking out, people falling over, people getting carried away with their emotions and doing bizarre things.  But, putting that aside, it’s true to say that in revival churches rapidly grow in Christ-likeness.  The church really seeks to model Christ to the world.  Half-hearted believers suddenly burst with spiritual vigour.  And that attitude can even permeate the whole of society.

That happens in revival.  It happens in the everyday life of the church; but it happens on an altogether different scale in revival.  Pray for it!

Secondly, they could not stop preaching the gospel.  Look at v8.  The Lord’s message rang out, boomed out, from Thessalonica all over Greece and all over the world!

That happens in revival.  God’s people cannot stop preaching the gospel.  It happens in the everyday life of the church; but it happens on an altogether different scale in revival.  Pray for it!

Thirdly, there was a sense of expectancy as Christians awaited Christ’s return.  Look at v10.  The Thessalonians were waiting for Christ to come back.

That is generally true in revival.  People have a heightened sense of God’s presence.  And they have a growing eagerness as they wait for the Lord to return.

This, of course, ought to happen in the everyday life of the church too.  Today we have lost some of our urgency here, which is very much to the detriment of the church’s life.  But it happens on a large scale in revival.  Pray for it!