Is this revival?
“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” — Matthew 4:17
‘Revival, above anything else, is a glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is the restoration of him to the centre of the life of the Church.’ — Martyn Lloyd-Jones
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been excited by recent headlines about a revived curiosity in God, the Bible and Christianity.
There’s lots of talk of a ‘quiet revival’.
Reports of Gen Z flocking back to church.
Evidence of Bible sales reaching record highs.
Stories of people walking into churches off the street, compelled by a desire to find meaning, purpose and community.
It’s good news—amazing news. We should rejoice in these reports. We should give thanks that people are waking up to the reality that there is something more—that life is found only in Jesus.
But (there’s always a but, isn’t there?)…
As God’s people, we cannot let these encouraging headlines (and they are encouraging!) lead us to complacency.
What do I mean?
Repentance precedes revival
Times of revival—both in individual lives and nations—are always accompanied by personal and corporate repentance, as people turn away from sin and towards God.
We see this pattern in God’s words to Solomon following the dedication of the Temple:
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14
For the people of Israel, revival and restoration would come only in the context of true, humble repentance and seeking after God.
It’s a pattern we also see in the verse that opened this email. At the beginning of His ministry on earth, Jesus says: “…repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Not, “Debate Christian ideas, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
Not, “Be a ‘spiritual person’, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
Not even, “Find a Christian community, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.”
He says: “Repent of your sins, and turn to God.”
In the midst of renewed interest and curiosity about Christianity, this is not a time for the Church to sit back, congratulating ourselves that people are starting to take us seriously again.
This is a moment to root ourselves again in the truth of the gospel, to repent where we have failed to share it boldly, to turn back to God, and to commit ourselves to wholehearted obedience and surrender.
Jesus, the only way
We cannot be complacent. We cannot confuse sympathy for Christianity with saving faith in Christ.
The way of Jesus isn’t just a lifestyle choice. He isn’t just an add-on that enriches our lives with a bit more meaning and purpose.
He doesn’t just provide us with a set of moral values or ethical principles to make us ‘better people’ or build a better society.
His Word isn’t just a self-help manual from which we can pick and choose ideas we like, and dismiss the ones we disagree with.
His Church isn’t just a community of nice people in which we find friendship and belonging.
Only repentance and belief in Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit works in hearts to expose sin and lead us to faith in Him, can save people.
Of course, the way to life with Jesus is a journey. That journey often begins with interest in the Bible (the book of Jesus), Christianity (the way of Jesus), and the Church (the people of Jesus).
We should give thanks for the many, many people who have taken their first steps on that journey in recent weeks and months.
But if that journey doesn’t lead to Jesus Himself—to repentance, trust and surrender—it cannot rightly be called ‘revival’.
We can and should give thanks for indicators like ‘spiritual interest’, church attendance and Bible sales.
These things might be early signs of revival—but only if they lead to real faith in the real Jesus.
Ideas alone can’t save people. Christian values—or so-called ‘Cultural Christianity’—can’t save people. ‘Spirituality’ can’t save people.
Jesus isn’t just some other way among many other ways—He is the only way. He is reality itself. His Word is truth. His way demands everything.
A call to boldness
What is our response in all this, as God’s people?
Repentance.
Prayer.
And boldness.
We must do what God’s people have always done in times of revival—we must examine ourselves, repent of our own sin and failures, and turn back to God in wholehearted devotion and surrender.
We must get on our knees in faith-filled, Spirit-empowered prayer.
And we must preach the gospel boldly—not a diluted, watered-down, people-pleasing gospel—but the real, true, eternal-life-changing gospel.
We must proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ—that the only way to salvation and life is in Him, and Him alone, as we lay hold of God’s grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This is the message the Church is called to herald in this cultural moment. This is the only message that changes lives and eternal destinies. This message alone is good news.
Today, join me in praying that the ‘quiet revival’ would become real, heart-changing, culture-shaking revival.
Lord, do it in our time.
With love,
Mike
