Podcast

#115: The Rise of the Reformer in a Revivalist Culture

January 7, 2023

Revival has had the spotlight for decades in the Church, but God says it’s time for Reformation. It’s time for the Reformers to rise.

The Church has been in a decades-long love affair with the pursuit of revival. And while I’m obviously a big fan of any move of God that would ignite the hearts of the sons and daughters of God to worship and praise Him and to bring Him Glory as His wonder working power is manifest in the earth and carried from generation to generation . . .

Revival is not sustainable without good theology and a people who are steadfast on the foundation of Christ. We are a Church who has, in many ways, fallen away from our first love. We’ve allowed bad habits to inhabit our meetings and our culture as we primarily pursue the signs, miracles and wonders and the “feeling” of God moving in meetings. We’ve not properly concerned ourselves with things like holiness and sanctification, repentance and a passion for right alignment, leaning instead into concepts of hyper-mercy and codependency as the world teaches us that this is what it really looks like to be “Christian.” We’ve learned to be more “in our feels” than in full obedience to Him. But there is a shift coming . . .

In the next five to ten years, I believe “church” is going to look very different. God is calling the Church into a position where we will be an army of believers who know how to preach the Good News with power, a servant-hearted family of God who can traverse suffering AND sit at the King’s table, a righteous remnant who prays effectively, and a disciplined community of disciplers who can confidently lead others into how to follow the real and living Jesus with humility and confidence. To get to this place of “different,” it will take God’s Reformers to rise up and to begin to lead the people into this place of divine alignment and righteous reconciliation with the plan, purpose and pattern that God has for the Church in these last days.

Reformation and revival are two very different things. They don’t sound alike, they don’t feel the same and they certainly don’t gather people the same way. The timelines are different and the fruit doesn’t develop according to the same pattern. So if you were designed as a reformer and you’ve been comparing yourself to revivalists, understand — you’ve been comparing apples with oranges.

On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing the difference between a reformer and a revivalist and why I believe it is absolutely essential that the Church catches the pivot of God in this season. He’s bringing a wave of reformation, and it’s time for the reformers to rise. If you’re a reformer who needs to be reminded and refreshed in this season when you’re being called to stand steadfast and not be moved as you make your sound, I want you to grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let’s Go!

REVIVE WOMAN GIRLS NIGHT OUT — FRIDAY, JANUARY 13TH AT 7PM ET · You’re invited to join us for an evening of encouragement, equipping and empowerment at our next Girls Night Out event as we unpack a word from God on Pioneering in this new year. Both online and in person experiences available. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Scripture References Mentioned in This Episode:

Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Nehemiah 6:3
And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Psalm 78:1-8
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Links to Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

REVIVE WOMAN GIRLS NIGHT OUT — FRIDAY, JANUARY 13TH AT 7PM ET · Hey, Ladies! We are embarking on an adventure in this season. Are you ready and willing to go with God where He’s leading? The good news is that you don’t have to go alone. There is a whole band of women who are committed to follow after Him just as closely and fiercely.

Join us (in person or online) on Friday, January 13th at 7pm ET at REVIVE Church of Tampa (doors open at 6:30pm) to get equipped and empowered to take on this new journey. Pastor Erica will be bringing a FIRE word on our role as pioneers in this new season. We can’t wait to connect with you and ride out this adventure together! Get more information about the event and RSVP here.

You can also check out the REVIVE Woman Facebook page and Instagram page to get a behind-the-scenes look at all that is ahead for our collective in this new season.


Erica co-leads a local church alongside her husband, Doug, in Tampa, Florida called REVIVE Church of Tampa. You can visit the church’s website for more information about who we are, what we believe and how we show up as the Church in the heart of West Tampa and beyond.

REVIVE Church of Tampa

REVIVE Church of Tampa streams services live on Friday nights at 7pm ET and Sunday mornings at 11am ET. You can find those livestreams on our church Facebook page:

Live Services – Fridays at 7pm ET and Sundays at 11am ET

If you’re interested in joining the online campus of REVIVE Church of Tampa, you are welcome to join our community group on Facebook where we offer weekly discussion around the Friday and Sunday messages as well as discipleship Zoom groups and the opportunity to host others in your home as you stream services. You can find us here:

The ROCC: REVIVE Online Campus Community


About this podcast:

Positioned to Prosper is a weekly podcast that covers the ins and outs of what it means to live a lifestyle of breakthrough and victory in your relationships, health, finances and beyond. Your host, Erica Pyle, is no stranger to jumping without the proverbial parachute while maintaining a firm grip on godly wisdom. A self-described slayer of pragmatism and a “walk by faith” kind of girl, Erica is an unabashed believer in the power of God to radically transform lives. Front-footed in faith as she offers straight-up truth, strategies, and wisdom for living victoriously, and equipped with her love for the word of God, her certification as a holistic health coach, and years of experience in personal finance and taxation, Erica is ready to help you get positioned to prosper.

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Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. - 3 John 2

erica pyle

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