Revival and Reformation

What is the difference between Revival and Reformation?

Revival:
1.) a- The act or an instance of reviving; b- The condition of being revived.
2.) A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence (adjective that means present or in existence, but not active or manifest)

3.) A new presentation of an old play, movie, opera, ballet, or similar vehicle.

4.) a- A time of reawakened interest in religion; b- A meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public testimony.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition © 1992

Apostolic definition of “revival”: “The stirring of apathetic saints”
Apathetic:
1. Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent.
2. Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive.

Reformation: 1357. diorthosis, [from a comp. of G1223 and G3717], meaning to straighten thoroughly; rectification 1, i.e. (spec.) the Messianic restoration: reformation.
1.) To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition.
2.) a- To abolish abuse or malpractice in: reform the government; b- To put an end to (a wrong), “to correct.”
3.) To cause (a person) to give up harmful or immoral practices; persuade to adopt a better way of life.
4.) To change for the better
5.) Correction of evils, abuses, or errors.

As is easily seen by looking at the differences in definition between revival and reformation, there is a distinct difference between the two.
But which is the Fathers desire in us?

Why is reformation necessary in the church today?

Gods ultimate purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. But because of false or erroneous teachings, teachings either arrived at in error, or containing error, WE, the Body of Christ, no longer look like Christ. In the Acts 5:15, we see Peter's shadow causing people to be healed. Was Peter aware that his shadow was doing the work? What is obvious is that those around Peter saw something manifesting that separated him from them. They saw Christ in him and that aroused the hope of glory!

Earlier in Acts 4:33, Luke describes what led up to the shadow incident:
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

Power: 1411. dunamis, from G1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work. 1410. to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.

2Witness: 3142. marturion, of G3144; something evidential, i.e. (gen.) evidence given : to be testified, testimony, witness. 3144. martus; a witness (lit. [judicially] or fig. [gen.]); by anal. a "martyr":--martyr, record, witness. [ Acts 1:8]

Resurrection: 386. anastasis, from G450; a standing up again, i.e. (lit.) a resurrection from death (individual, gen. or by impl. [its author]), or (fig.) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth):--raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again. 450. anistemi; from G303 and G2476; to stand up (lit. or fig., trans. or intrans.):--arise, lift up, raise up (again), rise (again), stand up (-right) 303: ana,; a prim. prep. and adv.; prop. up; In compounds (as a prefix) it often means (by impl.) repetition, intensity, reversal, etc. ).2476: histemi, a prim. stao; to stand (lit. or fig.):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stand (by, forth, still, up).

Grace: 5485. charis; from G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

The grace of God was so strong upon the early church that those around them could see “something” was different about them. They could see that they were “Christ”. [anointed]

This was not the first time that people saw something different about the early church.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (KJV)

The first thing that the Pharisees and Sadducee’s saw was that Peter and John had a boldness that caused them concern. Boldness towards the religious rulers was not a common sight. The Pharisees had built a system that effectively closed the doors to heaven for the average person. They were to be feared. They imparted to the people the mindset (stronghold) that “if you cross us, we will kick you out of the Temple and then how will God hear from you”!(paraphrase) 3 [see John 9:22]

But when Peter and John displayed no fear, they got nervous! It wasn’t enough that they were unlearned and ignorant, but what caused them their greatest concern was that “they took knowledge of them”.

Knowledge: 1921. epiginosko; from G1909 and G1097; to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by impl. to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:--(ac-, have, take) know (-ledge, well), perceive.

The phrase “to know upon some mark” refers to something that they knew of because a past experience. The men that were now questioning Peter and John, were the very same men that had “set up” Jesus for His crucifixion! Annas and Caiaphas! [Acts 4:6] And now they could see that same Spirit upon these two “mere men” that they saw and feared so much upon Jesus!

But there was now a new dynamic that troubled them. When they crucified Jesus, there were approximately 120 followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. Now there were at least 8120! And this was in just a few months after the crucifixion. 4 [see Acts 5:34]

Why? Because they could see Christ manifest in the flesh! Not Jesus the Christ, but the Body of Christ! The anointing of God upon men!
In Isaiah 52-53, the crucifixion of Christ is foretold. Many theologians have taken VS 52:14 to speak of Christ upon the cross.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. (NIV)

Many well meaning commentators have taught us through this scripture that Jesus was so badly beaten that no one could recognize him. While we do not intend to remove the horrific nature of the crucifixion, it must be noted that crucifixion was a common punishment in that day. And everyone knew that it was Jesus that was hanging there. They could see the difference between Him and the two malefactors.

Could this prophetic word be speaking to us? Could it be saying that we no longer look like Christ?

Diorthosis, the Greek word for reformation, is the same word that we get the word orthopedic from. Orthopedics is defined as “the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.”

When we hear Paul describe the church as a human body 1, we then can see the need of reformation to take place within it in order to realign the skeletal structure back into its proper position. Think of it as chiropractic medicine for the spirit! Something has gotten out of shape within our foundational belief structure that no longer allows us to appear as Christ! And that was and is the Fathers intention!

Before God manifested as Jesus in the earth, God was without form. He is a Spirit and spirits don’t have a discernable shape. In Colossians 1:15; we see that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Something that is invisible does not have a shape to the natural eye. But God became man [Emmanuel: God with us] and took the form of a man, so that men could see God!

In Hebrews 1, this is further explained:
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV)

The phrase “brightness of his glory”, means that he was the off-flashing of the Fathers glory. He wasn’t a reflection of it, he was it! He wasn’t the thing that was illuminated by the flashlight, he was the beam of light itself. And that is further confirmed by the next statement; “the express image of his person”. Jesus was the exact representation of His essence. He was as much God, as God was! But in the visible form of a man! He was the visible expression of God.

And that is what we are called to be! The visible expression of God in the earth!

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (KJV)

The word used here for “manifest” is the Greek work phaneroo [5319] which describes something that is “rendered apparent”. This is speaking of an obvious manifestation. Not some spiritual application, but an outward manifestation of Christ’s presence.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 (KJV)

Conformed: 4832. summorphos; from G4862 and G3444; jointly formed, i.e. (fig.) similar:--conformed to, fashioned like unto.

Image: 1504. eikon; from G1503; a likeness, i.e. (lit.) statute, profile, or (fig.) representation, resemblance:--image.

The word “summorphos” speaks an adjusting process that changes the way something appears. The new thing will take on the shape of that which is the desired result. In this case we are to be changed into the likeness of Christ. Paul re-enforces this point in Ephesians 4.

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)

The word “conformed” in this verse is not the same as the word “conformed” used in Romans 12:2. That is the word “suschematizo”, which describes the self-transformation of a person. Scripture there admonishes us not to appear as the world appears. We should look differently than the world, but the change occurs because of the indwelling presence of God, that causes a literal change of our outward appearance. But what needs to be seen in this particular scripture is the use of the word “transformed”.

3339. metamorphoo, met-am-or-fo'-o; from G3326 and G3445; to transform (lit. or fig. "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.

This verse speaks of a transformation process that is brought about by changing the way one thinks about themselves and that the result of this new thinking process releases the will of God for you to come to pass.
Hence the difference between revival and reformation is this; revival is focused upon external manifestations of the presence of God and the subsequent activities that motivate those manifestations; whereas reformation is about the internal adjustment of the individual believer to the designed individual purposes of God in each believers life and the “joint forming” that is manifest by these accurate alignings. And this can only be brought about by the internal restructuring of our thought processes.

For we already have the mind of Christ. Lets determine to utilize it, rather than rationalize it. Consider this verse:

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:17 (KJV)

1 Rom 12:4, 1 Cor 12:12, 1 Cor 15:49

1) Recify:
1. To set right; correct.
2. To correct by calculation or adjustment.
3. To refine or purify, especially by distillation. - Chemistry
4. To convert (alternating current) into direct current. - Electronics
5. To adjust (the proof of alcoholic beverages) by adding water or other liquids.

2) Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Witnesses: this word represents the promise of the Father that He would give us the power to be “martyrs”. To die to self

3) John 9:20-23 (KJV) His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

4) Acts 5:32-42 (KJV) And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.