A Revival: Its Conditions and Hindrances by R. D. QUINN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1912

A Revival: Its Conditions and Hindrances

By R. D. QUINN

On every hand there is felt the need of a great spiritual quickening such as this generation has not seen. Nothing short of this will meet the demands of the hour, and nothing but this will ever satisfy the longing in the hearts of all those who have a clear vision of the work that is to be done.

But even while we are praying for a revival, may we not ask ourselves the question, Why is a revival needed? Can we think that when the Lord went away he intended his church to have alternate seasons of depression and revival; to be at times on the high table-lands of purity and power, and again in the lowlands of doubt and discouragement?

Let us answer the question by a reference to Israel. When God brought forth his people out of Egypt, did he intend that sometimes they would overcome their enemies, and sometimes their enemies would overcome them? Was it any part of his plan that at certain seasons they would be mightily oppressed by Midianites or Moabites, Philistines or Assyrians?—Certainly not.

Whenever those nations came against them and oppressed them, the fault was their very own. The children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord, and yet they generally threw the responsibility back upon God, and mournfully asked, “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” If they were seemingly forsaken for a time, it was because of their disobedience.

Ancient Israel had to learn what the church needs to learn to-day,—that God’s very present help depends upon moral and spiritual conditions which we must set ourselves to understand and fulfil. He gave his church in the wilderness the secret of perpetual blessing when he said, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

And he gave the apostolic church the same secret when he said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” More than once in their history, Israel pleaded for a revival without first fulfilling revival conditions. But it was only when they discovered their sin, confessed and forsook it, and turned again to the God of their fathers, that he gave them the desired deliverance.

If the Holy Spirit is with the church ungrieved and unhindered, there surely will be full spiritual power; and if there is full spiritual power, what need is there for a revival? If we have not this power, we shall do well to test our experience by the Word of God and find what the hindrance is. Perhaps the answer will at once be found. One great hindrance is a lack of prayer. But this may be only part of the truth.

Sometimes it is obeying instead of praying that God is calling for. Instant and perfect obedience to all of God’s requirements is the one supreme condition of entering into the spirit-filled life. As long as Israel served strange gods, and Ashtoreth was among them, it was vain to pray to God for victory over the Philistines. But when they turned to God with all their hearts, and put away their false gods, then God came to their help against the mighty.

And so it is to-day. God will not send full spiritual blessings that evils may be put away. Evils must be put away that the fulness of blessing may come. One notable saint of God has said, “Our reception of the Spirit will be in exact proportion to the subjection of the flesh, and the consequent vigor of our inner life.”

There are three passages in the Acts of the Apostles which clearly show that the church’s growth is altogether dependent upon her spiritual condition. They are as follows:—

“And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple; and breaking bread at home, they did take their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.” Acts 2: 46, 47, R. V.

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, was multiplied.” Acts 9:31.

“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.” Acts 16: 5. R. D. QUINN.