Revival
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What Comes to Mind When You Hear “Revival”?
Perhaps you imagine large crowds gathered around a pulpit, people filling the altar, or hands lifted high in worship. Those images certainly resonate with many of us. But I want to challenge and expand our understanding of what revival truly is.
So—what is revival, really?
If you were to look it up, here’s what you’d find:
● An improvement in the condition or strength of something.
● An instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again.
● A reawakening of religious fervor, especially by means of a series of evangelistic meetings.
● A restoration to bodily or mental vigor, to life or consciousness.
All of these speak to some aspect of revival. But let’s go deeper:
What does revival mean for you? For Bridges Church? For the Church as a whole?
Revival Is Life from Death
At its core, revival is about life—specifically, life from death. And our God is a living God—one who brings the dead to life.
When we believed in Christ, we passed from death into life. As Jesus says in John 5:24:
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
Paul echoes this truth in Ephesians 2, reminding us:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
That’s revival.
God didn’t call a dead people to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. He called those He made alive—you and me—to be vessels of His message, bearers of His love, and reflections of His mercy.
The Cry of Revival
This Sunday, we’ll introduce a new song: “God of Revival.”
The bridge declares:
“Come awaken Your people,
Come awaken Your city.
Oh God of revival, pour it out, pour it out.”
This is more than a lyric. It’s a cry from the depths of our soul—a desperate plea for God to stir us, to wake us up to the beauty and power of the gospel, until it saturates every part of our lives.
But maybe you’re wondering:
“How do I live in revival? How do I awaken to that kind of life?”
It Begins With a Desire
There isn’t a formula. But it always starts with a desire: A desire to draw near to God—whatever it takes.
Begin in the Word. We call the Bible the “inspired Word of God” because we believe it was penned through divine inspiration. It is not just ancient literature—it is living, active, and transformative.
So:
● Read it.
● Talk to God.
● Walk with other believers.
Let the Word of God reshape your thoughts. Let prayer soften your heart. Let community sharpen your faith.
A Prayer for You
I’m praying earnestly that revival begins in your heart. That God restores a holy passion in your walk with Him. That He breathes fresh life into you.
Remember:
Our God is alive.
He brought you from death to life. And He’s not finished.