When revival comes and hearts are restored to life again as they experience the very life of Jesus within, holiness will follow. The Spirit convicts of that which is not the life of Christ. For some, the Spirit convicts of pride, envy, jealousy, strife, bitterness, gossip and suchlike. For others, the Spirit focuses on matters like immorality, lustful indulgences, lying and stealing. All these examples are clearly listed in the Word of God as fleshly (Gal. 5:19-22; Eph. 4:25-32). They are real issues, not man-made, and apply to all believers.
The Spirit may also convict of things that are not intrinsically wrong but have become a hindrance to unfettered fellowship with Jesus. Things like too much news, sports, social media and so forth. The Spirit has made some issues clear through the written Word and others, like these matters, He personalizes to individuals.
As people get honest, the blood cleanses, and life—real life, the holiness of the Holy One—is restored. The fruit of the Spirit now is manifested. This life is real holiness, and revivals which do not bring forth the holiness of the Christ life do not pass the test of the spirits which points people to Jesus (1 John 4).
Revival is transformational. In a 1995 revival at Howard-Payne University in Texas, young men confessed pornography and immorality while young women confessed to dressing in an immodest way that stumbled the men. These issues were the need in that context. In a different setting, a local church revival in the 1960s, a number of women confessed to pride and attitude sins because such was the need in that particular context. In both examples, genuine revival restored individuals to the holy life of Jesus.
Holiness ensues in revival—the real holiness of the Holy One animating afresh revived personalities.
John Van Gelderen
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“Oh, to be saved from myself, Dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in thee.”….