Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]?

1 Corinthians 3:16 (Amplified)

 

The Spirit who dwells within you is God’s ever-renewing presence and power.

When we learn to live in the truth, we will move from praying for revival to pursuing renewal. While revival is an off-and-on experience, renewal is a way of life. Many believers, however, are driven by an orphan spirit. They long for God to fill them as if they are empty vessels on the inside, not realising that the reality of His fullness already resides in them. They end up chasing after a revival experience rather enjoying the renewed life in Christ by faith.

A revival is a visitation from God in a certain location, but in Christ, we always receive more than we ask. In the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God came and went as He pleased; however, in the New Covenant, the Spirit of God is glad to dwell in you because you have become God's holy habitation through Christ. This implies a visitation from God is for the moment, but a habitation of God is forever. You no longer need to seek God's presence because He is ever present with you.

Should we thus pray for revival in our city?

If we choose to pray but do not obey what the gospel says about us in Christ, we should pray for the renewal of our minds rather than only for a revival. The desire for a city-wide revival is pointless unless we are committed to glorifying Jesus by spreading His good news and making disciples.

Many past revivals, such as those led by John Wesley, saw a convergence of the gospel with social justice. They brought fundamental changes and remarkable reforms, not only within the church's four walls, but across the community. We do not see that in many so-called current revivals. They fade away as swiftly as they appeared. They foster more rivalry than togetherness, and competition over cooperation.

Revival is a fruit of renewal in the life of the Spirt; it cannot manifest itself without the help of the Holy Spirit. While we all desire a fresh move of God, we must first and foremost listen to what the Spirit is saying to us.