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Revival sent from God: What The Bible Teaches For The Church Today
Revival yearnings are widespread in the church today, but Raymond Ortlund Jr. believes that we still need to give more attention to the Bible itself in the matter of authentic revival.
One reason for this is that we need the discernment which only the Bible can give, to enable us to tell the difference between what's valuable and what's cheap. Otherwise we may squander our heavenly Father's good gifts. Another reason is that our expectations of God may be too small, our desires too shallow. The biblical vision of our God is breathtaking. We need to enlarge and deepen our grasp of what God can do - and what we must do.
Dr Ortlund's ultimate aim is to persuade us that revival is a valid biblical expectation, and so to motivate us to pray that God will rend the heavens and come down in our generation. Above all, he wants us to be encouraged in God: we need never give up or give in, because he remains committed to the glory of his own holy name in this world.
One reason for this is that we need the discernment which only the Bible can give, to enable us to tell the difference between what's valuable and what's cheap. Otherwise we may squander our heavenly Father's good gifts. Another reason is that our expectations of God may be too small, our desires too shallow. The biblical vision of our God is breathtaking. We need to enlarge and deepen our grasp of what God can do - and what we must do.
Dr Ortlund's ultimate aim is to persuade us that revival is a valid biblical expectation, and so to motivate us to pray that God will rend the heavens and come down in our generation. Above all, he wants us to be encouraged in God: we need never give up or give in, because he remains committed to the glory of his own holy name in this world.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.
67 books142 followersPastor Ray Ortlund received a B.A. from Wheaton College, Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, M.A. from The University of California, Berkeley, and Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Pastor Ortlund served as Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, from 1989-1998. He was ordained by Lake Avenue Congregational Church, Pasadena, California, in 1975
In addition to a number of essays and articles, he has published several books. Ray also participated in The New Living Translation and the English Standard Version of the Bible. He contributed the introduction and study notes to the book of Isaiah in The ESV Study Bible.
Ray is the President of Renewal Ministries, a regional director in the Acts29 Network and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition.
Ray and his wife Jani have been married for forty-one happy years, and they have four delightful children. Ray says, "I have the most wonderful wife, I love my kids and grandkids, and I love Immanuel Church. My dream is that God would use us for true revival in our city."
In addition to a number of essays and articles, he has published several books. Ray also participated in The New Living Translation and the English Standard Version of the Bible. He contributed the introduction and study notes to the book of Isaiah in The ESV Study Bible.
Ray is the President of Renewal Ministries, a regional director in the Acts29 Network and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition.
Ray and his wife Jani have been married for forty-one happy years, and they have four delightful children. Ray says, "I have the most wonderful wife, I love my kids and grandkids, and I love Immanuel Church. My dream is that God would use us for true revival in our city."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews
February 2, 2017
This is a great book on the subject of revival, Ray Ortlund defines revival "as a season in the life of the Church when God causes the normal ministry of the gospel to surge forward with extraordinary spiritual power" As you would expect he explores this from a very scriptural basis, bringing alive Old testament portions of scripture. He answers questions such as what can we confidently pray for, what may we properly expect, what should we eagerly welcome. It will cause you to want to pray Lord Revive us.
March 9, 2021
Wonderful book. It warmed my heart, filled me with hope and a new resolve. Highly recommend!
February 15, 2014
If I could summarize this book with a word, it would be “Wow.” Raymond Ortlund takes the reader on a tour of a number of passages in the Old Testament prophets as he builds a case for what revival is, and what it isn’t. Mixed with his outstanding exegesis are illustrations from noted revivals of the past, and the comments of good pastors and theologians who were contemporaneous with those events. In this exploration Ortlund takes advantage of a clear-headed historical hindsight.
Part one of the book is arranged under the theme of “What God can do.” The chapter titles summarize Ortlund’s directions: God comes down to us; God reinvigorates us; God heals us; God pours out His Spirit upon us; God raises us up; God restores us. In this part Ortlund celebrates the sovereignty of God, unfolding it not as something which frustrates our efforts, but something that gives us ultimate hope even as it preserves the purity of revival itself.
Part two moves to the next step: “What we must do.” Again his chapter titles tell the tale (and by the way, they deliver what they promise): we return to God; we seek God; we humble ourselves. Ortlund again returns to surgically-precise exegesis to show us what the text actually says about these things. The last chapter, on humility, is probably one of the best pieces of literature I’ve read on the topic.
Here is what distinguishes this book from many other modern works. All too many modern books, for all the great intellectual commitments of the authors to God’s glory, remain essentially man-centered. You’ve typically got one or two verses that are followed by a chapter of illustrations and ten points of how to apply what you’ve learned (presumably, what you’ve learned from those one or two verses).
This is where Ortlund shines. He exegetes complete passages of Scripture, he’s not tossing a few verses on the salad as garnish. The power of the book rises from the power of the biblical text. His exposition is accurate, context-sensitive, and flat-out convicting. By the time Ortlund himself applies the text (which he does do, make no mistake), the Holy Spirit has already beaten him to the punch. Ortlund’s applications are firmly anchored in responsible exegesis.
I am convinced this is the best way to teach and preach, and it protects the reader/hearer from applications that go askew, the accumulation of which could potentially lead into more serious error. The topic of “revival” has seen its share of these problems in American Christianity. Ortlund’s work in “When God comes to Church” restores a proper, biblical view of revival. I recommend it thoroughly.
Part one of the book is arranged under the theme of “What God can do.” The chapter titles summarize Ortlund’s directions: God comes down to us; God reinvigorates us; God heals us; God pours out His Spirit upon us; God raises us up; God restores us. In this part Ortlund celebrates the sovereignty of God, unfolding it not as something which frustrates our efforts, but something that gives us ultimate hope even as it preserves the purity of revival itself.
Part two moves to the next step: “What we must do.” Again his chapter titles tell the tale (and by the way, they deliver what they promise): we return to God; we seek God; we humble ourselves. Ortlund again returns to surgically-precise exegesis to show us what the text actually says about these things. The last chapter, on humility, is probably one of the best pieces of literature I’ve read on the topic.
Here is what distinguishes this book from many other modern works. All too many modern books, for all the great intellectual commitments of the authors to God’s glory, remain essentially man-centered. You’ve typically got one or two verses that are followed by a chapter of illustrations and ten points of how to apply what you’ve learned (presumably, what you’ve learned from those one or two verses).
This is where Ortlund shines. He exegetes complete passages of Scripture, he’s not tossing a few verses on the salad as garnish. The power of the book rises from the power of the biblical text. His exposition is accurate, context-sensitive, and flat-out convicting. By the time Ortlund himself applies the text (which he does do, make no mistake), the Holy Spirit has already beaten him to the punch. Ortlund’s applications are firmly anchored in responsible exegesis.
I am convinced this is the best way to teach and preach, and it protects the reader/hearer from applications that go askew, the accumulation of which could potentially lead into more serious error. The topic of “revival” has seen its share of these problems in American Christianity. Ortlund’s work in “When God comes to Church” restores a proper, biblical view of revival. I recommend it thoroughly.
April 27, 2012
Kept thinking the next chapter can't be as good. Kept being wrong. An outstanding book on revival that doesn't quietly undercut the ordinary (and sometimes extraordinary) power of simple gospel ministry.
January 1, 2016
A very important work. There may be no more critical issue to the church both individually and collectively than to repent and find its strength in the Spirit and not in its comforts and man-centered programs.
August 24, 2018
So good that I even read all the end notes. Underlined everywhere. Highly recommended.
Christians should pray for and work toward God sending real revival. From scripture and history, the author demonstrates convincingly that revival is not a church-planned event but a grace gift of God intended to renew and advance the church during particular seasons. That we do not talk much or pray for revival or manage our lives so that we are ready for it speaks to the sad reality that we may not believe in revival. But God is a God of life, and He *delights* to revive His church.
Christians should pray for and work toward God sending real revival. From scripture and history, the author demonstrates convincingly that revival is not a church-planned event but a grace gift of God intended to renew and advance the church during particular seasons. That we do not talk much or pray for revival or manage our lives so that we are ready for it speaks to the sad reality that we may not believe in revival. But God is a God of life, and He *delights* to revive His church.
January 23, 2024
A very detailed book on revival. It challenges the concept that revival is rare and lays out a Biblical groundwork for how and why it occurs without presenting some sure fire formula. The section on humility was the most memorable.
February 27, 2024
One of the most helpful and encouraging books on the topic. It pushes against the excesses of those who are too pragmatic in their eagerness for revival and those whose theology can inadvertently stifle revival. Read this book slowly and cherish it.
April 14, 2023
This book was so greatly inspired by God you should have a read of it yourself. It was recommended to me by Pastor B Seenath during a worship conference which he lectured in April of 2023.
January 10, 2026
A great series of thoughtfully applied studies on biblical passages about what God does in revival and what we are called to do to invite that. Stirring.
August 16, 2020
This is an incredibly challenging book, that is soaked in scripture. Taking us word by word through a number of different passages, Ortlund helps us to examine the heart of God in order to examine our own hearts. The book helps us to see that revival can happen.
December 15, 2015
This is an inspiring book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews