Just before the First Great Awakening in the early 1700s the spiritual landscape of New England looked much like today. There were only 2 believers in the student body at Princeton. Only 5 did not belong to the filthy speech movement of the day. And the few Christians on campus were so unpopular they met in secret. The influences of the French Revolution (Voltaire in particular) had so affected American society, it looked like we were doomed. But then God moved in a most powerful way. Throughout the world 5 million people came to Christ in only two years! 

WHAT is revival like?

Revival sweeps across a nation much like a wave in the ocean. It’s hardly noticed when it begins but there’s a point where it becomes visible and the water begins to lift. Quickly it rises to a peak, breaks, and then slowly recedes. Each new wave draws up some water from the previous one and pushes it onto the next. Since 1727 several distinct revival “waves” have engulfed our shores in North America, including the one I was privileged to be a part of in the mid-1970s. 

The Old Testament prophet Joel called the coming awakening for Israel (recorded in Acts 2) an outpouring of God’s Spirit. “On my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:29). Everyone would be touched by it in one way or another. However we describe it, one thing is sure: Revival is a departure from normal church life. Nothing about it is routine or predictable. We are not in control. The British evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said “Revival is when God gets so sick and tired of being misrepresented that He shows himself.”

HOW does the Holy Spirit move in revival?

Particular expressions of the Spirit may vary from one revival to another, but some signs are always present in every revival or awakening. The Holy Spirit will always exalt Jesus Christ – His majesty, glory, triumph over sin and death, His saving power, His victory over Satan, and His kingship. He’ll also convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come (John 16:8-11). He’ll illuminate the deep and hidden things of the heart (Acts 5:3-4). He’ll foster unity among God’s people and heal divisions (Romans 14:17-19). He’ll purge out ungodliness and give joy, hope, and peace to those who choose to obey the Lord (Romans 15:13). Sometimes He’ll perform supernatural signs and wonders, or heal people of physical illnesses. Sometimes He’ll set people free from demons and other spiritual enemies. But always, always, always … He will exalt Jesus, purify God’s people, and reveal to unbelievers their need for a Savior.  

WHEN does revival happen?

One thing about revival is indisputable. It comes when God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. Only then, says the Lord, “will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). When we study the history of revivals we find they always begin with a prayer movement. In answer to unified prayer among His people God raises up powerful preachers who bravely proclaim the truth and point people to Jesus. The result? A great harvest of souls and a reviving work in believers. Prayer is both the catalyst and fuel for revival. One expert on revival observed: “We don’t have to convince an unwilling God to come and refresh us with His presence. He’s for it. But, He cannot be manipulated. When sincere hearts who know they cannot do His work nor His will without Him, humbly pray, He will answer.” (J. Edwin Orr)

WHO is impacted by revival?

When revival swept through our village in 1975 Tony and I had just given our lives to Jesus, but others in our Christian community had been praying for God to move on our community for a long time. In the next three years, everyone in the region was affected by God’s visitation. Some mocked, some asked questions, and some believed, much like Paul’s experience in Athens (see Acts 17:16-33). It’s hard to summarize all that happened in a few words, but here are some of the life-changing effects on our church body we saw during that revival time:

1. Our focus changed. We began to practice what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We became more concerned about advancing God’s kingdom than advancing our own agendas or seeing our personal needs met. The Lord became our first priority.  
2. We became One in purpose, as Jesus prayed in John 17. Those who knew Jesus met together often, not just on Sundays or for midweek Bible study. We were eager to share our lives with one another. Just like in Acts 2, we met together daily … to share a meal, for prayer, for advice, for worship, for fellowship and encouragement around the Word. We cheerfully shared our resources, whether material or spiritual, with one another, seeing ourselves as one family united in our common goal to exalt Jesus.  
3. Our love for one another and for the lost increased. We joyfully shared the Gospel with anyone we met, not out of obligation but because we genuinely didn’t want to see them perish. We saw ourselves as God’s ambassadors, seeking to help everyone find reconciliation with Him through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
4. Everything mattered. Every area of our lives was scrutinized, lest our conduct or attitudes be found contrary to our new life in Jesus. We were careful to be honest in our business dealings, our community interactions, and all other areas of life. If we had old debts, we paid them. If any relationship was strained or broken we did everything we could to restore it. We took the blame if someone was offended with us. The reason? We wanted to make sure nothing we did brought an offense to the Gospel message.

Are we ready for another revival? The need for God to visit us again is obvious as we look around at the state of our country and the world. But we must always keep in mind that “judgment begins at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). Are we eager to let the Spirit of God not only change the lost around us but also change us? “For the grace of God … teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

If we begin to pray fervently for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit, He will surely answer and visit us again. “Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring” (Hosea 6:3 NLT).