We seem to have 2 distinct focuses going on in the Body of Christ. Many are contending for revival while others are contending for awakening. We really are pursuing, praying and investing into two completely different things. Both have merits, both have a purpose and both have the same and different audiences. I want to do a comparison of both revival and awakening. Lets look at messages, audiences, gatherings, purpose, successes.

Lets start by definitions. Revival is a word meaning the outcome of something that has been revived. Something revived means to bring something back to life that is currently  dead.

Awakening is a word meaning to come from one state of spiritual being to a new state of being. It is focused on coming out of slumber and a stagnate state to an active state.

Now at first we might say both are the same right? Not really. Lets look at messages.

Messages

The revival message is more on hope, love and repentance, It is more focused on salvation, renewing your faith and commitment to God and coming back to first love. It really is for the church and pulls upon a church audience to come alive in these areas. It is really foundational because sadly many never really had these foundations fixed in their lives. It can many times be outside influences affecting a person. It is event focused instead of entering a process of discipling. The process is only a response in the moment. Meetings are primarily led by evangelist and pastors.

The awakenings message is more revelatory, kingdom, eternal and reforming. It is about  coming into identity, purpose, and destiny of the value of your life in Gods plan. It is more about an internal transformation then external factors. The audience is still the same the Body of Christ. It builds upon the foundations already laid and active. It is process focused instead of event driven. The process is discipleship into fullness. Meetings are primarily led by apostles, prophets and teachers.

Audiences

Both revival and awakening draw primary from the church. While revival shows the need for Christ in life as a foundation it holds meetings many times outside the walls of the church to reach the unbeliever. Revival mobilizes people to attend meetings.

Awakening draws from the church to those desiring more in their lives. But it also goes into places of influence in culture. It shows the wisdom of God and brings creative insights causing the deposits in people to come into greater fullness. It causes what is dominant to suddenly come fully functioning because understanding has come. Awakening mobilizes people to go out and affect culture.

Gathering

Since revival is event driven the gathering tries to capture as many people as possible. Worship is the primary vehicle to rally around. Songs are what the masses know. Alter calls for salvation, repentance, rededication and even water baptism are given. Many times, these may not be fully explained and can be emotional responses more than life long decisions that come because of knowing what is required. Generally, the word of God is a basic message of our lack being met by seeing our need for God in our lives.  The gatherings are led by predetermined leadership.

Awakening is different as it is not looking at masses as success but how many have been discipled into fullness over time. It is process driven over event, knowing this will create lasting long-term results. This can be a series of events building upon each previous one. Worship in meetings can have spiritual flow and create atmospheres of encountering God. Meetings give opportunity for others participation, activation and sharing.

Purposes

The real purpose of revival is to get the church refocused on winning souls. Revival meetings are very simplistic. They model the message of hope to bring to others. They also show the ease by which a simple message can be spoken.

The real purpose of awakening is to bring people into spiritual fullness. Awakening meetings are more challenging and cause for evaluation of value systems. They bring a holistic message of the kingdom into everyday life. There is a greater expectation after meetings of ongoing growth from people.

Successes

Revival meetings are seen as successful if people respond to alter calls for repentance, salvation and water baptism. Many times, if large numbers are seen attending is looked at as success. It is Instantaneously rewarding. The moment is measured.

Awakening sees success when people come alive in such a way they become influential in their faith. Success is measured not in numbers attending but the transformations occurring. Success is measured by how people influence later. The reward of seeing change is seen much later. The future is measured.

Final Thoughts

I see the need for both revival and awakening, but I see the need of them working hand in hand. I see a problem that revival deeming success of meetings because of response at alter calls or numbers attending, that it can create a false finish line. I also believe water baptism should be done when a person has good understanding of the action . To me it is sad we are “reviving” a church that should be on fire. I see awakening struggling to be received as it is progressive and requires commitment. Awakening needs reformation at the same time to be able to gain momentum. This means structure and patterns of church life may need to change. Opportunities also need formed for those awakened. Since awakening is primarily led by apostles, until this grace is valued again, awakening is slow in coming.

In many ways revival and awakening are seeking the same thing, to minister to the body. But both have separate approaches, instead of seeing how they should be working together. It actually has caused an undercurrent. The body is divided, some praying for awakening others revival. Both groups generally don’t support or attend the others meetings.

Historically some of what we call revival was really an awakening. Azusa street is the best example. There was indeed an awakening of being filled with the Holy Spirit bringing a new awareness than reviving a dead church. The Cane ridge revival (1800) was also an awakening and is looked at as the 2^nd great awakening in America with George Whitfield (1730-40) being the first affecting the revolutionary war era. Cane Ridge went on to birth many famous Christian leaders and even some denominations. We see many famous revivals both past and even present tense. The sad thing I wish I didn’t know is historically revival sites 100 years later for the most part are worse than before. They are short lived in bringing sustainable change. But awakenings have brought longevity. This is not knocking revival but I bring this up to show the limitations.

I feel the bulk of the church loves revival more than awakening. Revival has a certain ease with it. It is easy to come and participate but not be involved.  It is easy to do the basics. It is easy to live my life the way I want to. There is no discipleship and no long-term accountability.

Awakening will cost. It will require many re-evaluations, changing of belief values and a reordering of a person’s life. The ongoing process will not end as awakening only ends once we receive a final awakening to know him as he is when we enter heaven. Awakening requires accountability and is focused on investing in relationships.

Myself I have contended for awakening, especially in my current state of Iowa. Why? Because the prophetic words over our state don’t mention revival but awakening. Because it is a deeper longer lasting result. It is more work but it is more rewarding over time. Lets appreciate what each carries and realize that revival and awakening are both the working of the Holy Spirit in all of our lives.