The Way to Revival (Joy Unspeakable)

As I was writing my paper on a "Trinitarian understanding to Revivals in the Contemporary church" this evening, came across a impactful heartfelt sharing by Martyn Llyod Jones in the last chapter of his classic book, "Joy Unspeakable" and I just felt a deep resonance in my heart to desire to pray for such a fresh revival to come upon our church again...

“My dear friends, if you read the history of the church you can come to only one conclusion: this has been God’s way of keeping he church alive The Christian church would have been dead and the church finished centuries ago and many times over were it not for revivals This is the true meaning of the word “Revival”. It is God pouring out his Spirit on an assembled church or company or many churches or countries even, at a time….

There is not always the noise, but there is always the sense of glory, the sense of awe, of the majesty of God; a sense of power, an assurance of salvation. It always leads to great joy, and always gives boldness in witness, whether from a pulpit or in private, a convicting and a converting power. What happens always is the believers are revived. Revival can only happen to a man who has got life. It means revivifying. 

The church has lost her power, and is given the power again. He gave the power at the beginning, he goes on repeating this That is revival and God, I say again, has kept his church alive and going by this succession of revivals throughout the centuries… the church needs another Pentecost. Every revival is a repetition of Pentecost, and it is the greatest need of the Christan church at this present hour. 

Oh may God open the eye of our understanding on this vital matter, that we may look to him and wait upon him until in his infinite mercy and compassion he once more sends down from on high the power of the Holy Spirit upon us.".[1]
[1] David Martyn, Lloyd-Jones, and Christopher Catherwood, Joy Unspeakable: The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Eastbourne: David C. Cook, 2008). 459-471.