True Revival
6 min read
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
John 1:22-23
The Jewish authorities were very interested in John the Baptist because he was leading a major spiritual revival in Judah. Furthermore, John was urging people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). In other words, John was supplementing the atonement for sins received through temple sacrifices. Understandably, the Jewish authorities were quite threatened by his “success,” and jealous as well, especially since John was not achieving that “success” according to the rules of “holy society” in Jerusalem.
Every once in a while, I will meet other pastors who are gifted and also ambitious. Meeting them, I get the sense that they have a vision of leading a major spiritual revival—becoming the next Francis Chan or Tim Keller or even Bill Graham (or any of the other pastors who lead congregations of thousands or tens of thousands). Often, those pastors have come up through the ranks of their church traditions, and they look, sound, and smell like the other “successful” pastors that they strive to be like.
I’m not throwing shade on such pastors, btw. If a person has been gifted with skills and ambition, they ought to use it for the glory of God. Their ambition may be a bit sus for my taste, but who am I to question their motives as long as Christ is being preached (Philippians 1:8)? More than anything, I should guard against and repent over any jealous feelings that may be stirring in my own heart.
And besides, the Bible suggests to me that a true Spirit-driven revival won’t be led by one of our standard, highly polished, cookie-cutter megachurch pastor types. That’s what the Jewish authorities were looking for too, each of them hoping that it would be one of them. Ironically, such ambition guaranteed that it would not be one of them.
And besides, if a major revival were to break out—say, in Southern California—the Bible suggests that it would probably begin among the 75,000 homeless people in Los Angeles county.
No doubt, they see the landscape of the spiritual “wilderness” we live in much better than we can.
And here’s the thing. This whole obsession with looking for, being a part of, or leading a major spiritual revival misses the mark. Don’t get me wrong. When I hear news of a major revival taking place (for example, the Asbury Revival of 2023), my heart is greatly encouraged, and it is very natural to be curious about what is happening.
But spiritual revival can never be a goal, because it cannot be manufactured or programmed. Ironically again, such efforts practically guarantee that it will not happen.
What God calls us to do is to be faithful in the basic things. And John the Baptist highlights one of those basic things: to be a “voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
Father, You know all things. And I know that my thoughts here mean nothing to You. You will do what You will do, and who among us can dare to tell You how to bring spiritual revival? But I pray for spiritual revival. Let it start in my heart. Let it start in GCC Canvas. Let it start in the South Bay. Lead us according to Your ways, but let us be faithful to the basic things You have called us to do. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
