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  RECOGNIZING REAL REVIVAL
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: Revival is not a natural phenomenon or a means to happiness,
but a sovereign work of God that transforms the heart.

Topics: "Revival", "True Transformation"
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 85:6, Isaiah 57:15, Ezekiel 36:26

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer addresses the misconceptions surrounding revival, arguing
that it is not merely a result of fervent talk and prayer, but rather a
profound transformation that cannot leave us unchanged. He critiques the
popular notion that revival is a benign miracle that enhances our
happiness without altering our moral state. Tozer emphasizes that true
revival requires a deep, genuine change in our hearts and lives, rather
than just an increase in religious activity. He warns against the
distortion of revival talk that leads to false expectations and
superficial experiences. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a more authentic
understanding of what revival truly entails.

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CONTENT
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There seems to be a notion abroad that if we talk enough and pray
enough, revival will set in like a stock market boom or a winning streak
on a baseball club. We appear to be waiting for some sweet chariot to
swing low and carry us into the Big Rock Candy Mountain of religious
experience.

Well, it is a pretty good rule that if everyone is saying something it
is not likely to be true; or, if it has truth at the bottom, it has been
so distorted by wrong emphasis as to have the effect of error in its
practical outworking. And such, I believe, is much of the revival talk
we hear today.

My reason for doubt of the soundness of it is that we appear to conceive
of revival as a kind of benign miracle, a feverish renaissance of
religious activity which will come upon us, leaving us morally just as
we are now, except that we will be a lot happier and there will be a
great many more of us. It's a good talking point and it has an aura of
superior godliness about it; but the trouble is that it is just not
true.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/recognizing-real-revival/
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