Godchaser Podcast
Join Evan Evans on The God Chaser Podcast, a weekly exploration of faith, spirituality, and personal growth centered on Jesus Christ. Evan, a devoted believer and captivating host guides listeners through engaging conversations and thought-provoking discussions that deepen their understanding of Christ and His teachings.
We delve into topics such as Christ's teachings, the power of prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of community in spiritual growth. The God Chaser Podcast aims to inspire and challenge listeners, equipping them with the tools and insights needed to live a more fulfilling, Christ-centered life.
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Godchaser Podcast
Revival or Hype? Discerning Authentic Spiritual Awakening
What does genuine spiritual revival actually look like? In a world of viral videos featuring supposed spiritual manifestations and emotional religious experiences, how can believers discern between authentic divine movement and manufactured hype?
This eye-opening episode tackles the challenging yet crucial question of spiritual discernment in an age of sensationalism. We examine the consistent biblical pattern of revival—beginning with humility, prayer, seeking God's face, and turning from sin—and contrast it with the warning signs of manufactured religious excitement.
Drawing from powerful historical examples like the Great Awakening, Welsh Revival, and Hebrides Revival, we identify the unmistakable characteristics of authentic spiritual awakening: deep conviction of sin, genuine repentance leading to changed behavior, renewed hunger for Scripture, serious prayer, unity among believers, and lasting evangelistic fruit. These stand in stark contrast to the hallmarks of manufactured movements that emphasize experience over truth, personalities over God, and emotional manipulation over authentic transformation.
Most importantly, we explore how personal revival—the awakening of your own heart before God—may be more significant than any large movement. Through biblical texts like Micah 6:8, we discover that God isn't primarily seeking dramatic manifestations but hearts genuinely devoted to Him through justice, mercy, and humble obedience.
Whether you've been disappointed by revival claims in the past or are hungry to experience God's authentic work in your life, this episode provides practical wisdom for discerning the spirits and positioning yourself for genuine spiritual renewal. Don't miss these powerful insights that will transform how you understand and pursue revival in your own spiritual journey.
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their land. Notice the sequence humility, prayer, seeking God's face and turning from sin. These are hard attitudes, not emotional experiences. These are choices of the will, not temporary feelings.
Speaker 1:Revival begins with recognition of spiritual poverty and desperate need for God. The revival in Nineveh under Jonah's preaching illustrates this pattern. Jonah, chapter 3, verse 5 to 10, describes the response. The people of Nineveh believed God's message and, from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city no one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change His mind and hold back His fierce anger from destroying us. When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the threat of destruction he had announced. This is revival conviction of sin, genuine repentance, change behavior and God's merciful response. It wasn't about emotional excitement or supernatural manifestations. It was about hearts turning to God in humility and obedience Characteristics of Authentic Revival. Biblical revival has certain consistent characteristics that we can identify and measure Deep conviction of sin Authentic revival always begins with recognition of sin and genuine sorrow for offending God.
Speaker 1:This isn't guilt, manipulation or emotional pressure. It's the Holy Spirit revealing truth about human condition and divine holiness. In the revival during Ezra's time, the people's response to hearing God's word was profound conviction. Nehemiah, chapter 8, verse 9, records the people wept when they heard God's word because they recognized how far they had fallen from His standards. This conviction led to confession and change, not just emotional release, genuine repentance and changed lives. True revival produces lasting transformation in how people live. It's not enough to feel sorry for sin. Authentic revival leads to abandoning sinful practices and pursuing righteousness. Acts, chapter 19, verse 18 to 19, describes this kind of transformation. During the revival in Ephesus, many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them, who had been practicing sorcery, brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. These new believers didn't just feel emotional about their past. They took concrete action to remove sin from their lives. They burned expensive books of magic, demonstrating genuine repentance that cost them something significant.
Speaker 1:Authentic revival is always accompanied by renewed hunger for, and submission to, scripture. People don't just want emotional experiences. They want to know and obey God's truth. During the revival under King Josiah, the rediscovery of God's law was central to the awakening Two kings. Chapter 23, verse 25, says Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses, and there has never been a king like him since. Josiah's revival was marked by careful attention to God's written word and systematic obedience to its commands. The revival wasn't based on new revelations or dramatic experiences, but on returning to what God had already revealed prayer and fasting.
Speaker 1:Biblical revival is marked by serious, sustained prayer, often accompanied by fasting. This isn't casual prayer or emotional pleading. It's desperate seeking of God with sacrifice and discipline. Joel, chapter 2, verse 12 to 13, calls for this kind of response. That is why the Lord says turn to me now, while there is time, give me your hearts Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts. Instead, return to the Lord, your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Notice the emphasis on heart change over external demonstrations. True revival prayer is about the heart turning to God, not about dramatic displays Unity among God's people.
Speaker 1:Authentic revival breaks down barriers between believers and creates genuine unity. Pride, division and competition give way to love, humility and cooperation. Acts chapter 2, verse 44 to 46, describes this unity in the early church. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. This wasn't forced unity or organizational cooperation. It was heart-level love that expressed itself in practical care for one another.
Speaker 1:Evangelistic fruit True revival results in people coming to faith in Jesus Christ. The awakened church becomes effective in reaching the lost, not through manipulation or pressure, but through authentic love and transformed lives. Acts 2.47 notes the evangelistic result of the early church revival, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. The evangelistic fruit was natural and sustained, not manufactured through special techniques or emotional appeals.
Speaker 1:The Danger of Manufactured Revival Not every religious excitement is authentic revival. Human beings are capable of creating emotional experiences that feel spiritual but lack genuine divine origin. Understanding the characteristics of manufactured revival helps us exercise proper discernment. Emphasis on experience over scripture. Manufactured revival often emphasizes subjective experience over objective truth. People are encouraged to seek feelings, manifestations or encounters rather than understanding and obeying God's Word. While God certainly works through human emotions and can give believers meaningful experiences, these should always be tested against and submitted to Scripture. 1 John, chapter 4, verse 1, instructs us Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the Spirit they have comes from God.
Speaker 1:Focus on personalities rather than God. Manufactured revival often centers around charismatic leaders, special speakers or particular ministries rather than focusing attention on God himself. People follow personalities rather than pursuing God directly. 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 4 to 7, addresses this problem. When one of you says I am a follower of Paul and another says I follow Apollos, aren't you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believe the good news. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. True revival points people to God, not to human leaders or ministries.
Speaker 1:Pressure for immediate response Manufactured revival often creates artificial urgency and emotional pressure for people to respond in particular ways. There's manipulation rather than genuine conviction, coercion rather than authentic leading of the Holy Spirit. God's work in human hearts is often gradual and may not fit the timeline of a particular meeting or conference. While there are certainly moments of dramatic conversion and breakthrough, authentic revival doesn't depend on high-pressure tactics to produce results Lack of lasting fruit. Perhaps the clearest indicator of manufactured revival is the absence of lasting transformation. If the excitement fades when the meetings end, if people return to their previous patterns without genuine change, if there's no sustained impact on communities. These suggest that what occurred was emotional experience rather than divine work.
Speaker 1:Matthew, chapter 7, verse 16 to 20, teaches us to evaluate by fruit. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Speaker 1:Financial Emphasis, manufactured revival, often includes significant emphasis on money, special offerings or financial commitments made during emotional highs. While legitimate ministries need financial support and generosity can be a fruit of revival, the timing and methods matter. True revival may result in generous giving, but this flows from transformed hearts rather than emotional manipulation or high-pressure fundraising tactics. Historical Examples of Authentic Revival. Church history provides examples of genuine revival that help us understand what authentic awakening looks like. The Great Awakening 1730s to 1740s. This revival in America and Britain was marked by powerful preaching of God's Word, deep conviction of sin, genuine conversions and lasting social change. Leaders like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield emphasized biblical truth rather than emotional experience. The fruit included not just individual conversions but societal transformation, including increased concern for education, missions and social justice.
Speaker 1:The Welsh Revival 1904-1905. This awakening was characterized by prayer, confession of sin, restitution for wrongs and evangelistic fervor. Bars closed because no one patronized them. Crime rates dropped dramatically. The coal mines echoed with hymn singing. Most importantly, the effects lasted for generations in many communities. The Hebrides Revival 1949-192. This revival in Scotland was marked by months of prayer and fasting before any public meetings. When God moved, entire communities were transformed. People were convicted of sin while going about their daily business. Churches were packed, not because of advertising but because of genuine hunger for God. These revivals shared common characteristics they were preceded by desperate prayer, marked by biblical preaching accompanied by deep conviction of sin and followed by lasting transformation of individuals and communities, testing the Spirits.
Speaker 1:How do we evaluate modern revival claims? Scripture gives us clear principles for testing spiritual movements. Does it align with Scripture? Any genuine work of God will be consistent with His written Word. Isaiah 8, verse 20 provides the test. Look to God's instructions and teachings. People who contradict His Word are completely in the dark. If revival claims contradict biblical truth, emphasize experience over Scripture or promote teachings that aren't found in God's Word, we should be suspicious. Does it produce biblical fruit? Galatians 5, verse 22 23 lists the fruit of the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Authentic revival should produce these characteristics in people's lives.
Speaker 1:If what's called revival produces pride, division, harshness or lack of self-control, it's not from God's Spirit. Does it glorify Jesus Christ? John, chapter 16, verse 14, tells us that the Holy Spirit will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. True revival always points to Jesus Christ and brings him glory. If a movement focuses more attention on manifestations, experiences or human personalities than on Christ, it's suspect. Does it promote holiness? God's work always promotes holiness and righteousness. 1 Peter 1, verse 15-16 reminds us. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God, who chose you, is holy, for the Scriptures say you must be holy because I am holy.
Speaker 1:If revival claims promote license to sin, minimize the importance of obedience or fail to call people to higher standards of living, it's not authentic. Does it create unity or division? While truth sometimes divides, god's work ultimately promotes unity among genuine believers. Ephesians 4, verse 3 encourages us to make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. If a revival movement creates unnecessary division among Bible-believing Christians or promotes an attitude of superiority over other believers, it should be questioned. Attitude of superiority over other believers it should be questioned.
Speaker 1:The role of human emotion this discussion isn't meant to eliminate emotion from spiritual experience. God created us as emotional beings and our emotions are meant to respond to spiritual truth. The problem comes when emotion becomes the goal rather than the result, when feeling becomes more important than truth. The problem comes when emotion becomes the goal rather than the result, when feeling becomes more important than truth. David's psalms are filled with emotion, joy, sorrow, anger, fear, worship, complaint. But his emotions were responses to truth about God, not substitutes for truth. Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 4, reminds us there is a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to grieve and a time to dance. Emotions have their place in authentic spiritual experience. The key is that emotion should flow from truth, not replace it. Feeling should confirm understanding, not substitute for it. Experience should strengthen faith, not become the foundation of faith.
Speaker 1:What God is really looking for While we evaluate revival claims, it's important to remember what God is actually seeking in his people. He's not primarily looking for dramatic manifestations or large crowds. He's looking for hearts that are genuinely devoted to him. Micah, chapter 6, verse 8, summarizes what God wants. Know, o people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Justice, mercy and humility these are the marks of people who are right with God. These may not be as exciting as supernatural manifestations, but they're what God values most. John, chapter 4, verse 23 to 24, records Jesus saying but the time is coming, indeed it's here now when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way, for God is spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. God wants worship that is both spiritual and truthful. Not just emotional expression, not just intellectual understanding, but both together in proper balance.
Speaker 1:Personal Revival vs Corporate Revival. While we often think of revival in terms of large movements affecting many people, scripture also speaks about personal revival, individual believers experiencing renewed devotion to God. Psalm 51, verse 10 to 12, captures David's prayer for personal revival. Create in me a clean heart, o God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me, store to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you. Personal revival involves the same elements as corporate revival Recognition of sin, genuine repentance, renewed commitment to obedience and restored joy in relationship with God. You don't have to wait for a large movement to experience authentic revival in your own life. You can humble yourself, pray, seek God's face and turn from sin right now. This personal revival may be the most important spiritual experience you ever have.
Speaker 1:The Danger of Revival Addiction Some people become addicted to revival experiences, constantly seeking the next emotional high or supernatural encounter. They go from conference to conference, meeting to meeting, always looking for more but never seeming satisfied. This revival addiction can actually hinder genuine spiritual growth because it focuses on feelings rather than faithfulness, on experiences rather than obedience, on feelings rather than faithfulness on experiences, rather than obedience, on getting rather than giving. True spiritual maturity involves learning to walk with God consistently in ordinary circumstances, not just in exciting meetings. It involves obeying Him when you don't feel like it trusting Him when you can't see his hand and serving him, whether or not you're experiencing supernatural manifestations. Habakkuk, chapter 3, verse 17 to 18, models this mature faith, even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and barren. Even though this is faith that doesn't depend on revival meetings or emotional experiences. It's grounded in God's character and sustained by His promises.
Speaker 1:How to respond to revival claims. When you encounter revival claims, whether in person or through media, here's how to respond with wisdom. Examine everything through Scripture. Don't accept anything just because it's popular or because sincere people promote it. Test everything against God's word. Acts, chapter 17, verse 11, commends the Bereans, who search the scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Look for lasting fruit. Don't be swayed by immediate excitement or dramatic testimonies. Wait to see if there's lasting transformation in people's lives and communities. Matthew, chapter 7, verse 16, reminds us you can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Speaker 1:Pray for discernment. Ask God for wisdom to distinguish between His work and human excitement. James 1.5 promises If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. Stay humble. Don't become prideful about your discernment or critical of others who may be more enthusiastic. Remember that God works in different ways with different people. Romans, chapter 14, verse 4, reminds us who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. Keep seeking God. Don't let skepticism about some revival claims keep you from pursuing authentic relationship with God. Don't let skepticism about some revival claims keep you from pursuing authentic relationship with God. Continue to hunger for more of Him, pray for genuine awakening and live in expectation that God wants to work in your life and community.
Speaker 1:The heart behind the question. When believers ask whether revival is just hype, they're usually expressing deeper concerns. I want to experience God genuinely, not just get caught up in emotion. I'm tired of disappointment when the excitement fades and nothing has really changed. I want to know how to recognize God's authentic work in my life. I'm concerned about being deceived or manipulated. I long for real transformation, not just temporary feelings. These are all legitimate concerns that deserve thoughtful, biblical answers. God doesn't want us to be naive or gullible, but he also doesn't want us to be cynical or close to His work.
Speaker 1:Closing Thoughts as we conclude this series, the questions no one's asking. I want to leave you with this truth God is still working today. He still transforms lives, still answers prayer, still moves in powerful ways, but his work may not always look like what's popular or promoted. Authentic revival is possible. Genuine spiritual awakening can happen. Real transformation is available, but these come through humble submission to God's Word, genuine repentance from sin and faithful obedience to Christ, not through emotional manipulation or human excitement.
Speaker 1:Don't let disappointment with manufactured revival keep you from pursuing authentic relationship with God. Don't let skepticism about some movements prevent you from being open to God's genuine work. And don't let the failure of human efforts discourage you from believing that God can still do mighty things. Be wise as serpents, but innocent as doves. Test everything, hold fast to what is good and never stop hungering for more of God in your life. The question isn't whether revival is happening somewhere else in some dramatic way. The question is whether revival is happening in your own heart. Are you humble before God? Are you repenting of known sin? Are you seeking His face in prayer? Are you obeying His word? If you can answer yes to these questions. You're experiencing authentic revival, regardless of what's happening in meetings or movements around you, and this personal revival may be the beginning of something greater that God wants to do through you in your community.
Speaker 1:Don't just listen to this episode, study it. Look up these scriptures for yourself. Let the Holy Spirit teach you through His Word. Take notes, ask questions. Spirit teach you through His Word. Take notes, ask questions. Let this be the foundation for discerning God's authentic work in your life and in your world. Thank you for joining us for this series.
Speaker 1:The Questions no One's Asking, we've tackled God's silence, divine healing, salvation, assurance, church loneliness and revival. These are the questions that many believers struggle with privately. I hope these conversations have helped you find biblical answers and greater confidence in your relationship with God. Remember, god loves honest questions. He's not threatened by your doubts or confused by your struggles. He wants you to know truth, experience authentic relationship with Him and live in the freedom that comes from understanding His Word. This is Evan Evans with the God Chaser Podcast. Keep chasing truth, keep asking hard questions and keep trusting in the God who has all the answers.
Speaker 1:Scripture references from this episode For your study and reflection 2 Chronicles 7, verse 14. Conditions for revival and healing. Jonah 3, verse 5-10. Revival in Nineveh Nehemiah 8, verse 9. People weeping at hearing God's word Acts 19, verse 18 to 19. Burning books of magic in Ephesus. 2 Kings, chapter 23, verse 25. King Josiah's revival and obedience. Joel, chapter 2, verse 12 to 13. Call to return with fasting and mourning. Acts, chapter 2, verse 44 to 46. Unity and sharing in early church Acts, chapter 2, verse 44 to 46, unity and sharing in early church Acts, chapter 2, verse 47, daily addition of new believers.
Speaker 1:1 John, chapter 4, verse 1, testing the spirits. 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 4 to 7, warning against following personalities. Warning against following personalities Matthew 7, verse 16-20,. Identifying by fruit Isaiah, 8, verse 20, testing by God's instructions. Galatians 5, verse 22-23,. Fruit of the Spirit John, 16, verse 14,. Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. 1 Peter, 1, verse 15-16. Call to holiness Ephesians 4.3. Maintaining unity in the Spirit. Ecclesiastes 3.4. Time for various emotions Micah, 6.8. What God requires 4, verse 23 to 24, worship in Spirit and Truth. Psalm 51, verse 10 to 12, david's Prayer for Personal Revival.
Speaker 1:Habakkuk, chapter 3, verse 17 to 18, faith Regardless of Circumstances. Acts, chapter 17, verse 11, bereans Examining Scripture. Matthew, chapter 7, verse 16, bereans examining scripture. Matthew, chapter 7, verse 16, identifying by fruit. James, chapter 1, verse 5, asking God for wisdom. Romans, chapter 14, verse 4, not judging other's servants. Remember this podcast is here to help you study God's word, not just listen passively, don't just consume this content. Dig deeper into these scriptures with the help of the Holy. Chaser podcast is proudly sponsored by God Chaser Apparel, the clothing line designed to empower and inspire your spiritual journey.
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Speaker 1:May you not just chase God but find him in the blessings, big and small, that he has in store for you. And there we have it, folks. Another episode of God Chaser wrapped up. We hope you've been blessed by today's discussion and we look forward to diving into more life-transforming topics with you in the future. Stay blessed and keep chasing after God.