Personal Revival

The Renewal of the Heart

As God brings about revival He starts by doing a work in each individual man, woman and child first. God communicates primarily with a man’s heart, so this is where the work begins. Inward revival (inward renewal) usually takes place as God prepares His church for a great harvest of souls (outward revival). Yet, when you received Christ you also received the capacity for your heart to be renewed daily.

"Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” [2 Corinthians. 4:16]. "Though our outer man is progressively decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being progressively renewed day after day" Amplified

Notice, it’s not the flesh but the man of the heart that is renewed (progressively) day by day. The Greek word translated "renewed" literally means "to make new again" and it implies an ongoing or continual process. But what’s interesting is that the root of this word (kainos) denotes something that has "never previously been used, something of different nature and substance." Hence, when your inward man is being renewed day by day, he is in fact being transformed into something that he never was before - something totally fresh! It’s as if, each day, the inner man of the heart becomes something that has never previously existed. Your “true self” is progressively renewed with a different nature and substance.

Why is this? So that you can be more Christlike day by day; although God is the same yesterday, today and forever, He is always completely “fresh.” Therefore, in the process of being transformed into His likeness, you experience revival or renewal daily.

Now, let's look at the whole scripture once more…

"Though our outward man (the flesh) is perishing (decaying), yet the inward man (the man of the heart) is being ‘renewed’ (transformed into something that has never previously been utilised) day by day." Observe, the Holy Spirit's work in your heart doesn't restore you to a previous state, but rather, He transforms you into something totally fresh. Therefore, one of the most prevalent characteristics of revival must be “freshness.”

“Though the outward man is perishing” - even when the weariness caused by the pressures of life takes its toll on your physical body or mind – your inward man is renewed to be as fresh as a new born babe – daily. Isn't it amazing? A personal revival is made available to us 'fresh from heaven' on a daily basis.

Many believers think that a quiet time in the Word, and in prayer, is an effective means by which to renew the heart. But this can only be achieved if the things we are involved in are animated by the divine power that we knowingly allow to work in and through us – the blessed Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of revival – the Spirit of renewal.

Each of you must make provision in your daily lives for personal revival. This is a working function of the blessed Holy Spirit. He is continually at work in you perfecting God’s will. In a text from the book of Titus we are taught that we have been "saved by the washing of regeneration (the rebirth) and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." The two things mentioned in this verse are not meant to be a repetition of each other. The rebirth is one great act, a miracle that begins your Christian life. However, the renewing of the inner man of the heart, by the Holy Spirit, is a work that is carried on perpetually [day by day]. It’s your salvation being worked out.

One of the by-products of this work of renewal is the “renewing of the mind" [Romans 12:2]. Also, in Ephesians 4:23 you are given a firm directive to “be renewed in the spirit (attitude) of your mind," and this is in the present tense, again implying a progressive work.

Colossians 3:10 reads, "…and have put on the new man [past tense], which is renewed [not, “has been renewed”] in the image of Him that created him." It’s only the Holy Spirit to whom you should look for the daily renewal of the heart - for personal revival.

Included in this divine process is a quickening of your mortal body. Revival must break out and affect all of you – not just your heart! Romans 8:11 states, “…But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. He who raised Christ from the dead will also give ‘life’ to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

If personal revival is to become a reality, you must truly believe that the Holy Spirit was given to you so that God the Father may (through Him) perfect His will in your life, and also your mortal body. God desires to bless you with every spiritual blessing - in all areas of life. Therefore, regularly remind yourself that the Holy Spirit must be given complete control in order to bring about personal revival and consequently perfect God's will in your life. It is the “invited” presence of the Spirit of God that manifests divine “freshness” daily and in turn ‘quickens’ your mortal body.

From your side, however, it demands that the “new creation” be put on, and the old creature removed, or crucified. To be filled with heaven, your existence must first be emptied of earth! Remember, the spirit of this world and the Spirit of God contend for the possession of the same being. And the flesh is willing to promote sin rather than righteousness to achieve this aim. Renewal of the heart will always produce a sincere desire to pursue righteousness no matter what the cost.

Renewal (personal revival) is a “fresh” day by day experience. And it is progressive and perpetual. Accordingly, you should maintain a constant flow of renewal by:

(1) Being renewed daily [transformed into something fresh that has never being utilised].

(2) Always being filled with a fresh anointing. The Holy Spirit's radical work in you will cause an entire transformation to occur in your heart [and in your mind], and the new man, “that after God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth", (Ephesians 4:24) will shine through.

Chris Demetriou, 19/10/2011