Revival: The New Testament Expectation

Is it right to pray for revival? Why are so many of the Scriptures used to support the idea of praying for revival taken from the Old Testament? Has the New Testament nothing to say on the subject? Isn't revival an Old Testament concept, completely fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ? These are genuine questions that some people raise, and this book seeks to address them. The author demonstrates that, even though ""revival"" is not a New Testament word, the reality to which the word points is definitely a New Testament theme. He also shows that it is impossible to divide the testaments, as the questions above imply, because the New Testament constantly draws Old Testament material into its own theology. Consequently, he concludes, prayer for revival today is clearly mandated by the New Testament. ""Jonathan Bayes demonstrates through wide-ranging and penetrating Bible exposition that there is a clear New Testament mandate to pray for revival with urgency, persistence, and expectancy. His book is a passionate rallying cry to the Lord's people to unite in calling upon God."" --Bill Dyer, former pastor, Pontefract Evangelical Congregational Church, Yorkshire ""This is a valuable contribution to the important and neglected subject of a theology of revival and an essential addition to every library on the subject. Bayes digs deeply into the Old and New Testaments, often throwing fresh light onto well-used texts, to encourage an urgent and incessant cry for revival."" --Brian Edwards, author, former President, Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches ""I heartily recommend this wonderful exposition . . . It will be a great encouragement to all readers to pray for revival, pleading the promises of God."" --Erroll Hulse, author; joint co-ordinator of the Yorkshire Concert of Prayer for Revival ""While reading the manuscript . . . I found I was challenged to expect more from the God who is presently at work in restoring a whole universe to himself, knowing that such expectation is the necessary foundation for prayer and the ministry of the word."" --John Angus MacLeod, Vice Principal, Edinburgh Theological Seminary, Scotland ""If you will read this book carefully, and compare it with the Scriptures, it will light a holy fire of expectation in your heart that the greatest days of the Church, and success in our evangelistic efforts, are yet to come."" --Paul Rendall, Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, Tama, Iowa Jonathan Francis Bayes is the UK Director of Carey Outreach Ministries and a lecturer with the Carey International University of Theology. He is the author of several books, including The Weakness of the Law (2000), The Apostles' Creed (2010), and Sex, Love and Marriage (2012), also published by Wipf and Stock, and Systematics for God's Glory (2012), published by Carey Printing Press.