From the MLJ Archive

Joshua 4:21-24 — It’s disheartening how easily human minds forget important events, even the most important events or happenings in history. With human nature comes human forgetfulness. In this sermon on the question “What is Revival?” from Joshua 4:21–24, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones doesn’t allow that fact to excuse the Christian from reconsidering revivals of the past so that the church may discover how to seek the Lord and pray for revival to happen again. He explains that revival is the greatest need among the body of Christ today, and that the thoughts and prayers of Christians should go toward revival. The problem today is that people are so busy that they do not even think of it. Human absorption with oneself, their own generation, and their own activities dangerously occupy them and cause them to forget this great need. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents the definition of revival and states the difference between it and an evangelistic campaign. Revival happens to the church; an evangelistic campaign is done by the church and happens to those outside it. When it happens to the church, it is almost like a repetition of the day of Pentecost. People become aware of spiritual things as they never were before. Men and women realize the glory and holiness of God. They feel a terrible sense of sin and guilt and their conviction drives them to repentance.