Revival Fire

IGNITING NEW FIRES AROUND THE WORLD

Dr. Michael D. Gross | 5-Fold Global Ministries | November 2016

Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................... 2

What is Revival ............................................................................... 3

The God of Revival

Biblical Words for Revival

Revival Definitions

Revival Praying ................................................................................ 9

The Revival Heart

Simultaneous Audible Prayer

Watchmen on the Wall

Revival Characteristics ................................................................. 21

Preliminary Revival Indicators

Characteristics During a Revival

Characteristics of Biblical Revivals

Revival Manifestations .................................................................. 35

Emotion or Emotionalism

Physical and Spiritual Manifestations

Unusual Manifestations

Revival Fire .................................................................................... 46

Holy Fire

The Fire Anointing

People on Fire

Revival Fruit.……………………………………………………………………….60

Conversion Growth

Reawakening the Church

Transformation in Revival
Revival is Coming……………………………………………………………….71

Promoting Revival

Hindrances to Revival

A Revival Church

End Notes…………………………………………………………………………..96

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………100

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Introduction
The Bible is filled with a sequence of episodes of divine intervention and
visitation where God repeatedly displays His glory and His power in the midst of
His people. Even the most casual observer can see this. The history of revival
also confirms that our God has never stopped working in this way. Every
generation needs these sovereign visitations and outpourings of the Holy Spirit
and they need many of them. The present generation is no exception.

The 5-Fold Global mandate to equip and empower a new generation of

leaders and believers who will fulfil the book of Acts in the power of the Holy
Spirit and multiply the harvest through strategic prayer, power evangelism, Spirit
filled discipleship, and church planting aligned with God’s word cannot be done
without a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit and fire. We need the revival fire that
only comes from heaven. It needs to suddenly strike us like lightning to awaken
us to the heavenly task before it’s too late. There’s an urgency in this as we
observe the spread of evil throughout the nations with the knowledge that billions
of souls will be condemned to the eternal fire of hell unless someone quickly
stands in the gap and prays for revival.

Why do we need this revival fire? Are we not already laboring together in
the harvest fields of the nations? Isn’t our ministries and programs expanding
and moving forward by the grace of God. Of course, but we must not place our
trust in these things we have organized, planned, and are doing. Our only source
for the ministry is the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit. Revival is God’s
plan! Its God acting and not man.

This revival manual has been put together because the church of the new
generation needs a spiritual awakening, a new quickening, an outpouring of the
Holy Spirit and fire for their faith to stand in God’s power. For this reason join in
the heart’s cry of the Psalmist and the prophets, “Revive us according to your
Word.”

Dr. Michael D. Gross

5-Fold Global Ministries
www.5foldglobal.org

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 What is Revival

The God of Revival

Jesus said that if you know the truth it will make you free. It’s necessary to
take a closer look at these verses of Scripture to establish a fundamental truth
regarding the subject of revival: Our God is the God of revival!

John 8:31-36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you
are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They
answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How
can you say,`You will be made free '?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides
forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

The first thing Jesus tells the Judeans who heard and believed Him is that true
disciples “abide in My word.” This is opposite of what’s trending in the church
today. And what’s trending? It’s a casual approach to God’s word. Social justice
and self-help/feel good messages are the popular messages of the day in many
pulpits. The people have itching ears for these motivational messages, but
there’s no anointing or power to convict or free anyone from sinful conditions. It’s
got a hold upon the new generation. Not everyone, but enough to create an
atmosphere in sanctuaries deprived of the reviving fire, life, and power of
Pentecost.

Another thing in this brief examination of these verses is the emphasis on

knowing the truth. What does this mean? The Jewish believers were engulfed in
their religious affiliations whereas Jesus was focused upon the condition of
hearts. The God of revival brings an acknowledgment of truth; a conviction upon
the hearts and minds of people revealing the truth about sin and the gripping
reality of one’s spiritual condition. This is why there is always much
uncontrollable weeping and agony of souls in revivals; a crying out to the Lord for
mercy. Knowing the truth is beyond simply gaining knowledge or important
factual information. There’s a recognition; a spiritual understanding that Jesus,
the Son of God, is my only hope to release me from the burden of my sin. Notice
the divine and progressive order revealed in “abiding.” According to The Spirit
Filled Life Bible, the Greek, ginosko, is the “knowledge that has an inception, a
progress, and an attainment. It is the recognition of truth by personal
experience.”1 So it’s not enough to have a factual knowledge of and acceptance
of certain important biblical truths. The Bible tells us the Word is the “sword of
the Spirit.” (Eph. 6:17).

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And Jesus’s name in glory is called “The Word of God” (Rev. 19:13) and the
name written on His thigh is, “King of Kings and Lord or Lords.” (Rev. 19:16).
In revival, the Word is engraved upon our hearts by the Spirit of truth. Revival
burns the truth upon the hearts and minds of people and also upon the church.

Biblical Words for Revival

Some say there is no words for revival in the Bible. Although they may
present a technical argument, there remains strong and convincing evidence for
revival in Scripture. The following verses from Ezra contain an important spiritual
connection that is overlooked in most modern translations.

Ezra 9:8-9 NKJV Ezra 9:8-9 NLT

"And now for a little while grace has been "But now we have been given a brief
shown from the LORD our God, to leave us moment of grace, for the LORD our God has
a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant.
His holy place, that our God may enlighten He has given us security in this holy place.
our eyes and give us a measure of revival in Our God has brightened our eyes and
our bondage. 9 "For we were slaves. Yet our granted us some relief from our slavery. 9
God did not forsake us in our bondage; but For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love
He extended mercy to us in the sight of the our God did not abandon us in our slavery.
kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to
house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could
give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its
ruins. He has given us a protective wall in
Judah and Jerusalem.
The Hebrew noun, michyah (mikh-yaw), used in Ezra 9:8 refers to preservation
of life and sustenance. However, according to Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew and
English Lexicon the word also carries the meaning “reviving.”2 In addition, God
causes our eyes to shine with spiritual enlightenment. This expression is a figure
of speech for “to revive.” So to give the impression of revival in these verses as
merely some relief from difficult circumstances of life doesn’t quite capture the full
picture. God granted His covenant people with a natural and spiritual “reviving”
necessary for the glorious restoration that followed. The spiritual connection and
impact of revival is paramount in all God’s dealings with His people. Even Joseph
understood this when he explained to his brothers God’s long range plan to
“revive” the lives of His people.

Genesis 45:5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold
me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

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The church today needs to look beyond a day to day existence to behold her
desperate need for revival.

There are a number of verses in the Bible that include the English
translation of revive, revived, reviving. The one’s chosen here are those that
directly refer to revival. The Hebrew, chayah (khaw-yaw), is used in these verses.
The meaning is “to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live forever, be
quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.” This is certainly what happens
in revival.

 Genesis 45:27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when
he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
 Judges 15:19 So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank;
and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to
this day.
 1 Kings 17:22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to
him, and he revived.
 2 Kings 13:21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of
raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the
bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
 Psalm 80:18 Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
 Psalm 85:6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
 Psalm 119:25 DALETH. My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
 Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
 Psalm 119:149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according
to Your justice.
 Psalm 119:156 Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your
judgments.
 Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I
dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of
the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The New Testament is also filled with revival images and words of life that
indirectly and in a few cases directly correspond to revival. You may wonder why
the actual word for revival is not used more in the New Testament. I think author
and evangelist Winkey Pratney answers that question best. It’s “for the simple
reason that New Testament Christianity is revived Christianity.”3 The New
Testament documents the greatest time of revival in all of history from the birth of
Christ to the spread of Christianity in Pentecost power through the early church.

Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

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 There are a number of biblical examples of revival that will be examined
later, but just a brief glance at the above verses help us to clearly see the need
for revival and that God is indeed the God of revival.

Revival Definitions
It’s important to review some of the scholarly definitions for revival in an
attempt to more clearly understand its characteristics and impact upon our lives.
The renowned revival historian, J. Edwin Orr, presents this definition for his
readers in his classic detailed work entitled, The Flaming Tongue:
"The revitalizing of a body of Christian believers, and 'awakening' for the stirring of interest in the Christian
faith in the related community of nominal Christians or unbelievers."4

This description of revival appears to cover major areas that are affected by
revivals such as the church, backsliders and unbelievers, and the society at
large, but is a bit light on the spiritual power behind revivals. On the other hand,
evangelist and author Winkie Pratney says, “True revival is marked by powerful
and often widespread outpourings of the Spirit.”5 In defining revival, Pratney
takes a very practical approach beginning with the Webster’s Dictionary meaning
of a “return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death; as revival of a
drowned person.” Then he describes what revival is by presenting four things
that it does.6
1. Revival brings something back to life that is either now dead or seemingly dead.
2. Revival brings a holy shock to apathy and carelessness.
3. Revival restores truth and recalls to obedience that which has been forgotten.
4. Revival accomplishes what our best spiritual efforts cannot and is necessary to
counteract spiritual decline and to create spiritual momentum.

In short revival, according to Pratney, is a repeated outpouring of the Spirit that

brings life and a renewed awakening with a holy shock that restores truth.

The great prophetic prayer warrior, Leonard Ravenhill, makes a very

important point about our modern understanding of revival:
“Our current use of the word revival is a misuse. We use it to announce the yearly “revival meeting” – a
week’s meeting with an evangelist and perhaps a singer. Such a meeting is usually geared to the unsaved.
But we cannot revive what has never had life. Revival to the European believers is correctly thought of as an
awakening, such as the nation-transforming visitation from God through George Whitefield and then the
Wesleys in England. Or the earth-shaking move of the Spirit in New England through Jonathan Edwards,
later joined by Whitefield. Any true revival can be proven by the fact that it changed the moral climate of an
area or a nation.”7

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Taking the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of revival as “a reawakening of religious
fervor” or as he prefers “of spiritual life,” he accurately sees that “revival
presupposes declension, sickness, weakness” and really shakes things up.
Ravenhill’s list of the “offense of true revival” vividly portrays just how much God
shakes things in revival:8
1. It cannot be organized. (The wind bloweth where it listeth.)
2. It cannot be subsidized. (It does not need financial backing)
3. It cannot be advertised. (There is nothing more self-advertising than a fire, and
revival is fire from heaven)
4. It cannot be computerized. (God alone knows the extent of His power)
5. It cannot be regularized. (We cannot lay a theological track for it to operate on)
6. It cannot be rationalized. (It is a divine mystery beyond finite minds)
7. It cannot be denominationalized. (It leaps over doctrinal barriers)
8. It cannot be nationalized. (Preachers by the hundreds have been flying to Korea to
see what God has done in that country. Most have gasped at the packed churches
and returned sad that our mechanical services are so sterile)

The above is consistent with what God prophetically declares in His word.
Compare Haggai 2:4-7 with Hebrews 12:25-29.

 Haggai 2:4-7 `Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD;`and be strong, Joshua, son of
Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD,`and work; for I
am with you,' says the LORD of hosts. 5 `According to the word that I covenanted with you when you
came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' 6 "For thus says the LORD of
hosts:`Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 `and I will
shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with
glory,' says the LORD of hosts.
 Hebrews 12:25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who
speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet
once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the
removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which
cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be
shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29
For our God is a consuming fire.

Many leaders are unaware and unprepared that their greatest and dearest
plans and programs for church and ministry will be blown up when revival comes.
It’s “bombs away” when a revival is unleashed from heaven upon the church.
Revival is also like a spiritual earthquake or tornado or tsunami tidal wave of the
Holy Spirit. The motion of the wind of His Spirit powerfully agitates and causes
natural man to tremble and cry out before God. The greatest plans of man are
overthrown in the process. In an instant, people are transferred from the natural
into the spiritual with each tremor brought on by repeated outpourings of the Holy
Spirit. Multitudes are overcome by the tidal waves of the Holy Spirit in revival.
Notice also that the shaking precedes the filling of the temple. The kingdom of

PAGE 7
God is the only thing left standing. And this is what we see in the Early Church as
recorded in the book of Acts. Martyn Lloyd-Jones captures the point in his
discussion of “outpourings of the Holy Spirit” or as some prefer “baptisms of the
Holy Spirit.” He views this as the most crucial point when it comes to revival.
“This is obviously the crucial point with regard to the whole question of revival, because I take it that by
definition what a revival means is an outpouring of the Spirit of God; the Spirit of God coming in power upon
a person or a number of persons at the same time.”9

Evangelist Duncan Campbell writing about the 1949 revival in the Scottish
Hebrides distinguishes the revival from the evangelistic campaigns of the day.
“What I mean by revival as witnessed in the Hebrides. I do not mean a time of religious entertainment, with
crowds gathering to enjoy an evening of bright gospel singing; I do not mean sensational or spectacular
advertising – in a God-sent revival you do not need to spend money on advertising. I do not mean high-
pressure methods to get men to an inquiry room – in revival every service is an inquiry room; the road and
hill side become sacred spots to many when the winds of God blow. Revival is a going of God among His
people, and an awareness of God laying hold of the community. Here we see the difference between a
successful campaign and revival; in the former we may see many brought to a saving knowledge of the truth,
and the church or mission experience a time of quickening, but so far as the town or district is concerned no
real change is visible; the world goes on its way and the dance and picture-shows are still crowded; but in
revival the fear of God lays hold upon the community, moving men and women, who until then had no
concern for spiritual things, to seek after God.”10

Revivalist Geoff Waugh in answering the question, “What is Revival?” shares

what he considers the “best explanation,” quoting Arthur Wallis in his classic
book, In the Day of Thy Power.
“Numerous writings…confirm that revival is divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. It is
God revealing Himself to man in awesome holiness and irresistible power. It is such a manifest working of
God that human personalities are overshadowed and human programs abandoned. It is man retiring into the
background because God has taken the field. It is the Lord…working in extraordinary power on saint and
sinner. … Revival must of necessity make an impact on the community and this is one means by which we
may distinguish it from the more usual operations of the Holy Spirit.” (Wallis l956, 20, 23).11

All the definitions we have reviewed, and there are many more, touch
upon the unique and life transforming qualities of revivals. In the upcoming
segments, I will attempt to review some of the main qualities typical of all
revivals, but first and foremost, I must take you on a journey that reveals the
starting point that prepares the way and triggers such repeated outpourings of
the Holy Spirit.

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 Revival Praying
The Revival Heart
Psalms 85 is a prayer for God to restore and revive His people. In it, the
Psalmist presents the earnest question before the Lord, “Will You not revive us
again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6) I wonder how
many of us earnestly pray for revival or are we content with the way things are.
Do we ask God to pour out His Spirit in revival? We all say we believe in God,
but do we believe God for revival? Have we committed ourselves to Him for
revival? Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him,
and He shall bring it to pass.” Our God is not lame when it comes to revival.
He will bring it on in response to a specific heart for revival. What does that heart
look like?

Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I
dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of
the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The sovereign God who lives and reigns forever is promising to revive His
people. The “contrite” and “humble” heart is one we find most difficult to attain.
The Hebrew, daka’ (daw-kaw), literally refers to dust with the meaning of
something crushed or broken whereas shaphal (shaw-fawl) means low. The
biblical image of the repentant putting on sackcloth and ashes is an excellent
visual example; however, what’s going on in the heart is the greatest indicator of
one prepared for personal revival. The same is true for the corporate body of
Christ. Much can be said about humility, but let it suffice here to say that a
Christian is to be “clothed” with it (See 1 Peter 5:5-7 and James 4:5-10). Paul’s
admonitions are most applicable when it comes to the revived:

 Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each
one a measure of faith.
 Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Revival restores the focus upon the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Contriteness and humility of heart are never missing in true revivals. In fact they
are conditions for it.

The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 is one of the greatest revivals in history.

Young Evangelist Evan Roberts (1878-1951) was the leading figure of this revival
that touched nations and brought over two million people into the Kingdom of

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God. Although revival historian Edwin Orr gives a detailed and remarkable back
story of what led up to God choosing young Roberts as his instrument of revival,
it was a cry, “Lord…bend us” in the closing prayer by a denominational
evangelist that propelled him forth to pray in public, crying out completely
overwhelmed, “Lord, bend me!”.

“When a few more had prayed, I felt a living power pervading my bosom. It took my breath
away. I felt ablaze with a desire to go through the length and breadth of Wales to tell of the
Savior; and had that been possible, I was willing to pay God for doing so.” 12

The principal of the academy where Evan Roberts was studying for the ministry
reported later:

“Evan Roberts was like a particle of radium in our midst. Its fire was consuming and felt
abroad as something which took away sleep, cleared the channel of tears and sped the
golden wheels of prayer throughout the area”13

Roberts declared that the Holy Spirit was sending him home for a week to work
with the young people. He taught them to pray, “Send the Holy Spirit to Moriah
for Jesus’s sake.”14 The prayer was soon answered as reported in an English-
language newspaper:
GREAT CROWDS OF PEOPLE
DRAWN TO LOUGHOR

Congregation Stays till 2:30 in the Morning

“A remarkable religious revival is now taking place in Loughor. For some days a young man named Evan
Roberts, a native of Loughor, has been causing great surprise at Moriah Chapel. The place has been
besieged by dense crowds of people unable to obtain admission. Such excitement has prevailed that the
road on which the chapel is situated has been lined with people from end to end. Roberts, who speaks in
Welsh, opens his discourse saying that he does not know what he is going to say but that when he is in
communion with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will speak, and he will simply be the medium of His wisdom.
The preacher soon after launches into a fervent and at times impassioned oration. His statements have had
the most stirring effects upon his listeners. Many who have disbelieved Christianity for years are returning to
the fold of their younger days. One night, so great was the enthusiasm invoked by the young revivalist that,
after his sermon which lasted two hours, the vast congregation remained praying and singing until two-thirty
in the morning. Shopkeepers are closing early in order to get a place in the chapel, and tin and steel workers
throng the place in working clothes.”15

It was impossible to count the numbers who confessed Christ except to

say that prayer meetings continued daily in the homes to intercede for the
salvation of friends and people in general. This is what revival praying is all
about, but there is an extraordinary quality that is missing in many hearts. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones captures the heart of revival praying in his description of true prayer:

PAGE 10
 “There is praying and praying. And true prayer is only possible when men and women have a God-
consciousness, when they know what it is to realise the presence of the holy God, when they begin to have a
zeal for his holy name and for his cause, and a compassion for souls, and a feeling of the pressure of the
burden of their condition on their spirits. It is then, and then only, that we truly pray.”16

I believe we have to be honest that this kind of praying cannot be organized or

“whipped” up. Revival cannot be planned or organized or created by man, but it
can be prayed and hoped for with trust in God and God alone. Revival can be
promoted in this way. The Spirit is calling us to a much deeper praying; one that
is zealous for God and equally zealous for His cause. This deeper praying
requires a shift in heart and attitude like we see in the Psalmist:

Psalm 35:11-14 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. They reward
me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was
sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about
as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

Notice the shift from asking God to “put to shame”, “dishonor”, and bring
“confusion” (35:4), and “let the angel of the Lord pursue them” (35:6) to
praying with deep “sorrow” for their souls. This is much deeper than the normal.
Like Leonard Ravenhill says, “The church has many praying men, but few men of
prayer.”17 I like his definition of intercession as “the outpouring of the soul.”18 The
prophet Isaiah confirms this as a divine characteristic of Jesus, the Messiah.

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil
with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the
transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Ravenhill rightly concludes that “the intercessor lives very close to the heart of
God.”19
“The intercessor’s intimacy with God means that when God is hurting, he is hurting. Because he is filled with
the Spirit, what grieves the Holy Spirit will grieve his spirit. The intercessor has pains to which other believers
are strangers.”20

Every church needs at least one or more believers with this kind of heart
prepared for true intercession. He promises to prepare their hearts and to hear
their cry.

Psalm 10:17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You
will cause Your ear to hear,

PAGE 11
Simultaneous Audible Prayer
A frequent occurrence in the revivals chronicled in history is the practice of
“simultaneous audible prayer.” This was a key feature of the Welsh Revival as
evidenced in a little chapel that was packed out with some six hundred people.
“There were two young mockers in the audience, and Evan Roberts became aware of their presence, calling
them both to yield to Divine influence. They both refused, hence a hurricane of audible prayer tore through
the place, an agony of entreaty.”21

Prayer meetings multiplied in every place when news of the Welsh Revival
reached other nations. There was mobilization for prayer in England,
Scandinavia, Germany, North and South America, India, South Africa and
beyond. For example, the Southern Baptist’s of North America were so moved
that they declared far and wide “Let us cease talking about revivalism, and get on
our knees and pray for revival.”22 Christians in Scandinavia were also ignited to
pray. In fact, they had already begun a prayer movement in 1902 as “hundreds of
thousands of cards were distributed, soliciting daily prayer: ‘Lord, send a revival
and start with me.”23 In Germany, during a conference for the Deepening of
Spiritual Life the director indicated:
“At last we came to prayer. One prayed and another. Suddenly, the Spirit fell upon us and numbers were
praying at once. There was no disorder. It was all harmonious, like the advance of a wave. Prayer merged
into praise, into song… I have never been in a meeting like it. If it was like Wales, it was because the same
Spirit was present.”24

The Welsh Revival was known as a prayer movement and this seemed to
be the case for the revivals in other places. Many cities of North America were
affected from the East to the West coast. For example, the revival reported
outside St. Louis indicated:
“Everything reported as ‘peculiar’ in the Wales revival is found in the Lead Belt. Great throngs attend the
services, and conversions take place at almost every meeting. I never heard such amazing prayer or such
expression of conviction of sin.”25

Both South Africa and Latin America also indicated the role of spontaneous
audible praying. The Young People’s Society in South Africa reported on their
revival meetings.
“It is surprising to see how God’s Spirit takes control of the gathering without human pressure being used. It
is a usual occurrence for several people to pray simultaneously, yet always in good order and
earnestness…arising from a concern for the unconverted.”26

The reports from India also revealed an immediate spiritual connection

with the revival in Wales. Welsh missionaries served in the hills of Assam,
Northeast India. The church began weekly prayer meetings to seek the

PAGE 12
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their region and all the world. In 1904 the
meetings became more intense with an urgent hunger. A Bible lesson on the
baptism with the Holy Spirit on the first Sunday in March led to what was
described as “an unusual manifestation of feeling filled the congregation with
prayer and weeping and praise.” In addition at a presbytery meeting there was a
break with the usual way of doing things.
“When the chairman invited one or two by name to lead in prayer, others also stood up to lead the
congregation in intercession. It became impossible to close the usual service the following Sunday,
simultaneous prayer praise and weeping, and even fainting, affection the congregation. These manifestations
accompanied the extension of the awakening into other parts, and continued for eight months or so.” 27

I can personally testify that following a number of mission trips to Northeast India
that the practice of what they now call “mass prayer” remains an intricate part of
all worship services. It’s important to take notice that even the Anglicans and
others of liturgical traditions had to admit the power of the revivals around the
world. Orr reports regarding a 1905 revival in South India:
The 1905 Awakening in Kerala was marked by simultaneous audible prayer, which was alien to both
Anglican and Mar Thoma liturgical traditions. Some Anglican missionaries criticized the informality of the
movement, but they readily admitted its power and the sincerity of its prophets. Even at Maramon
Convention, seventeen thousand people broke into simultaneous audible prayer.” 28

Is simultaneous audible prayer biblical? Is God calling His church to

engage in such a manner of praying? Our brief examination of revivals indicates
that it’s a very common occurrence in most if not all the recorded revivals. One of
the key biblical examples is found in Acts 4 where the believers lift up their voices
audibly in one accord.

Acts 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said:
"Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

And it appears they were praying for revival. God did not disappoint them.

Acts 4:29 "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they
may speak Your word, 30 "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be
done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where
they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they
spoke the word of God with boldness.

This was clearly a repeated outpouring of the Holy Spirit with high impact.
Sounds like a revival, looks like a revival, and we must, therefore, conclude it’s a
revival. Isn’t it frustrating that the very thing so many leaders and churches in
developed nations are resistant to, in this case the practice of simultaneous
audible prayer, is that which God yearns for them to engage in. God does come
to our aid. He sets “watchmen” on the wall.

PAGE 13
Watchmen on the Wall
All revivals are marked by extraordinary prayer. In fact, prayer is one of its
most notable principles. As we discussed earlier the sudden, unexpected
emergence of simultaneous audible prayer is apparent in every historical revival.
Pentecost teaches us that the Holy Spirit falls upon a person or a praying group.
They are suddenly overwhelmed by the awesome presence and power of God. I
fully agree with this profound yet simple statement by Geoff Waugh, “All revivals
are born and flourish among praying people.”29 It’s an indisputable fact from the
day of Pentecost on that the repeated outpourings occurred in the midst of a
significant and intense prayer movement. This was clearly the case in the Early
Church.

 Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
 Acts 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said:
"Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
 Acts 6:4-7 "…but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the
word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great
many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
 Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only
been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the
Holy Spirit.
 Acts 9:10-17 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord
said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to
the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold,
he is praying. "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on
him, so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many
about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. "And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a
chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. "For I will
show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." And Ananias went his way and
entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who
appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled
with the Holy Spirit."
 Acts 10:1-4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was
called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave
alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw
clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed
him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have
come up for a memorial before God.

PAGE 14
  Acts 10:9-16 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up
on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but
while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet
bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-
footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to
him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything
common or unclean." And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you
must not call common." This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
 Acts 12:5-8, 12 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for
him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound
with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now
behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the
side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel
said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your
garment and follow me."… So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the
mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
 Acts 13:1-3 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now
separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and
prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

The above litany of praying individuals and larger groups of praying

people in the Early Church seemingly prepared the way for God in His
sovereignty to suddenly visit in great power. We can certainly conclude with
others that where there is no prayer, there is no revival and where there is
prayer, a revival follows. Leonard Ravenhill says the church today needs a
school of prayer.
“There is nothing we need more than a school of prayer. Who dares teach it? Those who have discovered
many of the secrets of prayer are those who, like their Lord, have had a personal Gethsemane, those who
have travailed in the birth pangs for revival. These are the hidden ones. They never strut. They boast not of
the hours they spend in prayer. They wrestle against principalities and powers, and their souls bear the scars
of spiritual conflict.”30

Where are these hidden ones today? God knows where they’re at. He will set
them as “watchmen” on the wall who will intercede with blood, sweat, and tears
for the souls of men and revival. He did it in the revivals of old and He will do it
again for His glory and the conversion of the lost. Let’s briefly review the
prophetic foundation for these “watchmen.”

Isaiah 52:6 Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That
I am He who speaks:`Behold, it is I.'" How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who
brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims
salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their
voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.
Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His

PAGE 15
 people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the
nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.

This verse appears in the messianic context of revival and redemption. The
chapter begins with the clarion call for Zion to “Awake, awake!” (52:1; Note: the
church is compared to Zion in Hebrews 12:22-23). It means to rouse yourself
from slumber and dress yourself with the strength of the Lord. The Hebrew word
for watchmen is tsaphah (tsaw-faw’). It refers to those who keep watch, observe,
and look about. Praying people see revival before it comes by the Spirit. No
wonder they sing with joy in unison when it arrives. The amazing thing is that
God has strategically appointed them to pray and be watchful.

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace
day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He
establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

What is their purpose? Is it not to pray for a divine visitation? Are they not to pray
for the Lord’s intervention and restoration of the city? Of course this is their
assignment. They’re praying for revival! And they’re praying night and day. The
prophet Jeremiah points out that they also warn the people of the coming revival
and to get ready.

Jeremiah 6:17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,`Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But
they said,`We will not listen.'

With this important role of those God has chosen to pray in this way for revival,
there is a strong warning to those leaders who are blind to the absolute necessity
for revival.

Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot
bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough.
And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his
own gain, From his own territory.

The intercessory cry of the watchmen is strong and must be heard.

Ravenhill provides an excellent and clear example of the kind of message God
lays upon their hearts in prayer.
“We need revival – God’s way. Revival – Spirit-born, heaven-directed, earth-shaking, and hell-robbing – is
not important to the church and to America. It is IMPERATIVE! We will be granted it as an act of divine
mercy, or else God’s judgment will soon fall on us. He will not wink at the sins in our churches and in our
nation much longer.”31

The day is upon us and has been for some time where those who are praying will
call us with a prophetic proclamation signaling the church to the coming revival.
What will be our response?

PAGE 16
 Jeremiah 31:6-9 For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,`Arise,
and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.'" For thus says the LORD: "Sing with gladness for
Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say,`O LORD, save Your
people, The remnant of Israel!' Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them
from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one
who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping, And
with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way
in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.

Revival historians sometimes leave us with the impression that a particular

revival was started by a certain evangelist or minister. Although it’s common to
have one or more evangelists or ministers as central figures in revivals, it’s the
praying people who ignite what is to come. There’s much evidence in the revivals
of history that God continues to set his “watchmen” on the walls. Let’s look at
some examples. First the 1949 revival in the Scottish Hebrides actually began
with two elderly sisters. Peggy and Christine Smith. Evangelist Duncan Campbell
chronicled how it all started in a message during his 1968 visit to the United
States:
“This is how it began. Two old women, one of them 84 years of age and the other 82-one of the stone blind,
were greatly burdened because of the appalling state of their own parish. It was true that not a single young
person attended public worship. Not a single young man or young woman went to the church. They spent
their day perhaps reading or walking but the church was left out of the picture. And those two women were
greatly concerned and they made it a special matter of prayer. And this is the verse that gripped them: "I will
pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." “That is the promise,” they said. “We
believe that God is a covenant-keeping God who must be true to his covenant engagements. He has made a
promise and he must fulfill the promise.”32

Campbell believed the prayers of those two women influenced the Presbytery to
extend a call for prayer to all their faithful members. Others prayed, but the
sisters engaged in extraordinary revival praying that led to a vision from God that
prepared the way for the coming revival.
“They were so burdened that both of them decided to spend so much time in prayer twice a week. On
Tuesday they got on their knees at 10 o'clock in the evening and remained on their knees until 3 or 4 o'clock
in the morning – two old women in a very humble cottage. One night, one of the sisters had a vision. Now
remember that, in revival, God works in wonderful ways. A vision came to one of them, and in the vision she
saw the church of her fathers crowded with young people, packed to the doors, and a strange minister
standing in the pulpit. And she was so impressed by the vision that she sent for the parish minister. And of
course, knowing the two sisters, knowing that they were two women who knew God in a wonderful way, he
responded to their invitation and called at the cottage.”33

They urgently informed the minister that he had to do something and added a
very timely suggestion:
“I would suggest that you call your office bearers together and that you spend with us at least two nights in
prayer in the week. Tuesday and Friday if you gather your elders together, you can meet in a barn, and as
you pray there, we will pray here.”34

PAGE 17
This they did for at least six weeks pleading God’s promise to “pour water on
him that is thirsty, floods upon the dry ground.” (Isaiah 44:3). This is what
happened one night in the barn.
“One young man, a deacon in the church, got up and read Psalm 24. “Who shall ascend the hill of God?
Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul
unto vanity or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing (not a blessing, but the blessing) of the Lord."
And then that young man closed his Bible. And looking down at the minister and the other office bearers, he
said this – maybe crude words, but perhaps not so crude in our Gaelic language – he said, "It seems to me
to be so much humbug to be praying as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting, if we ourselves are
not rightly related to God." And then he lifted his two hands – and I'm telling you just as the minister told me it
happened – he lifted his two hands and prayed, "God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?" But he got no
further. That young man fell to his knees and then fell into a trance. Now don't ask me to explain this because
I can't. He fell into a trance and is now lying on the floor of the barn. And in the words of the minister, at that
moment, he and his other office bearers were gripped by the conviction that a God-sent revival must ever be
related to holiness, must ever be related to Godliness. Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? The man that
God will trust with revival – that is the condition. When that happened in the barn, the power of God swept
into the parish. And an awareness of God gripped the community such as hadn't been known for over 100
years. An awareness of God – that's revival, that's revival. And on the following day, the looms were silent,
little work was done on the farms as men and women gave themselves to thinking on eternal things gripped
by eternal realities.”35

The 20th century teaching that “history belongs to the intercessors” (watchmen)
rings true in the Hebrides Revival of 1949.

Another wonderful example is one of the revivals that took place in

Dohnavur about 30 miles from the tip of South India. The renowned missionary,
Amy Carmichael, began praying with her helpers at the children’s mission for an
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all India since hearing of the Welsh Revival.
Revival Historian Edwin Orr quotes Carmichael’s description of what happened
on that special day in 1905 at the close of the morning service.
“On October 22nd, to quote one of the little girls, Jesus came to Dohnavur. He was there before, but on that
day He came in so vivid a fashion that we cannot wonder that it struck the child as a new Coming. It was so
startling and so aweful – I can use no other word – that details escaped me. Soon the whole upper half of the
church was on its face on the floor, crying to God, each boy and girl, man and woman, oblivious of all others.
The sound was like the sound of waves or strong wind in the trees. For the next fortnight, life was
apportioned for us much as it was for the apostles when they gave themselves continually to prayer and to
the ministry of the Word. Everything else had to stand aside. At first the movement was almost entirely
among convert boys, schoolboys, our own children and workers, and some younger members of the
congregation. But as the older ones were caught in the current, more or less, at first it was impossible to
gauge its real depths.”36

As you can see many of the younger children cried bitterly and prayed for
forgiveness. What followed left no doubt of the extent of the revival with almost
everyone at the mission converted and revived. Many conversions were also
reported in the village and even the Anglican parishes were spiritually awakened.

PAGE 18
 All of the historical revivals began with prayer triggered by individual
watchmen or small groups of praying people that soon grew into prayer
movements of thousands creating a revival spirit that could not be curtailed. Orr
points out this clear pattern in the China revival.
“The twentieth century Awakening in China, it seems, occurred in three phases: there was a prayer
movement between 1900 and 1905; there was a widespread awakening in 1906 and 1907; and there was
extraordinary revival throughout 1908 and 1909, continuing until the Revolution in 1911.”37

The Great Awakenings in North America also revealed the same pattern. For
example, the most famous message, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,
delivered in 1741 at Enfield by Jonathan Edwards in the First Great Awakening
was backed up by a praying people. Henry Fish (1820-1877) in his classic work,
Handbook of Revivals, unveiled the vital connection between prayer and this
powerful sermon.
“Upon a careful analysis it is not difficult to point out several elements of the highest effectiveness. But back
of this there was a mighty agency, discoverable in the fact that some Christians in the vicinity had become
alarmed lest while God was blessing other places, he should in anger pass them by; and so they met on the
evening preceding the preaching of that sermon, and spent the whole night in agonising prayer. And
Edwards himself reveals the same source of power in those days, when he says, “The spirit of those that
have been in distress for the souls of others, so far as I can discern, seems not to be different from that of the
apostle who travailed for souls, and was ready to wish himself accursed from Christ for them: and that of the
Psalmist in saying, ‘Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.’”38

Additionally, what took place in New York City in 1831 and beyond during the
Second Great Awakening also confirms this pattern. Henry Fish again reports
how “thousands of Christians here are, I think praying as they never prayed
before.”39 His description of how the notorious Chatham Street Theatre was
transformed into a prayer and revival center is remarkable, yet typical in all
revivals.
“The first prayer-meeting in the theatre was attended by 800 persons. On the 6th of May the house was
dedicated to the service of God. Mr. Finney preached from the text, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” For seventy
successive nights he preached there to immense audiences. The bar-room was changed into a prayer-room,
and the first man who knelt there poured forth these words, “O Lord, forgive my sin’s: the last time I was here
thou knowest I was a wicked actor on this stage; O Lord, have mercy on me!” For three years this building
was used for revival meetings. That revival brought into the churches of New York 2,000 souls, many of
whom became prominent in great benevolent movements.”40

Notice again how the revival began with a praying people. Although Charles
Finney is considered the key figure in the Second Great Awakening and revered
by many as the “father of American revivalism,” the awakening once again began
in the birth pangs of revival praying. There were “watchmen” on the wall.
Revivals are born in prayer. This is an indisputable fact concluded by all revival
historians.

PAGE 19
 It’s appropriate to close this chapter of our revival study by quoting an
1870’s article from the South Australian Bible Christian Magazine that is
referenced in The Revival Study Bible, published in 2010.
“It was usually just one single Christian filled with the Holy Spirit who touched off a revival. The Christian
needed to pray, believe, confess until he felt his heart all subdued and melted by the Holy Spirit; and until his
love for Christ was glowing, fervid and burning; and until, like Jesus, he was in an agony of prayer over the
lost.”41

I cannot agree more in my own brief examination and experience with revival.
Revival praying is not a mere matter of discipline or even asking God for it. The
King of Glory has to descend upon a person or persons in such a way that the
deepest conviction and agony is evidenced in their praying. I leave you with one
of the best descriptions of this kind of praying by an eyewitness of the young
preacher, Evan Roberts:
“His soul seemed to be saturated through and through with the spirit of prayer. I am a living witness of this
incident that this prayer was answered in a terrifying way. Falling on the floor in the pulpit, he moaned like
one mortally wounded, while his tears flowed incessantly, his fine physical frame shook under the crushing
soul-anguish. No one was allowed to touch him. Those seated close to him frustrated any attempt at
assistance which many willing hands would have gladly rendered. The majority of us were petrified with fear
in the presence of such uncontrollable grief. What did it mean? What good could possibly accrue from such
manifestations in overcrowded meetings? Thoughts of this nature agitated our minds. No one doubted the
transparent sincerity of the man, however mysterious the happenings. When Evan Roberts stood before the
congregation again, his face seemed transfigured. It was patent to all that he had passed through an
experience that was extremely costly. No one who witnessed that scene would vote for a repetition. One
wonders whether such hallowed occurrences should be chronicled.”42

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have
gone over me.

PAGE 20
 Revival Characteristics

Preliminary Revival Indicators

What is the environment like before revivals come? What’s the condition
of the church, the community, the nation? Even a brief examination of the
atmosphere surrounding the coming of historical revivals reveals that revivals
come when things are not going well. In this section, I will briefly present three
preliminary indicators that are consistently present before a revival comes on the
scene.

1. A spiritual and moral decline in church and society

2. A burden by one or more believers over the state of the church and community
3. A thirst for, an urgency, and an expectation of revival

In a series of lectures at Church on the Way in 1981, Dr. Edwin Orr, whom
Billy Graham considered one of the greatest authorities on historical revivals in
the Protestant world, painted the dismal picture of the religious and moral climate
of the revivals. Typical was the awakening of 1727 onward. He says, “The glory
had departed, conversions were rare, profanity and drunkenness abounded.”43
He quotes Lord Baron Brooke, a staunch unbeliever of the day telling the clergy
in London, “The greatest miracle of Christianity was that the preaching of it was
committed to such an ungodly bunch as they were.”44 This was the condition of
things as Wesley and Whitefield came on the scene. In 1738 the Great
Awakening in the colonies with Jonathan Edwards turned the people back to God
as well as in England. He declared, “Tell our children and children’s children what
God’s done. Revival is like Judgement Day!”45 Orr describes the conditions
leading up to the revolutionary war.
“What most people don’t know is that in the wake of the revolutionary war there was a moral slump
unparalleled. Drunkenness was epidemic. Out of a population of five million, 300,000 were confirmed
drunkards. They were burying 15,000 of them a year…Profanity was the most shocking kind. Immorality was
rampant. Harvard had not one believer at the time according to the poll that was taken and Princeton had
only two believers.”46

Conditions in the churches caused grave concern. Orr shared with his audience
that the Congregationalists were the largest church body at the time and that the
Methodists were losing 4,000 members a year. He said, “The churches were in
deadly fear of dying off,” and quoted the great Christian historian, Kenneth Scott
Laurette, “It seemed like Christianity was about to be ushered out of the affairs of
men.”47

PAGE 21
 As we showed in the previous chapter, it was a prayer movement that
began to change things. A burden comes upon one or more believers in a place
and there is a spirit of agonizing prayer for a revival. This is the case with all
revivals; however, let it be known that revivals are clearly rescue operations to
awaken the church and keep mankind from perishing. Charles Finney (1792-
1875), considered the father of modern revivalism, says it best about these
preliminary indicators of revivals:
It presupposes that the Church is sunk down in a backslidden state, and a revival consists in the return of the
Church from her backslidings, and in the conversion of sinners. 48

I use Finney as an example here due to some forty years of revival experience
where he literally promoted and ministered in revival after revival during the
Second Great Awakening. In his second lecture entitled, When a Revival is to be
Expected, he provides a comprehensive answer to the question of when, what he
calls a “revival of religion,” is needed.
“When there is a want of brotherly love and Christian confidence among professors of religion, then a revival
is needed. Then there is a loud call for God to revive His work. When Christians have sunk down into a low
and backslidden state, they neither have, nor can have, the same love and confidence toward each other, as
when they are all alive, and active, and living holy lives.”49

It will be helpful here to provide a redacted list of Finney’s reasons for revival: 50
1. When there are dissensions, and jealousies, and evil speakings among professors of religion, then
there is a great need of a revival.
2. When there is a worldly spirit in the Church.
3. When the Church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sins, then it is time to awake
and cry to God for a revival of religion.
4. When the wicked triumph over the Churches, and revile them, it is time to seek for a revival of
religion.
5. When there is a spirit of controversy in the Church or in the land, a revival is needful.
6. When sinners are careless and stupid, it is time Christians should bestir themselves.

Now you can understand why there is so much crying out under the
conviction of sin when revivals come. I think Orr makes a profound statement
when he says, "The Church should be in the world just as the ship should be in
the ocean, but the ocean should not be in the ship and the world should not be in
the church."51 This is why it’s important to accurately diagnose the condition of
the church and the society in which we live. I’ve learned that if we sincerely seek
the truth, Jesus will give us a thorough evaluation of things (See Revelation 2 &
3). I continue to be alarmed with the state of the church today. It’s time to sound
the alarm. Finney’s warning is as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.
“A revival of religion is the only possible thing that can wipe away the reproach which covers the Church, and
restore religion to the place it ought to have in the estimation of the public. Without a revival, this reproach
will cover the Church more and more, until it is overwhelmed with universal contempt. You may do anything

PAGE 22
 else you please, and you may change the aspects of society in some respects, but you will do no real good;
you only make it worse without a revival of religion. You may go and build a splendid new house of worship,
and line your seats with damask, put up a costly pulpit, and get a magnificent organ, and everything of that
kind, to make a show and dash, and in that way you may procure a sort of respect for religion among the
wicked, but it does no good in reality. It rather does hurt. It misleads them as to the real nature of religion;
and so far from converting them, it carries them farther away from salvation. Look wherever they have
surrounded the altar of Christianity with splendor, and you will find that the impression produced is contrary
to the true nature of religion. There must be a waking up of energy on the part of Christians, and an
outpouring of God's Spirit, or the world will laugh at the Church.”52

You will have to go to great lengths to prove that this is not the condition of the
church today. Do you have a burden? Does your soul desire to urgently cry out
with weeping? I ask myself these same questions.

Perhaps the most important condition for revival is that of thirst. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones accurately sees this as “preliminary” to revival.
“The inevitable and constant preliminary to revival has always been a thirst for God, a thirst, a living thirst for
a knowledge of the living god, and a longing and a burning desire to see him acting, manifesting himself and
his power, rising, and scattering his enemies…The thirst for God, and the longing for the exhibition of his
glory are the essential preliminaries to revival.”53

I must point out that this thirst is typically evident in only a very small number and
more often initially with only one or two believers in a place. This was evident in
the vast majority of the historical revivals I examined. I ask myself, “If I must be
revived, and I must be or I will be doomed to a boring, lackluster and possibly
backslidden existence. If I must be revived, then I must have a thirst equal to my
need.” I need this deeper level of thirst for God and His presence. It’s like the
Psalmist described as a thirsty deer with its tongue hanging out longing for the
spring of water.

 Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
 Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs
for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

I’ve discovered it’s not enough to pray, read my Bible, and attend church
services. The prophetic call to the thirsty is to drink.

 Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour
My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
 Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come,
buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
 John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If
anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out
of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those
believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet
glorified.

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  Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say,
"Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

The living water Jesus refers to is a reviving drink that awakens and quickens.
Much of the church is lifeless and dead without much energy to do anything
meaningful to promote revival. However, living water has vital power in itself and
exerts the same upon those who drink of it. No wonder Paul commands believers
to be continually filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18-20 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with
the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, some of the lexicons for the Greek word, dipsao (dip-sah’-o),
point out that the word means “to suffer” or “suffer from thirst.” One says it refers
to those “who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by
which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened.” Another describes it as
“the state resulting from not having drunk anything for a period of time.” So this
confirms the intense level of thirst and the need for a much deeper longing to
drink; one that cries out for revival. Again and again what is being referred to is
the thirsty soul drinking deeply of the Spirit. The prophet Isaiah, Paul, and Jesus
Himself confirm this. Notice also there is an overflowing when we drink this living
water of the Spirit of life. In other words, there is no revival without the Holy Spirit
and there is no revival without the thirsty drinking deeply of the living water. In
every revival, the Holy Spirit is poured upon the thirsty. This is a preliminary
condition. It’s the urgent and expectant cry of the thirsty for revival. And it’s a
deep and anguishing cry.

Psalm 42:7-8 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows
have gone over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His
song shall be with me. (A prayer to the God of my life)

Characteristics during a Revival

I want to now turn our attention to some of the revival characteristics that
take place once a revival breaks out. There are several I would like to list in this
section.
1. Combination of divine providence and human agency
2. Strong and united prayer movement
3. Powerful and engaging preaching of God’s word
4. Profound conviction of sin
5. Extreme focus upon the conversion of backsliders and sinners

PAGE 24
 6. Spiritual awakening of the church and community
7. Notable outpouring of the Holy Spirit

I noticed during the historic revivals that there was a clear indication that God
used key people before and during each. There was also quite a bit of confusion
in the church regarding the sovereignty of God and the role of man in revivals.
Much of the confusion came from orthodox or traditional teachings on the
subject; the roots of which appear to lie in the Calvinist and Armenian theological
debate. Winkie Pratney simplifies what has become a very confusing topic for
most of us.
Calvinists: Stress God’s actions alone in salvation as predestination and election.
Armenians: Stress human responsibility to respond or reject God’s call. 54

It’s important to keep in mind this simple definition of each so not to get bogged
down into the quagmire of complicated theological positions. I must bring this to
your attention because in every revival there is a combination of divine
providence as well as human instrumentation led by the Holy Spirit. Most, if not
all, the leading revivalists in history had to deal with the extremes of one or the
other of these views. For example Charles Finney’s experience during the revival
at Wilmington, Delaware in 1826 was typical of what he encountered on a regular
basis in the churches:
“I soon found that his teaching had placed the church in a position that rendered it impossible to promote a
revival among them, till their views could be corrected. They seemed to be afraid to make any effort, lest they
should take the work out of the hands of God. They had the oldest of the old-school views of doctrine; and
consequently their theory was that God would convert sinners in His own time; and that therefore to urge
them to immediate repentance, and in short to attempt to promote a revival, was to attempt to make men
Christians by human agency, and human strength, and thus to dishonor God by taking the work out of His
hands. I observed also, that in their prayers there was no urgency for an immediate outpouring of the Spirit,
and that this was all in accordance with the views in which they had been educated.”55

I believe Finney was right to confront and correct the errors of these teachings.
He openly declared, “Revivals have been greatly hindered by mistaken notions
concerning the Sovereignty of God.”56 It was evident those under the strict and
extreme Calvinist teachings on divine providence and election were left hopeless
to respond to God’s immediate call of repentance in revival. The pastors merely
told those seeking God to pray for a new heart and read their Bibles. As a result
no conversions took place in the churches leading up to the revivals. In a later
revival at Reading, Pennsylvania, Finney describes the seriousness of the
situation.
“The foundation of the error of which I speak, is the dogma that human nature is sinful in itself; and that,
therefore, sinners are entirely unable to become Christians. It is admitted, either expressly or virtually, that
sinners may want to be Christians, and that they really do want to be Christians, and often try to be
Christians, and yet somehow fail…They must therefore, set him self-righteously to pray for a new heart. They

PAGE 25
 would sometimes tell him to do his duty, to press forward in duty, to read his Bible, to use the means of
grace; in short, they would tell him to do anything and everything, but the very thing which God commands
him to do. God commands him to repent now, to believe now, to make to him a new heart now. But they
were afraid to urge God's claims in this form, because they were continually telling the sinner that he had no
ability whatever to do these things.”57

In fact, this was the view of the vast majority of the clergy and the people were
left helpless as one biographer explained:
“Everybody was told that they were absolutely helpless, and could do nothing to secure their own repentance
or conversion; and they generally believed it. With one accord they were idly waiting, in imaginary
helplessness, for a sovereign God to enable them to repent and believe; and thus whole generations were
sweeping into hell. What appalling results can flow from a false theology!”58

The controversial effects of these extremes remain with us today. Much of

the church stands opposed to “decision theology” in lieu of God’s providence.
Others seemingly exploit people’s sentiments by leading them to make a
decision for Christ much like a car salesmen with little emphasis upon the
influence of a Holy and Sovereign God who demands holiness and godliness of
heart and life from His followers. I want to use Finney again to settle this issue in
your minds so none of you will be led astray into error on this. Finney explains
this combination of divine providence and human agency in this way:
“Ordinarily, there are employed in the work of conversion three agents and one instrument. The agents are
God; some person who brings the truth to bear on the mind; and the sinner himself. The instrument is the
truth. There are always two agents, God and the sinner, employed and active in every case of genuine
conversion. The agency of God is twofold: by His Providence and by His Spirit.”59

The Bible fully confirms both the Sovereignty of God and His use of human
agency in revival as it applies to the conversion of sinners.

Divine Providence Human Agency Combination

When His disciples heard it, they There were present at that season But as many as received Him, to
were greatly astonished, saying, some who told Him about the them He gave the right to become
"Who then can be saved?" But Galileans whose blood Pilate had children of God, to those who
Jesus looked at them and said to mingled with their sacrifices. And believe in His name: who were
them, "With men this is Jesus answered and said to them, born, not of blood, nor of the will
impossible, but with God all things "Do you suppose that these of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
are possible." (Matt. 19:25-26) Galileans were worse sinners than but of God. (John 1:12-13)
"No one can come to Me unless all other Galileans, because they Jesus answered and said to her,
the Father who sent Me draws suffered such things? "I tell you, "Whoever drinks of this water will
him; and I will raise him up at the no; but unless you repent you will thirst again, "but whoever drinks
last day. (John 6:44) all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1-3) of the water that I shall give him
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, But we have this treasure in will never thirst. But the water that
the truth, and the life. No one earthen vessels, that the I shall give him will become in him
comes to the Father except excellence of the power may be of a fountain of water springing up
through Me. (Joh 14:6) God and not of us. (2Cor 4:7) into everlasting life." (John 4:13-
14)

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 Moreover whom He predestined, But what does it say? "The word is For by grace you have been saved
these He also called; whom He near you, in your mouth and in through faith, and that not of
called, these He also justified; and your heart " (that is, the word of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9
whom He justified, these He also faith which we preach): that if you not of works, lest anyone should
glorified. (Rom. 8:30) confess with your mouth the Lord boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
Therefore He has mercy on whom Jesus and believe in your heart And the Spirit and the bride say,
He wills, and whom He wills He that God has raised Him from the "Come!" And let him who hears
hardens. (Rom 9:18) dead, you will be saved. For with say, "Come!" And let him who
the heart one believes unto thirsts come. Whoever desires, let
righteousness, and with the him take the water of life freely.
mouth confession is made unto (Rev 22:17)
salvation. (Rom 10:8-10)
"Truly, these times of ignorance
God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to
repent, (Acts 17:30)

Another prominent characteristic of revivals is the united prayer movement

that arises and spreads quickly throughout a region. I’ve looked at this in an
earlier chapter, but here want to distinguish some important factors in the prayer
movement that typically expands during a revival. Although one or a small
number of praying individuals are used by God at the start, the number rapidly
multiples during a revival. Suddenly, like overnight, there’s a prayer movement.
Everyone seems to be praying. And there are two things that make their prayers
so effective. One is the unity of purpose or motive and the second is the spirit of
prayer. I think I can capture both of these factors with Finney’s definition of the
spirit of prayer:
What constitutes a spirit of prayer? Is it many prayers and warm words? No. Prayer is the state of the heart.
The spirit of prayer is a state of continual desire and anxiety of mind for the salvation of sinners. It is
something that weighs them down.60

Some believers pray for revival without much thought to those who are perishing.
Instead, their motives are confused with desires to increase church membership,
church finances, and church facilities. This is not the “spirit of prayer” in revivals.
In true revivals, the prayer movement is aligned with God’s desires. The Early
Church prayed in “one accord.” The only way to pray in this way is to know by
the Spirit and the Word of God, the desires of the Father. For starters, He still
desires His followers to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit for the
purpose of witnessing. And God still desires that none should perish.

 Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

They also travailed for sinners in the “spirit of prayer” like Paul. This is a very
deep laboring in prayer very similar to the birthing process.

PAGE 27
 Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.

Finney says “This travail of soul is that deep agony which persons feel when they
lay hold on God for such a blessing, and will not let Him go till they receive it.”61
He continues, “When this feeling exists in a Church, unless the Spirit is grieved
away by sin, there will infallibly be a revival of Christians generally, and it will
involve the conversion of sinners to God.”62 In a prayer movement, the church
grasps the condition of the wicked. Despite opposition from the enemy and those
he uses, the prayer movement sustains and spreads the revival. The opposition
arises during revivals, but faithful and united prayers in the prayer movement
overcome in an unstoppable manner. The Spirit of God raises up the prayer
movement like a mighty standard that spreads and sustains the revival in victory
over the enemy.

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the
rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard
against him.

Finney accurately describes the victory over all opposition in revivals.

“Sometimes the wicked will get up an opposition to religion. And when this drives Christians to their knees in
prayer to God, with strong crying and tears, you may be certain there is going to be a revival…But
sometimes the conduct of the wicked drives Christians to prayer, breaks them down, and makes them
sorrowful and tender-hearted, so that they can weep day and night, and instead of scolding the wicked they
pray earnestly for them. Then you may expect a revival. Indeed, it is begun already. Sometimes the wicked
will get up an opposition to religion. And when this drives Christians to their knees in prayer to God, with
strong crying and tears, you may be certain there is going to be a revival…Let hell boil over if it will, and
spew out as many devils as there are stones in the pavement, if it only drives Christians to God in prayer - it
cannot hinder a revival. Let Satan "get up a row," and sound his horn as loud as he pleases; if Christians will
only be humbled and pray, they shall soon see God's naked arm in a revival of religion. I have known
instances where a revival has broken in upon the ranks of the enemy, almost as suddenly as a clap of
thunder, and scattered them, taken the ringleaders as trophies, and broken up their party in an instant.” 63

The important point in this discussion about the prayer movements evidenced
both before and on a grandeur scale during revivals is something that few
believers know, or if they do know, are not actively engaged in. The importance
of the prayer movement in revival featuring a unity in alignment with God’s heart
and the spirit of prayer cannot be overemphasized. As Finney indicated during
forty years of nonstop revival experience in the Second Great Awakening, “You
may be sure there had been somebody on the watch-tower, constant in prayer till
the blessing came. Generally, a revival is more or less extensive, as there are
more or less persons who have the spirit of prayer.”64

Revivals also bring a dramatic change in the preaching and teaching of

the Word. I like what the young evangelist, Matt Hartley, said at a revival meeting
in what has been called the “Awakening in the Mountains.” He said, “When the

PAGE 28
King of Glory comes in there is a shift.”65 This is precisely what happens in the
preaching during revivals. I can only describe it in the same terms used in the
Gospels and Acts.

 Matthew 7:28-29 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were
astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
 Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
 Luke 4:36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!
For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

We can conclude from these passages that the authority and power behind the
preaching and teaching of God’s word during revivals is what sets it apart from
that which is displayed prior to a revival. It’s important in revivals to understand
that this "shift” is a direct result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles
experienced a remarkable transformation after Pentecost in this regard. I find it
quite interesting that the religious leaders opposing Pentecost asked them the
identical question Jesus was asked, “By what power or by what name have
you done this?” (Acts 4:7). Generally speaking, those opposing revivals have
historically possessed the same issues with the authority and power
demonstrated during revivals. However, Peter’s response to them was not a
conventional human response. Rather it was a Spirit-filled one for the Scripture
says, “Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” (Acts 4:8). Of
course, the message that followed (See Acts 4:8-12) was with the authority and
power that comes from above through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit prayed for
and experienced during revivals. The opposition actually confirms the
distinguishing revival characteristics we are discussing.

Acts 4:13-16 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And
seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when
they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying,
"What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is
evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

The Greek word, parrhesia (par-rhay-see’-ah), in this context refers to a

freedom of speech characterized by an unreserved and courageous utterance
from divine enablement. This is an important aspect in relation to the preaching
in revivals. The religious leaders saw it and wondered at it, realizing that they
were ordinary men without formal rabbinic training who thoroughly knew Jesus.
And they had no way of denying this and that a “notable miracle” had occurred.
Interestingly, their recognition makes special note of the miracle being done
“through them” and was “evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem.” Although
there was opposition, there was also a strong public witness which is common in
revivals.

PAGE 29
 Some downplay the role of evangelists in revivals and others are tempted
to make them celebrities; however, their special calling and utilization in God’s
plan and purpose during revivals cannot be denied and should not be diminished.
Respectfully, I did not find evidence in historical revivals of “pastors” leading
revivals. Instead, I found pastors at times exercising God’s wisdom in promoting
a revival by sending for an evangelist. Unnoticed by some revival historians is the
fact that Johnathan Edwards, invited Evangelist George Whitefield to preach at
his church in Northampton in hopes it would be “good to my soul, and the souls
of my people.”66 Editors of Edwards’ sermons give the following assessment:
“Whitefield did indeed come to Northampton in October 1740 and preached there several times to a packed
meetinghouse and weeping audiences who hung on every word. Edwards reported that “the congregation
was extraordinarily melted by every sermon; almost the whole assembly being in tears for a great part of
sermon time.” In his published journals, Whitefield reported that even Edwards wept openly.” 67

I will look at this more closely later, but only mention it here to introduce the
important role of the preaching evangelists in revivals. After all, Phillip, the
Evangelist, preached Christ to the Samaritans.

Acts 8:5-8 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the
multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles
which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed;
and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

The revival described above expanded to many Samaritan villages through the
preaching of Phillip followed by Peter and John who came to minister the Holy
Spirit to the converts.

Acts 8:14-17, 25 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed
for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had
only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received
the Holy Spirit…So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to
Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Two Greek words for preaching are used in the context of the Samaritan revival.
One is kerusso (kay-roos’so). According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, it means to
“be a herald; to officiate as a herald; to proclaim after the manner of a herald;
always with a suggestion of formality, gravity, and an authority which must be
listened to and obeyed; to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been
done.” Thayer goes on to say Acts 8:5 is to “proclaim to persons one whom they
are to become acquainted with in order to learn what they ought to do.” The
second word is euaggelizo (yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo) and means “to proclaim glad
tidings; specifically, to instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to
Christian salvation: to announce the glad tidings of the Messiah, or of the

PAGE 30
kingdom of God, or of eternal salvation offered through Christ.” In revivals this is
with a delegated authority and power that ignites and spreads revival fire in every
place.

Charles Finney makes some excellent and very practical points regarding
preaching during revivals. In a series of statements, this veteran evangelist and
revivalist presents guidelines consistent with the characteristics of the preaching
common to revivals. The following selection accents what we have been talking
about.
 “All preaching should be doctrinal, and all preaching should be practical. The very design of doctrine is to
regulate practice. Any preaching that has not this tendency is not the Gospel. A loose, exhortatory style of
preaching may affect the passions, and may produce excitement, but will never sufficiently instruct the
people to secure sound conversions. On the other hand, preaching doctrine in an abstract manner may fill
the head with notions, but will never sanctify the heart or life.”68
 “Preaching should be direct. The Gospel should be preached to men, and not about men. The minister must
address his hearers. He must preach to them about themselves, and not leave the impression that he is
preaching to them about others. He will never do them any good, further than he succeeds in convincing
each individual that he is the person in question.”69
 “Another very important thing to be regarded in preaching is, that the minister should hunt after sinners and
Christians, wherever they may have entrenched themselves in inaction. It is not the design of preaching to
make men easy and quiet, but to make them ACT.”70
 “Another important thing to observe is, that a minister should dwell most on those particular points which are
most needed.”71
 “The Gospel should be preached in those proportions, that the whole Gospel may be brought before the
minds of the people, and produce its proper influence. If too much stress is laid on one class of truths, the
Christian character will not have its due proportions. Its symmetry will not be perfect. If that class of truths be
almost exclusively dwelt upon, that requires great exertion of intellect, without being brought home to the
heart and conscience, it will be found that the Church will be indoctrinated in those views, but will not be
awake, and active, and efficient in the promotion of religion.”72
 “It is of great importance that the sinner should be made to feel his guilt, and not left to the impression that he
is unfortunate. I think this is a very prevalent fault, particularly in books on the subject. They are calculated to
make the sinner think more of his sorrows than of his sins, and feel that his state is rather unfortunate than
criminal.”73
 “Sinners ought to be made to feel that they have something to do, and that is, to repent; that it is something
which no other being can do for them, neither God nor man; and something which they can do, and do now.
Religion is something to do, not something to wait for. And they must do it now, or they are in danger of
eternal death. Ministers should never rest satisfied, until they have ANNIHILATED every excuse of
sinners.”74
 Preaching should be parabolical. That is, illustrations should be constantly used, drawn from incidents, real
or supposed. Jesus Christ constantly illustrated His instructions in this way. He would either advance a
principle and then illustrate it by a parable - that is, a short story of some event, real or imaginary - or else He
would bring out the principle in the parable.75

Of course Finney continues to warn against preaching doctrine that misses the
mark. Balance between doctrine and the practical is crucial especially when it
comes to the disagreement between the extremes of God’s Sovereignty and
human agency discussed earlier.

PAGE 31
 “If Election and Sovereignty are too much preached, there will be Antinomianism in the Church, and sinners
will hide themselves behind the delusion that they can do nothing. If, on the other hand, doctrines of ability
and obligation be too prominent, they will produce Arminianism, and sinners will be blustering and self-
confident… A right view of both classes of truths, Election and Free-agency, will do no hurt. They are
eminently calculated to convert sinners and strengthen saints. It is a perverted view that chills the heart of the
Church, and closes the eyes of sinners in sleep. If I had time, I would remark on the manner in which I have
sometimes heard the doctrines of Divine Sovereignty, Election, and Ability preached. They have been
exhibited in irreconcilable contradiction, the one against the other. Such exhibitions are anything but the
Gospel, and are calculated to make a sinner feel anything rather than his responsibility to God.” 76

The conversion of sinners is the primary concern of Jesus, the Apostles,

and the Early Church and it is the motive that defines all the characteristics of
revivals. Finney and other revivalists are correct to say, “A minister should aim to
convert his congregation.”77 I must repeat again that the modern church confuses
this with other motives and, for the most part, has lost its way. In the midst of
ungodliness, backsliding, contented and lukewarm believers, the church must be
awakened to the urgency of the hour. It’s revival or judgment!

Characteristics of Biblical Revivals

The characteristics of historical revivals thus far examined are remarkably
consistent and well documented by revival historians and the revivalists
themselves. But are these characteristics evident in the Bible? The first thing that
I am compelled to say is that revival with all its characteristics was the norm as
described in the New Testament. Just read through the book of Acts and you will
observe all the revival characteristics in operation. And what you see is evidence
of a continual revival and display of these features we have been discussing.
Just this brief examination of revival brings us to the same reality as revival
author Geoff Waugh, “The pattern in Jesus’ life and ministry and in the early
Church is normative for the Church, but we have fallen far short of it.”78 Revival
was and is the normative pattern for the church! Keep this in mind during our
brief review of Biblical revivals, as well as that final phrase from Waugh’s
statement, “but we have fallen far short of it.” Most importantly, see if we can
come to a deeper and more urgent understanding of what he claims is the “best
known Bible verse on revival.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray
and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin and heal their land.

An overview of revival in the Early Church as described in Acts reveals a

consistent revival flow. The following list shows how revival spreads with a
regional and global impact.

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  Acts 1-7 Jerusalem Revival
 Acts 8:1-4 Judean Revival
 Acts 8:5-25 Samaritan Revival
 Acts 9:1-25 Damascus Revival
 Acts 10-11 Gentile Revival
 Acts 13-28 Global Revival

These revivals were founded on, ignited, and guided by the very words spoken
by the Risen Christ prior to His ascension:

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Act 1:8)

As you know, 120 believers spent ten days in united prayer leading up to the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The church began as an “awakened”
and “praying” church. The preaching and teaching was with an authority and
power that cut to the heart causing hearers to cry out, “What shall I do to be
saved?” (See Acts 2:37 and 16:30). The conversion of sinners through
repentance was paramount.

 Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the
promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will
call."
 Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
 Acts 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your
heart may be forgiven you.
 Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men
everywhere to repent,
 Acts 26:19-20 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, "but
declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and
then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

The connection between the revival characteristics in the Early Church and the
historic revivals of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries prove that they are
divine visitations with repeated outpourings of the Holy Spirit.

There are some noticeable revival examples in the Old Testament. They
remind me of an ABCD pattern repeated throughout Israel’s history. 79
A. Apostasy
B. Battered by an Enemy
C. Cry for help
D. Deliverance

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 I see this pattern in the spiritual lives of people over and over again. Although
each instance of awakenings are unique, even the shorter accounts have potent
revival features. For example, revival historian, Henry Fish, draws our attention to
a short account described in 1 Samuel 7:1-17.
“The history of revivals is the history of religion. If we consult the Bible we shall find awakenings from the
earliest times. Thus in the days of Samuel, when the people had done evil a long time, serving Baalim, it is
said “Israel lamented after the Lord,” and Samuel said, “If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, and
serve him only, he will deliver you.” Upon doing it the blessing came. Drawing near to battle, “the Lord
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them, and they were smitten
before Israel.” Then they came together and “drew water, and poured it out before the Lord;”—an emblem,
perhaps, of the fulness of their penitent sorrow, and of the felt blessings of the Most High. The narrative is
short; but there was here an effective revival. Often in the succeeding ages hope almost expired; but “a
remnant was left of those that feared the Lord;” and in the reigns of David, and Solomon, and Asa and
Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah and Josiah, seasons of recovery and refreshing were not withheld.”80

This helps to give us a healthy perspective that the Bible documents a continual
revival pattern even though there is a tendency to pay closer attention to the
major revivals. Both Winkie Pratney and Geoff Waugh offer a list of seven Old
Testament revivals in addition to the one occurring in the time of Jonah.81
1. Jacob’s household (see Gen. 35:1–15).
2. Asa (see 2 Chron. 15:1–15).
3. Joash (see 2 Kings 11–12; 2 Chron. 23–24).
4. Hezekiah (see 2 Kings 18:1–8; 2 Chron. 29–31).
5. Josiah (see 2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chron. 34–35).
6. Haggai and Zechariah with Zerubbabel (see Ezra 5–6).
7. Ezra with Nehemiah (see Neh. 9:1–6; 12:44-47).

In addition, they list nine characteristics in these biblical revivals:82

1. They occurred in times of moral darkness and national depression.
2. Each began in the heart of a consecrated servant of God who became the energizing power behind
it.
3. Each revival rested on the Word of God, and most were the result of proclaiming God’s Word with
power.
4. All resulted in a return to the worship of God.
5. Each witnessed the destruction of idols where they existed.
6. In each revival, there was a recorded separation from sin.
7. In every revival, the people returned to obeying God’s laws.
8. There was a restoration of great joy and gladness.
9. Each revival was followed by a period of national prosperity

As you can see, there’s a remarkable connection with revival in the New
Testament and those occurring in church history. I want to now turn our attention
to what usually gets the most attention in revivals; the manifestations.

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 Revival Manifestations

Emotion or Emotionalism
There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to the physical and spiritual
manifestations common to revivals. You might say it’s a case of “mixed
emotions.” Nevertheless, there’s a wide range of emotions displayed in revivals.
Some dismiss these manifestations altogether as fanaticism disassociated with
what they consider a true revival. It’s ironic that religious fervor is typically
denounced even by many Christians as fanaticism. My wife and I were saved in
a revival atmosphere in 1973 and those revived, converted, and Spirit-filled
believers in the church looked like fanatics at the beginning. And we felt that way
because of the extreme emotional displays we observed. They helped us with
their simple definition of what a fanatic was to them. They said, “It’s someone
who loves Jesus more than you do!” I don’t mean to imply that anything goes in
revival, however, it’s a good way of looking at things that your flesh may be
tempted to inappropriately react to. For example, in those early days of my walk
with Christ, there was a woman named, Wanda, who at every service during
worship would bring a message in tongues followed by interpretation. In fact,
toward the end of every time of worship, you could count to three and this would
happen. Another new convert and I would discuss among ourselves, questioning
whether this could be of the Lord. We had pretty much concluded that it wasn’t
when one evening service, Wanda, proceeded right on schedule with a message
in tongues. However, this time it was not followed with interpretation. I glanced
out of the corner of my eye at my friend and to my surprise he sat down and his
face was very pale. Suddenly, he stood to his feet rendering the interpretation. I
learned from this experience that the Holy Spirit is the best teacher and to rely on
Him and His word to weigh things in revival.

There is also another side of the situation because others appear to seek
manifestations affecting the emotions to a degree that appears to major on them.
And to the degree they do so, God’s purpose for revival becomes increasingly
blurred. I recall a couple at one of the Ohio Conferences on the Holy Spirit in the
mid-seventies. They went from one prayer line to another when they finally
reached mine seeking the manifestation of tongues. This dairy farmer and his
wife annoyingly exclaimed, “We’ve been to all the prayer lines in this place. We
see our friends and everyone else speaking in tongues and can’t understand why
we aren’t having the same experience as them.” Although I tried hard to explain it
to them, they didn’t receive what they were wanting in my prayer line either
because they were desiring the manifestation more than the Giver. You don’t

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seek the manifestation. You seek the Giver! You seek the Holy Spirit and you get
to speak in tongues as evidence. There seems to be a confusion over emotions
and manifestations in the historical revivals I’ve examined. It’s a confusion that I
don’t find in the New Testament church, but one that has crept in and remains
with us today. In what many consider the most influential revival next to
Pentecost itself, the 1904 Welsh Revival, there was much debate over emotions.
Revival historian, Dr. Edwin Orr, gives this assessment:
“There were always those who objected to the emotion shown in the meetings. To some, ‘life with
exuberance’ was more to be dreaded than ‘death with composure.’ For fully half a century, anti-Evangelicals
dismissed the Awakening as a wind of emotion…”83

What a dangerous view! The error of dismissing emotions or placing extreme

emphasis upon them in revival is serious. Orr reminds us of this by drawing a
distinction between emotion and emotionalism. “Emotion is not emotionalism, the
‘calculated exploitation of feeling for unworthy ends.’”84 Although many tend to
question emotions and some excesses manifested in revival, this should not be
grounds to reject revivals. I like what Henry Fish says on this point, “But is not a
storm preferable to a parching drought?”85 Since when is it okay to display
excitement in other things but wrong to get excited and display emotion over
matters of faith? Rather, is there not something wrong with those who are not
emotionally moved in some way by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them
and others in revival? But what about excesses? Fish gives us this guidance:
“Let us not, then, oppose revivals because occasionally the religious impulse rises above the usual level, and
flows over the ordinary channels, and does some incidental mischief. Better have noisy animal excitement
than that the sterile wastes of worldliness should not be transformed into fruitful gardens of the Lord.”86

So emotions are good in connection with revivals. I’m not speaking about
emotion for emotions sake, but emotion that is responding to the powerful,
consuming, and loving move of God upon the human heart that overwhelms the
whole being. This is serious as well as exciting business. Reflect upon this
reminder from Fish:
“We must also remember that the greatest and best actions have ever been performed in stages of excited
feeling and high personal exaltation. And it is Dr. Bushnell, we believe, who says, “If any one expects to carry
on the cause of salvation by a steady rolling on the same dead level, and fears continually lest the axles wax
hot and kindle into a flame, he is too timorous to hold the reins in the Lord’s chariot.”87

The Bible exhorts, even commands us, to respond with emotion to the
Lord and His wondrous works. However, it confirms the distinction we’ve been
discussing between emotion and emotionalism. Emotion in response to God’s
presence and power glorifies the Lord; emotionalism glorifies the self. Jeremiah,
warned that the Lord would cause them to pass out in their own self-exalting

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excitement and Isaiah says hell is excited to meet you with the same self-
glorifying excitement.

 Jeremiah 51:39 In their excitement I will prepare their feasts; I will make them drunk, That they
may rejoice, And sleep a perpetual sleep And not awake," says the LORD.
 Isaiah 14:9 "Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the
dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the
nations.

It’s important to understand this about the Spirit of God. When He comes upon
you He typically excites a strong response. Just think how often men responded
with amazement at the ministry of Jesus and that of the Early Church. The Bible
uses terms like marvel and amazed. These words are used a combined total of
over fifty times in the New Testament. And they are strong emotional words as
the following chart confirms.

Sample Verses Word Meanings

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He Marvel (thaumazo, thou-mad’-zo) - to wonder at
marveled, and said to those who followed, with great admiration and astonishment (Notice this
"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great is an example of Jesus Himself displaying a positive
faith, not even in Israel! emotional response to the same degree)
Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, Overcome (existemi, ex-is’-tay-mee) - to throw
for she was twelve years of age. And they were out of position, displace.
overcome with great amazement. Amazement (ekstasis, ek’-stas-is) - that of the
Mark 6:51 Then He went up into the boat to them, man who by some sudden emotion is transported as
and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed it were out of himself, so that in this rapt condition,
in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. although he is awake, his mind is so drawn off from
Luke 9:43-44 And they were all amazed at the all surrounding objects and wholly fixed on things
divine that he sees nothing but the forms and images
majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all
lying within, and thinks that he perceives with his
the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,
44 "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the bodily eyes and ears realities shown him by God.
(Notice the primary focus on God’s majesty and His
Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of
redemptive mission on the Cross)
men."
Great (megas) – great, splendid, prepared on a
Acts 3:10 Then they knew that it was he who sat
grand scale.
begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and
they were filled with wonder and amazement at what Amazed (ekplesso, ek-place’-so) - to strike out,
had happened to him. expel by a blow, drive out or away; to cast off by a
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of blow, to drive out; commonly, to strike one out of
self-possession, to strike with panic, shock,
Peter and John, and perceived that they were
astonish; passive to be struck with astonishment,
uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And
astonished, amazed; (Notice that they were not just
they realized that they had been with Jesus.
struck with amazement, but filled with it)

The above chart puts things in a very positive perspective. The typical
emotions displayed in revivals must be observed within the context of the
Scriptures. I emphatically hold this position because the Holy Spirit will never
violate the written Word of God. For this reason, we must not place so much

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attention to the physical manifestations present in revivals as to diminish even
slightly the majesty of God and His primary mission in the outpouring of Spirit.
One final example of this is upon the return of the seventy.

Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject
to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give
you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall by any means hurt you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject
to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Note how Jesus directs things back to the importance of salvation after
seemingly “high fiving” one another. Even so, as Finney says, “When the Spirit of
God is upon you, and excites strong desires for any blessing, you are bound to
pray for it in faith.” You just need to keep your eyes on the prize.

Physical and Spiritual Manifestations

Martyn Lloyd-Jones rightly points out the futility of denouncing various
physical and spiritual manifestations that occur in revival. He goes as far to imply
it’s ridiculous to think there is to be no reaction.
“Man reacts as a whole. And it is just folly to expect that he can react in the realm of the spiritual without
anything at all happening to the rest of him, to the soul, and to the body. And so we must expect this kind of
reaction in a period of revival, and we must expect different people to react in different ways.”88

This was the experience of the Early Church. Revival has a profound and
powerful effect upon people. Why should we expect it to be any different now? I
found it helpful to review some of the manifestations evidenced in the Bible and
compare them with those reported in a number of revivals. I first used the longest
prayer in the Bible as my guide. Revival is a frequent topic of this extensive
prayer. In fact, the Psalmist cries out nine times for revival.

1. Psalm 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
2. Psalm 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.
3. Psalm 119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.
4. Psalm 119:88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of
Your mouth.
5. Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
6. Psalm 119:149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according
to Your justice.
7. Psalm 119:154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
8. Psalm 119:156 Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your
judgments.

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 9. Psalm 119:159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your
lovingkindness.

This confirms that revival, including all the physical and spiritual manifestations,
must be aligned with God’s word and His righteousness. With this in mind, I
proceeded with my comparison giving special attention to authentic
manifestations common to biblical revivals.

Revival Manifestation Biblical References

Weeping and Travailing 2Chr. 34:27; Hos. 12:4; Matt. 26:75; Luke 19:41;
Rom. 2:4; 2Cor. 7:10; Heb. 5:7; Rev. 5:4
Falling under the power of the Holy Spirit 2Chr. 5:13-14; 7:1-2; Ezek. 1:28; 3:23; 43:4; 44:4;
Dan. 8:7-10, 17-18; 10:8-9, 17; Matt. 17:6; John 18:6;
Acts 9:4-8; Rev. 1:17
Shaking and Trembling Ex. 19:16-18; Ezra 9:4; Psa. 119:20; Isa. 6:4; 66:2;
Dan. 8:17-18; 10:7-11; Matt. 17:6; 28:4; Acts 4:31
Spontaneous Dancing for Joy Ex. 15:20-21; 2Sam. 6:14-16; Ps. 149:3; 150:4; Luke
10:21; 1Pet. 1:8
Uncontrollable Holy and Joyful Laughter Psa. 126:2-3; Jer. 30:19; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22
Miraculous Healings and Deliverances Isa. 8:18; 38:1-8; Acts 3:6-9; 4:29-31; 10:38; Heb. 2:4
Speaking in Tongues (glossolalia) and Prophecy 1Sam. 19:20-24; Isa. Acts 2:4, 17; 10:46; 19:6
Trances, Visions, and Dreams Acts 10:10; 22:17-18
Drunk in the Spirit 1Sam. 1:12-17; Acts 2:12-21; 2Cor. 5:13; Eph. 5:18-
21

The above manifestations are quite common in both the Bible and
historical revivals. You might say they have both a biblical and historical
precedent. I found the most evident physical manifestation was weeping and
literally collapsing under an overcoming conviction of sin. This was reported in
every revival I examined. Early in the 20th century, the Methodist Church reported
revival sweeping the United States with the same primary manifestation.
“A great revival is sweeping the United States. Its power is felt in every nook and corner of our broad land.
The Holy Spirit is convincing the people ‘of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come.’ There is
manifested a new degree of spiritual power in the churches…The regular prayer-meetings and public
services seem to be surcharged with convicting power, so that cries of penitence and prayers for mercy have
been heard in places unused to such demonstrations.”89

This was also the case in earlier revivals. Although it’s impossible to catalog all
the revival periods with their manifestations, charting a few confirms the
consistency of these biblical manifestations. The following chart chronicles some
of the manifestations from summaries and firsthand accounts.

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 Revival Key Figures Reported Manifestations
First Great John & Charles Wesley, “People dropped on every side as thunderstruck as they fell to the
Awakening George Whitefield, ground, others with convulsions exceeding all description and many
(1730-80) Jonathan Edwards, reported seeing visions. Some shook like a cloth in the wind, others
David Brainerd roared and screamed or fell down with involuntary laughter.” (Wesley).
“…many falling to the ground, trembling exceedingly with strong
convulsions. People fell down, cried out, trembled with convulsive
tritchings.” (Whitefield).
“It was common to see outcries, faintings, convulsions with distress and
joy. Some were so affected that their bodies were overcome, so they
stayed all night in the church. There were some instances of persons
lying in a sort of trance, remaining for perhaps a whole twenty-four hours
motionless, and with their senses locked up; but in the meantime under
strong imagination, as though they went to heaven, and had there a
vision of glorious and delightful objects…Many young people appeared
to be overcome with the greatness of divine things and many others at
the same time were overcome with distress about their sinful state so
that the whole room was full of nothing but outcries, faintings and such
like and many were overpowered and continued there for some hours.
Some have been so overcome with a sense of the dying love of Christ
as to weaken the body. It was a very frequent thing to see a house full
of outcries, faintings, convulsions and such like, both with distress, and
also with joy… Their joyful surprise has caused their hearts as it were to
leap, so that they have been ready to break forth into laughter, tears
often at the same time issuing like a flood, and intermingling a loud
weeping. Sometimes they have not been able to forbear crying out with
a loud voice, expressing their great admiration” (Edwards)

Cane Ridge James McGready, John “I have seen more than a hundred sinners fall like dead men under one
Kentucky & William McGee, powerful sermon, and I have seen and heard more than five hundred
(1800-1804) Barton Stone & other Christians all shouting aloud the high praises of God at once…Hundreds
ministers (Note: 16 year fell prostrate under the mighty power of God, as men slain in battle…It
old Peter Cartwright was said, by truthful witnesses, that at times more than one thousand
converted) persons broke into loud shouting all at once, and that the shouts could
be heard for miles around.” (Cartwright)
“The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast sea of human beings
seemed to be agitated as if by a storm… Some of the people were
singing, others praying, some crying for mercy in the most piteous
accents, while others were shouting vociferously. While witnessing these
scenes, a peculiarly-strange sensation, such as I had never felt before,
came over me. My heart beat tumultuously, my knees trembled, my lip
quivered, and I felt as though I must fall to the ground. A strange
supernatural power seemed to pervade the entire mass of mind there
collected. At one time I saw at least 500, swept down in a moment as if
a battery of a thousand guns had been opened upon them, and then
immediately followed shrieks and shouts that rent the very heavens.”
(Atheist Report)
Second Charles Finney, Lyman “In the meantime the brethren and sisters that were on their knees,
Great Beecher, Barton Stone, began to groan, and sigh, and weep, and agonize in prayer…all at once
Awakening Peter Cartwright, James an awful solemnity seemed to settle down upon them; the congregation
(1800-1840’s) Finley began to fall from their seats in every direction, and cried for mercy. If I

PAGE 40
 had had a sword in each hand, I could not have cut them off their seats
as fast as they fell.” (Finney)
Welsh Evan Roberts, Seth “When on February 14th, in New Quay, Cardiganshire, young Florrie
Revival Joshua, Joseph Evans stood to her feet and publicly confessed "I love the Lord Jesus
(1904-1905) Jenkins, Sydney Evans, with all my heart" a mighty move of the Spirit of God broke out in that
Annie Davies Church. Hungry for the Spirit, many young people gathered in after-
(Note: Revival noted for church meetings, and God began baptising initially, mainly young girls
spontaneous prayer, and women in their teens and early twenties, with the Holy Spirit. They
worship, singing, began singing and praying spontaneously, there was shouting and
testimonies, and ministry) rejoicing, even dancing in the meetings, and many of the girls were
prophesying.”
Azusa Street Charles Parham, The accounts describe many shaking, speechlessness, motionlessness,
Revival William Seymour, Frank being enraptured, drunk in the Spirit, laughter, visions, tongues, and
(1906-1909) Bartleman prophecy.
Scottish Peggy & Christine Agonizing tears, visions, sighs, deliverances reported, “I have seen this
Hebrides Smith, Duncan happen over and over again during the recent movement in the Western
Revival Campbell, Donald Isles. Suddenly an awareness of God would take hold of a community,
(1949-1952) and, under the pressure of this divine presence, men and women would
fall prostrate on the ground, while their cry of distress was made the
means in God's hand, to awaken the indifferent who had set unmoved
for years under the preaching of the gospel….a number were mourning
over sins…many witnessed that the house shook…the church
resembled a battlefield. On one side many were prostrated over the
seats weeping and sighing; on the other side some were affected by
throwing their arms in the air in a rigid posture.” (Campbell)

It’s a very emboldened and even susceptible position to view the

reoccurrence of physical and spiritual manifestations in revivals as demonic.

Unusual Manifestations
There was and continues to be a lot of controversy surrounding what was
considered unusual or abnormal manifestations during revivals. Jonathan
Edwards bears witness to these bodily manifestations.
“It has been very common, that the deep and fixed concern on persons minds, has had a painful influence on
their bodies, and given disturbance to animal nature. The awful apprehensions persons have had of their
misery, have for the most part been increasing, the nearer they have approached to deliverance; though they
often pass through many changes and alterations in the frame and circumstances of their minds.”90

I couldn’t help notice that Edwards says these strange manifestations were “very
common” and compared them to “animal noises.” I will come back to this later,
but Peter Cartwright’s firsthand report of similar things occurring during the Cane
Ridge Revival is worth mentioning here.
“In this great revival the Methodists kept moderately balanced; for we had excellent preachers to steer the
ship or guide the flock. But some of our members ran wild, and indulged in some extravagancies that were
hard to control....Just in the midst of our controversies on the subject of the powerful exercises among the

PAGE 41
 people under preaching, a new exercise broke out among us, called the jerks, which was overwhelming in its
effects upon the bodies and minds of the people. No matter whether they were saints or sinners, they would
be taken under a warm song or sermon, and seized with a convulsive jerking all over, which they could not
by an possibility avoid, and the more they resisted the more they jerked, If they would not strive against it and
pray in good earnest, the jerking would usually abate. I have seen more than five hundred persons jerking at
one time in my large congregations. Most usually persons taken with the jerks, to obtain relief, as they said,
would rise up and dance. Some would run, but could not get away. Some would resist; on such the jerks
were generally very severe. To see those proud young gentlemen and young ladies, dressed in their silks,
jewelry, and prunella, from top to toe, take the jerks would often excite my risibilities. The first jerk or so, you
would see their fine bonnets, caps, and combs fly; and so sudden would be the jerking of the head that their
long loose hair would crack almost as loud as a wagoners whip.”91

I personally observed this jerking of heads and arms under Randy Clark’s
ministry in a meeting of some 200 pastors at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the early
90’s. It looks much like a chicken flopping its wings and in all appearances was
observed by pastoral leaders to be a disturbance to the work of God. It was a
very common manifestation of those involved with what was known as the
“Toronto Blessing.”

There are other unusual physical manifestations which become the

subject of much debate in revivals. Cartwright points out these in his
autobiography.
“There were many other strange and wild exercises into which the subjects of this revival fell; such, for
instance, as what was called the running, jumping, barking exercise.”92

The “barking” referenced is one I also observed at a meeting in Churachandpur,

India, in 2003. I heard a loud barking noise like a dog and in fact thought it was.
However, it was quickly discovered that it had manifested through a young man
in the choir. Eyewitnesses of the Cane Ridge Revival had an interesting take on
this abnormal manifestation.
As the meetings grew more and more frequent, this nervous excitement assumed new and more terrible
forms. One was known as jerking; another as the barking exercise; a third, as the Holy Laugh…Men
dreamed dreams and saw visions, nay, fancied themselves dogs, went down on all fours, and barked till they
grew hoarse. It was no uncommon sight to behold numbers of them gathered about a tree, barking, yelping,
“treeing the devil.”93

James Boles in his classic 20th century work, The Great Revival, notes from
original sources a list of six varieties of manifestation exercises.
“These exercises, whatever their exact psychological motivation, were of six distinct varieties, commonly
called the falling exercise, the rolling exercise, the “jerks,” the barking exercise, the dancing exercise, and the
laughing and singing exercises. The latter revival symptoms, as their names suggest, were simply
uncontrollable singing, dancing, and laughing, generally performed with a countenance of joy and peace.” 94

One could easily get the false notion that the more abnormal
manifestations are the most common in revivals. Although they get more

PAGE 42
sensationalized attention in many cases, they’re certainly not deserving of as
much notice as they receive. Boles puts things in perspective for us.
“These grossly exaggerated revival exercises, which have been cited widely to discredit the revival, were
probably restricted to a comparative few. Only among some of the splinter groups that developed in
Kentucky did they become ultimately respectable. Often the revival’s supporters were pressured into
defending them as further miraculous signs from God only because ridicule threatened to put a premature
end to the revival. Except at the very start, they were never a significant factor in the camp meetings. The
more extreme exercises did achieve great notoriety, and, for many hearing of them, they seemed more
assuredly to presage the beginning of a new dispensation of God’s activity. But at most camp meetings,
shouting, crying, and falling down were the only physical responses to passionate preaching.”95

With this in mind, the question arises how to address these unusual
manifestations. For example, if one speaks against the more abnormal and
extravagant manifestations, he faces the prospect of hindering the revival and in
particular the conversion of sinners. On the other hand, if he encourages them,
then he faces the task of explaining them. Peter Cartwright faced this dilemma as
he explains his view regarding the “jerks” and the “barking” exercises.
“I always looked upon the jerks as a judgment sent from God, first, to bring sinners to repentance; and,
secondly to show professors that God could work with or without means, and that he could work over and
above means, and do whatsoever seemeth him good, to the glory of his grace and the salvation of the
world…There is no doubt in my mind that, with weak-minded, ignorant, and superstitious persons, there was
a great deal of sympathetic feeling with many that claimed to be under the influence of this jerking exercise;
and yet, with many, it was perfectly involuntary. It was, on all occasions, my practice to recommend fervent
prayer as a remedy, and it almost universally proved an effectual antidote…The Methodist preachers
generally preached against this extravagant wildness. I did it uniformly in my little ministrations, and
sometimes gave great offense; but I feared no consequences when I felt my awful responsibilities to God.” 96

I want to bring some important balance to the issue of unusual

manifestations in revival. The first question I ask about any manifestation is this
one: Is it biblical? I ask this because the cry of the Psalmist is, “Revive me, O
LORD, according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:25, 107). This means that the
Bible is the playbook for evidence of any manifestation as a work or pattern in
revival. I say again, “The Holy Spirit never violates the Scriptures!” For example,
I’ve seen people denounce revival because of displays of falling in the Spirit,
dancing in the Spirit, laughter, etc. when these are clearly documented in the
Bible. Revivals produce today the same manifestations of the Word. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones calls attention to this:
“There are people, who dismiss, and denounce, the whole notion of revival because of these phenomena,
and therefore when they are exhorted to pray for revival they say, ‘Most certainly not. We do not want that
sort of thing. We are not interested in that kind of experience.’ And, thus, without realizing it, they are often
guilty of quenching the Spirit.”97

I have discovered in every move of God’s Spirit that the devil will attempt to crash
the party. Like Lloyd-Jones reminds us that “whenever the Spirit of God is

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working in mighty power, the Devil always seeks his opportunity.”98 Typically, I’ve
observed it will involve just one or two people in a meeting. For example, if a
person starts violently jerking and flopping their arms knocking one after another
around them out of the way, and hurting them, this just cannot be from God. I
agree with Lloyd-Jones that we must be ready to deal with this when it occurs.
What we must seek is the manifestation of God’s glory and his power and his might. What we must seek is
revival. And when that comes it will be so amazing that strange and unusual things may happen, but we shall
always know that God is moving amongst us, and we shall be ready to identify and restrain the false, the
spurious, and indeed all which belongs to the evil spirit…There should be no difficulty in distinguishing
between the work of the Spirit, and the work of fanatical men, the work of these unseen forces and powers,
or the work of the Devil himself.”99

In my opinion, these things are spiritually discerned through the Holy Spirit
and the Word of God. In my 1969 combat experience as a Marine in South
Vietnam, I could tell the difference between the sound of an M-16 rifle and an
AK-47. The latter had a high ping sound and I knew it was the enemy every time
I heard that shrill crack of the rifle. Likewise, there are some unusual physical
manifestations and sounds in revival that have the mark of the enemy. We
should not be misled on this and we must test the spirits. There is a reluctance to
test the spirits during revivals out of fear we will hinder the move of the Spirit
when the opposite is true. Again, I remind you we are only referring to one or two
in a meeting who will be incited to mislead and disturb the move of God. When I
observed the manifestation of barking referred to earlier, I knew it was time to
rebuke and cast out the evil spirit to set the young man free. That was the real
application of “treeing the devil” and it also involved cutting the tree down and
burning it up in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not to
do so would have messaged to the people that such an abnormal manifestation,
nowhere to my knowledge mentioned in the Bible, was from God, giving place to
the Devil. On the other hand, when such manifestations are dealt with in God’s
way, the unusual manifestation draws attention to God, His presence, and His
overcoming power. All can then rejoice that God reigns.

People will be more open to revival and more willing to pray for revival
when they are instructed on these things. Revivals are God-centered and Spirit-
centered; not centered on unusual manifestations. Remember, I’m referring to
those associated with demonic activity like violent convulsing and animalistic
manifestations. These are notable signs that unclean and evil spirits are
manifesting and ready to come out in the name of Jesus. Even Edwards
recognized this in certain situations.
“The corruption of the heart has discovered itself in various exercises, in the time of legal convictions;
sometimes it appears in a great struggle, like something roused by the enemy, and Satan, the old inhabitant,
seems to exert himself, like a serpent disturbed and enraged.”100

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He also admitted that such things did occur and that they were easily corrected:
“I cannot say that there have been no instances of persons who have been ready to give too much heed to
vain and useless imaginations; but they have been easily corrected, and I conclude it will not be wondered
at, that a congregation should need a guide in such cases, to assist them in distinguishing wheat from
chaff.”101

I close this section with a final quote from Lloyd-Jones.

“Let us, therefore, be careful lest we quench the Spirit, and let us keep our eyes fixed upon the glory of God,
and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us.”102

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 Revival Fire

Holy Fire
In revival, there’s a lot of talk about fire. But what are we talking about?
The Bible declares that our God is a consuming fire. A quick review of the
following verses reveal that this is a holy fire because it’s forever attached to the
glory and presence of God.

 Exodus 24:17 The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the
mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
 Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
 Deuteronomy 9:3 "Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over
before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall
drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.
 Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

So when the Spirit is poured upon people in revival and His glory, presence, and
power are manifested, it comes with fire; holy fire. There are many biblical
examples of this. Take for instance, the burning bush. At first, Moses wondered
why the bush was not being burned by the fire, but when God called him by
name, he came into the presence of the living God.

Exodus 3:3-6 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush
does not burn." So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the
midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw
near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."
Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (See also Acts 7:29-33)

Notice how God’s presence is connected with the fire. Moses also referred to
God as “Him who dwelt in the bush” (Deut. 33:16) when he spoke his final
blessing over the tribe of Joseph. The point is that the ground becomes holy
when God visits. Revival is a divine visitation. There’s holy fire when God comes!
Revival comes with fire and ignites fire. Interestingly, Jesus uses the burning
bush passage to show that God is alive and that He is God of the living.

Luke 20:37-38 "But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised,
when he called the Lord`the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' "For He is not
the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." (See also Mark 12:26-27)

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 I have no doubt that Moses believed in the Living God. After all, he
appeared with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (See Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-
10; Luke 9:28-36). He also beheld His glory like a consuming fire on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 24:16-18 Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it
six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the
glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of
Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on
the mountain forty days and forty nights.

It’s important to note here that God spoke to Moses in and out of the fire. He
heard His voice. The verse below is connected with the tongues of fire at
Pentecost and demonstrates again that the Lord’s voice is accompanied by
“flames of fire” like bolts of lightning.

 Acts 2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
 Psalm 29:7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

Moses rehearses everything with the people in Deuteronomy. The following

selection of passages speaks volumes about the fire of God.

 Deuteronomy 4:11-12 "Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the
mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. "And the
LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form;
you only heard a voice.
 Deuteronomy 4:15 "Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD
spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
 Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
 Deuteronomy 4:29 "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if
you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
 Deuteronomy 4:32-33 "For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before
you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other,
whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard. "Did any people
ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
 Deuteronomy 4:36 "Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on
earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.
 Deuteronomy 5:4-5 "The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of
the fire. "I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for
you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain.
 Deuteronomy 5:23-26 "So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness,
while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and
your elders. "And you said:`Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and
we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man;
yet he still lives. `Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear
the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. `For who is there of all flesh who has
heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

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  Deuteronomy 9:10 "Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger
of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the
midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

I’m certain just from these verses you can imagine why young King Josiah
experienced such conviction when he heard read what most scholars have
concluded to be this Book of the Law. Josiah encountered revival fire and in that
fire was the voice of God and the glory of His presence. Here’s how it all
unfolded as recorded in Scripture.
 A defiled altar at Bethel indicates a spiritual condition in serious decline (1Kings 12:25-33).
 A prophetic cry against the altar at Bethel (Note: God literally splits the altar) with the promise of
a child to be born named Josiah (1Kings 13:1-34).
 Josiah became the 16th ruler of Judah at eight years of age and did not turn from the Lord
(2Chron. 34:1-2).
 Josiah sought the Lord at sixteen and led a purge to cleanse the land of idolatry
(2Chron. 34:3-7).
 Josiah orders the repair of the temple at 26 years of age (2Chron. 34:8-13).
 Josiah tears his clothes in conviction and humbles himself before God at the reading of the
Book of the Law (2Chron. 34:18-28).
 Josiah leads a revival of worship (2Chron. 34:29-33).
 Josiah revives the people in the restoration of the Passover (2Chron. 35:1-19).
 Josiah dies in battle at 39 years of age and many, including the prophet Jeremiah, mourn his
death (2Chron. 35:20-27)

There are many amazing features of the above revival, but the one thing I want
to draw your attention to here is the glory of God revealed in His presence and
His power. In this revival, the Holy Ark, the symbol of His presence, was restored
in the temple.

 2 Chronicles 35:2 And he set the priests in their duties and encouraged them for the service of
the house of the LORD. Then he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD:
"Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. It shall no longer
be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel. "Prepare
yourselves according to your fathers' houses, according to your divisions, following the written
instruction of David king of Israel and the written instruction of Solomon his son. "And stand in the
holy place according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of your brethren the lay people, and
according to the division of the father's house of the Levites.
 2 Chronicles 35:18 There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of
Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with
the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Remember, the Bible documents times where the glory of God had
departed like in the time of Eli where the wife of Phinehas named her child
Ichabod meaning the glory has departed Israel. Why? Because the Ark of God,
the glory of His presence and power, was no longer there.

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 1 Samuel 4:21-22 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from
Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

Samuel’s first prophecy foretold this would happen. It was a time when the word
of the Lord was rare and before the lamp of God had gone out in the tabernacle
(See 1Sam. 3:1-21).

1 Samuel 3:1-4 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the
LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time,
while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not
see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was,
and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!"

The important observation here is to see the connection between the glory of
God and the fire of the Lord as it pertains to His presence and power in revival.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones really stresses the point I am making here. The primary
reason for revival is the glory of God.
“This is my main reason for calling attention to this whole subject of revival and for urging everybody to pray
for revival, to look for it and to long for it. This is the reason – the glory of God.”103

He effectively points out that Israel alone represented God as His glory to the
pagan nations. Isn’t the church today in a powerless condition? Isn’t the church
looked down upon by society? Isn’t the name of Jesus held in reproach to say
the least? We live in a godless age and this should bother us. How much does
this bother you? Although there’s always the tendency to focus revival on
physical manifestations we discussed earlier, it’s crucial we don’t miss the mark.
Lloyd-Jones clearly reminds us of this by pointing us toward the manifestation of
God’s glory more than anything else.
“Our overriding, controlling reason for having any interest at all in these matters should be the glory of God…
But, we are living in such an age and the main reason we should be praying about revival is that we are
anxious to see God’s name vindicated and his glory manifested. We should be anxious to see something
happening that will arrest the nations, all the peoples, and cause them to stop and think again.” 104

I close this section with this fundamental truth. The supreme purpose of the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ. Jesus made this very clear in His
teachings about the Spirit and also when He raised Lazarus from the dead.

 John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory
of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
 John 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see
the glory of God?"
 John 16:13-14 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all
truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He

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 will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to
you.

So in revival we should be praying like Moses. “Please, show me Your glory.”

(Exodus 33:18). Revival manifests His glory and it comes with Holy Fire when the
King of Glory comes in.

The Fire Anointing

Evangelist Charles Finney gives a remarkable account of his encounter
with God where he received a mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for
me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy
Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the
impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and
waves of liquid love, for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can
recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.”105

There was, of course, a natural fire present, but it’s the spiritual fire that flowed
through his body like a powerful electric current. Was Finney’s baptism with the
Holy Spirit a baptism of fire? John the Baptist spoke of this baptism and the
Pentecost experience also confirms this.

 Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me
is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire.
 Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This certainly leads me to think that there’s a fire anointing in revival. This is how
God taught me about this.

On Tuesday morning, November 18, 2003, I was in a time of prayer when

suddenly Jesus spoke these words to me by the Holy Spirit, “I am building a wall
of fire across Africa!” I quickly went to my Bible and looked up several very
important verses of Scripture about fire.

 Zechariah 2:1-13 (vs 5) And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and
I will be its glory within.’ (Note: chomah is an active participle referring to a wall of protection)

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  Psalms 104:4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. (Note: refers to a
blazing fire rather than a spark or low burning one)
 2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power,
of love and of self-discipline. (Note: anazopureo means to fire up or fan into flame)

Next I discovered a map of Africa depicting the status of African Muslims and
Christians. This, I saw by the Spirit, was a visual of the “wall of Fire” revealed to
me. The red belt across the heart of Africa was the place of the most notable
religious conflict. And this is why there were so many pockets of revival
throughout the greatest conflict areas. I will say more about this later, but it’s
important to first clarify some things regarding the fire of God. Most of the time
when we think of fire in the Biblical or in the spiritual sense, we think of judgment
and hell. Certainly, the everlasting fire of hell, the lake of fire is real; however, it
must be placed in its proper context. It is not God’s will for any to perish, but for
all to come to repentance (See 2Peter 3:9). Although many will spend eternity in
everlasting fire because they reject Christ, God did not create hell for them as the
following Scripture indicates.

Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand,`Depart from Me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

This is why Jesus forbid James and John from calling down the fire upon a
village that rejected the message. What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Don’t
forget Abraham’s clear example of intercession before the judging fire fell from
heaven. Even during the Great Tribulation, God in His mercy is extending
opportunity for repentance and salvation. So let’s be clear on this point.

Revelation 9:20-21 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not
repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver,
brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their
murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

What are we talking about when we speak of the fire anointing? There are
at least four points applicable to revivals.

1. The Fire we are talking about today is heavenly/spiritual. It is a

significant part of God’s identity and appearance. For this reason, the
spiritual fire is sacred or holy. As we pointed out earlier, it’s appropriate to
use the term, “Holy Fire!” There are even angels of fire in heaven called
“seraphim.” (Isaiah 6:2). “Above him were seraphs… These were
literally “burning ones,” or “on-fire angels.” Daniel, Ezekiel, and John also
experienced an awesome visitation of God’s presence and power like fire.

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  Daniel 10:6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like
torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like
the voice of a multitude.
 Ezekiel 8:1-4 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my
house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came
upon me there. 2I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man.£ From what appeared to be his
waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.
3He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted
me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance
to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4And there
before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain. (Note: Who
was this man of fire?)
 Revelation 1:12-16 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I
turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of
man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His
head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet
were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his
right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face
was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Note: a similar description is found in Rev. 19)

2. Biblical Fire is associated with (symbolic of) God’s presence, God’s

Word, and the Holy Spirit. The burning bush and Mt. Sinai are two great
examples of God coming in the fire.

 Exodus 3:2-6 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a
bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will
go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the LORD saw that
he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses
said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place
where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was
afraid to look at God.
 Exodus 19:16-19 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a
thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the
mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The
smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain£ trembled violently,
19and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God
answered him.
 Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that
breaks a rock in pieces?
 Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is
more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.

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 3. Miraculous things are connected with the descending of the fire of
God upon the sacrifices (Offerings)

 Abraham – Genesis 15:17 – And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that
behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
(firepot and a blazing/flaming torch)
 Aaron – Lev. 9:24 - the LORD appeared to all the people. 24Fire came out from the presence of
the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the
people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
 Gideon – Judges 6:21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His
hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and
consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his
sight. (Jdg 6:21 NKJ)
 Manoah – Judges 13:19-20 – Angel of the Lord did wonderful things in the flame of the offering.
 David – 1 Chron. 21:26 - He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from
heaven on the altar of burnt offering. (Threshing floor of Araunah)
 Solomon – 2 Chron. 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and
consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2The
priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3When all
the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt
on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the
LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”
 Elijah – 1 Kings 18:38 – Called (prayed) heavens fire down to reveal the only true God. The God
who answers by fire is God! Also, he was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire

4. Blessings come with the Fire Anointing

 Illumination and Protection – Exodus 13:21; 14:19-20; Psalm 78:14

 Purification/searching (Refining Fire) Isaiah 4:4; 6:6-7; Zeph. 1:12; Malachi 3:2-3; 1 Cor. 2:10;
3:13
 Spiritual Power in releasing gifts (tongues of fire) Acts 2::3
 Annihilation of Satan’s schemes 2 Kings 6:17; Rev. 20:9
 Personal & Corporate Revival Rev. 3:18

If we present our spiritual sacrifices at the foot of the crucified and risen Lord
Jesus Christ, then will He again answer by fire? Just a brief review of the below
Scriptures reveals that God will answer with fire when He comes in revival.

 Exodus 13:21-22 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on
their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
 Psalms 78:14 He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.
 Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken
with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips;
your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

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  Mark 9:49-50 Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can
you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer
grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which
perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and
honor when Jesus Christ is revealed
 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD
opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all
around Elisha.
 Rev. 20:9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s
people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
 Rev. 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white
clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you
can see.

Revival fire is the antidote for the lukewarm church. In revival, the fire of
God attacks every sin, enemy stronghold, and disbelief to revive, deliver, refine,
and restore genuine faith in His people. Revival fire prepares us to stand in God’s
presence and declare in His glorious presence, “The LORD is my God.”

 Malachi 3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.
 Zechariah 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say,`This is
My people'; And each one will say,`The LORD is my God.'"

People on Fire
I was somewhat intrigued by some passages in Lamentations. Jerusalem
is in affliction due to the gravity of her sins, her uncleanness, and her rebellion
against God. Jeremiah is praying with much travail and weeping.

 Lamentations 1:13 "From above He has sent fire into my bones, And it overpowered them; He
has spread a net for my feet And turned me back; He has made me desolate And faint all the day.
 Lamentations 1:16 "For these things I weep; My eye, my eye overflows with water; Because
the comforter, who should restore my life, Is far from me. My children are desolate Because the
enemy prevailed."

What caught my attention to these verses is the effect the fire of God had upon
Jeremiah. The prophet knew God was the only one who could bring revival and
restoration. In his intercession, the spiritual fire penetrated his bones. The fire of

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God was so powerful that he could not physically stand. I was reminded again
that this happens to people in revival.

There are a number of fascinating accounts of people on fire in the

historical revivals. Geoff Waugh shares about the 1905 revival in a compound at
Pune (Poona) near Bombay or modern Mumbai, India, among child widows and
orphan girls during a severe famine. The school had been established by Pandita
Ramabai who started teaching the girls about revival. Over 500 met twice daily to
pray for revival. What happened is that God visited with revival fire.
On June 29, 1905, the Spirit moved on many of the girls. The girls saw flames engulfing one of the girls, so
they raced to get a bucket of water, only to discover she was not being burned. Then on Friday, June 30,
while Ramabai taught about Jesus’ love for a despised woman caught in adultery from John 8, the Holy Spirit
suddenly fell on them all with great power. Everyone there began to weep and pray aloud, crying out to be
baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. One 12-year-old girl, who was normally very plain in physical
appearance, became radiantly beautiful and laughed constantly. Others had visions of Jesus. 106

Needless to say the revival spread like fire throughout the region and visitors to
the mission compound observed the girls speaking in perfect English and other
foreign languages and it was like tongues of fire.

The revivals in Korea and East Africa also underscore the effect of revival
fire upon God’s people. The Korean Pentecost of 1907 began in Pyongyang
among college students at Union Christian College and one 21 year old student
in particular, Kol Sun Ju who preached a strong revival message of confession
and repentance of sins. God used Kil to revive faith and restore signs, wonders,
and miracles in the Korean church.
“Kil challenged a theological position strongly held by the resident Presbyterian missionaries in Korea—
cessationism. This doctrine rejected the continuing validity of signs and wonders, phenomena that fills the
New Testament record. The basis for this rejection is the completion of the New Testament…Rather than
seeking such movements as extraordinary, Kil implied that the visitation of kingdom powers should be a
regular experience of the faithful church.”107

This marked a new paradigm for the Korean church as a number of leaders in
the movement began to experience many healings, deliverances, and other
miracles in the ministry. Interestingly an investigation by the Presbyterian Church
in 1923 called the Certificate of Miracles led to a tremendous change and
removal from church bylaws of this statement, “the power of doing miracles had
ceased at the present time.”108 The bottom line was that these men experienced
the fire of the Holy Spirit as one missionary so aptly noted:
“These men, who are to be the pastors of Korean churches, experienced the fire of the Holy Spirit burning sin
out of their lives.”109

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It’s important to note that this revival and spiritual fervor formed the basis for a
later wave of revival spearheaded by David Yongii Cho, who today pastors the
largest church in the world of more than 700,000. I had the privilege of attending
Yoido Full Gospel Church in 1984. It was an experience I would never forget
while serving as a Navy Chaplain with a deployed battalion of Marines. I recall
during the corporate prayer a strong move of God upon the roughly twenty-five
Marines and Sailors with me. I observed tears running down their cheeks as a
massive wave of simultaneous audible prayer ignited a flame in each heart.

Another revival, The East Africa Revival beginning in 1931 under Simeon
Nsibambi of Uganda and his younger brother, Blasio Kigozi, was given a very
special name in describing the movement.
“Kigozi initiated early morning prayer meetings to pray for revival. Special “missions” to outlying areas now
began. Soon the movement had acquired the pejorative term abaka (burning ones).”110

This became known as the Balokole Revival. Its revival leaders viewed the root
problem to be deadness in the church that, in return, was rooted in the deadness
within Christians themselves. The revival impacted the churches mightily and
gave the people of East Africa a new identity.
“People were no longer simply the colonized. They were the “Awakened Ones” or “Those on Fire.” They
were the “saved.”111

This is the same identity God’s people need today. Can we call ourselves
Bakazufu, Abaka, or Balokole, those on fire, the saved ones, and the alive ones?

The Acts 2 Pentecost revival is the model for all revivals and the fire of
God was a key feature both then and now. Revival fire burns out sin and as I said
before is the antidote to a dead and lukewarm church. Revivals have a global
impact. They are spread by spiritual fire as the Pentecostal movement stemming
from the Azusa Street Revival indicates.
“The exploding Pentecostal movement around the world usually traces its origins to Azusa Street, from
where fire spread across the globe.”112

What can we conclude from all this talk about revival fire? One thing is
that revivals are needed to ignite us again with a burning passion/zeal for the
things of God. Yes, there’s the need for a restoration of New Testament structure
and a reawakening of the church to God-centered priorities; however, this will
quickly fade if we lose our passion. The New Testament believers possessed
and maintained a level of spiritual fervency that we only see during periods of
revival. One of the overarching things that separates them from us is that they
were fervent in spirit. They were engulfed with spiritual fire! They could not

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impact cities without being fervent in spirit! The Bible exhorts us to be fervent in
spirit.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

What does fervent in spirit mean? Fervent (zeloo) means “to boil with heat, hot,
seethe with burning zeal.” Zealous (zelos) refers to one who is “most
enthusiastic, ardently desires to join, promote, actively support, possess, defend,
strive for, earnestly exert oneself.” Spiritual fervency is something you got to
have and keep! There are a number of areas where we are be on fire for God.

 Eager for God and His Word - Paul told his Jewish accusers that he was ZEALOUS FOR
GOD. He also told Gentile Believers that the Jews had this testimony: They were
"ZEALOUS FOR GOD'' but without knowledge. We are to be on fire for God and His word
with the knowledge of the truth.

o Romans 10:2-3 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not
according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
o 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does
not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (Note: Greek spoudazo, spoo-dad-
zoe, used here means to exert oneself, make haste, make every effort, give diligence, be zealous,
strain every nerve to further the cause arduously and covers inception, prompt action, and follow
through)

 Eager to repent – How often are you on fire to receive God’s discipline and correction
through repentance?

o Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent.

 Eager for the House of God – When Jesus cleansed the temple His disciples
remembered,

o John 2:17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has
eaten Me up."

 Eager for one another

o 2 Corinthians 7:7 …and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with
which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning,
your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

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  Eager for spiritual gifts – in order to excel in building up the body of Christ.

o 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy.
o 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for
the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
o

 Eager to work good - doing good for the glory of Christ is to occupy you.

o Titus 2:14 …who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
o Galatians 2:10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing
which I also was eager to do. (Note: Greek spoudazo, used here as referenced earlier)

There’s also evidence of spiritual fervency in those who are on fire for
God. They are stirred, pressed, purposed, and bound in the spirit and by the
Spirit.

 Stirred (provoked) in his spirit: Paul’s spirit was aroused within him. His spirit urged Him
on. It sharpened a desire. He was stimulated with a desire to convert the Athenians with
the truth about God and to deliver the city from idols.

o Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within
him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

 Pressed (compelled) by the Spirit: Paul was absorbed in mind and spirit with the desire to
turn that city (Corinth) upside down for God. It controlled him and embraced his every
thought. The thought held him completely.

o Acts 18:5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by
the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

 Purposed in the Spirit: Paul resolved to do it. Visiting Rome was firmly established in his
spirit. Being fervent in the spirit means we’ve made the committed decision to do all God
has stirred our hearts to do.

o Acts 19:21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he
had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been
there, I must also see Rome."

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  Bound in the spirit: Paul was supernaturally bound/tied to the course of ministry God had
outlined for him to accomplish. He was fastened tied to the vision. The word of God cannot
be bound but the preacher can.

o Acts 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that will happen to me there,
o 2 Timothy 2:8-10 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from
the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the
point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the
sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.

What’s your level of spiritual fervency? If it’s cold or lukewarm, that can all
change! Revival fire ignites and fans the passion within the lukewarm heart. This
is why you must welcome and pray for the fire, then catch it and keep it. It comes
with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in revival. This final quote from Geoff
Waugh says it all:
“Flashpoints of revival ignited the early Church and turned their world upside down (see Acts 17:6). Fire has
fallen again and again in revivals, and still does. We need to be people full of repentance, humility, faith,
vision, wisdom, love, and the fire of the Holy Spirit as we live for God in our moment in history.” 113

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 Revival Fruit

Conversion Growth
An Acts 2 understanding of revival is essential to expect the same results
of the Early Church. A closer examination of Acts 2 reveals the following truth
about revivals.
“As with Pentecost, revivals are often unexpected, sudden, and revolutionary, and they impact large numbers
of people, bringing them to repentance and faith in Jesus the Lord.”114

The rate of conversion growth is astronomical in revival and has not gone
unnoticed by revivalists and historians of revivals. In fact, more is accomplished
in one week in a revival than years of evangelistic work. Jonathan Edwards
points this out in his narrative.
“The work seemed to be at its greatest height in this town in the former part of the spring, in March and April.
At that time God’s work in the conversion of souls was carried on amongst us in so wonderful a manner, that,
so far as I can judge, it appears to have been at the rate at least of four persons in a day; or near thirty in a
week, take one with another, for five or six weeks together. When God in so remarkable a manner took the
work into His own hands, there was much done in a day or two, as in ordinary times, with all endeavors that
men can use, and with such a blessing as we commonly have, is done in a year”115

I find it somewhat disconcerting how many pastors and churches are satisfied
with a few visitors from time to time rather than praying for revival. Revival
accelerates the advance of God’s kingdom on earth. Revivals are a strategic part
of God’s grand scheme of things. The work of God in the Early Church is
destined to continue and not cease. Revival historian, Henry Fish, makes an
interesting observation.
“And it is interesting to observe that this blessed work continued on through the post-apostolic age. It was by
a succession of marvellous revivals, as we should call them, rather than by the gradual addition of a few
souls at a time, that the churches during the first few centuries made their triumphant onsets upon the
powers of darkness… Such an extension of Christianity, as a historian has remarked, presupposes a
progress of the work of conversion immensely more rapid than what we now observe. The very persecutions
also prove this. There must have been a great amount of fuel to support such fires.”116

I think it’s important to look at Acts 2 once again to see the applicable
principles behind the amazing and accelerated conversion growth in revivals.
Geoff Waugh provides one of the best outlines of these revival principles. The
fundamental principles that follow should be taught in churches around the
world.117

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God’s Sovereignty: Notice how this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was God’s timing and
place.

o Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place.

Prayer: These 120 believers were in prayer for ten days following the Ascension of Christ.
This was a praying people.

o Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (See also Acts 2:1)

Unity: They were also in a spirit of agreement. Revival destroys barriers and produces a
unified mind and purpose.

o Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place.

Obedience to the Spirit: They sought what Jesus had promised. They sought the Holy
Spirit. Revival is all about needing and seeking the Spirit.

o Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Preaching: Peter boldly preached God’s word. We need the same anointed preaching
today.

o Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them,
"Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

Repentance: Peter preached repentance in obedience to Christ (See Mark 1:14; 6:12-13;
Luke 24:46-49). Conviction of sin is a key function of the Holy Spirit in revival (See John
16:8-11). Revival produces repentance on a massive scale.

o Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and
the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Evangelism: Thousands were converted as believers prayed and witnessed in the power
of the Holy Spirit. Revivals produce a zeal in believers to pray for the lost and witness to
them.

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 o Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were added to them.

It’s essential to have this Acts 2 understanding of revival when faced with the
overwhelming aspect of conversion growth. This growth in the Early Church was
staggering to say the least. Following the 3,000 at Pentecost, Scripture
documents the following conversion growth.

 Acts 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came
to be about five thousand.
 Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
 Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
 Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were
edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
 Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to
the Lord.
 Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people
were added to the Lord.
 Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
 Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The historical revivals also confirmed the same pattern and intensity of
conversion. For example, from December 1734 into 1735 the revival that swept
through New England produced 50,000 converts out of 250,000 colonists.118 Just
catch your breath for a moment. That’s 20% of the population at the time. No
wonder Jonathan Edwards and others were so amazed by and preoccupied with
the conversion of sinners in revival. Edwards said that “the work of conversion
was carried on in the most astonishing manner, and increased more and more;
souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ.”119 He reported this went on
daily and month after month. Charles Finney rightly concluded that “a revival
consists in the return of the Church from her backslidings, and in the conversion
of sinners” and “a revival always includes conviction of sin on the part of the
Church.”120 It is said that 500,000 people were converted through Finney’s
ministry and that over 80% of these converts stayed to Christ.121 The 1857-1858
revival in America swept through places like New York where “50,000 of New
York’s 800,000 people were new converts.”122 In fact, one newspaper reported
that “New England was profoundly changed by the revival, and in several towns
no unconverted adults could be found.”123 The 1905 Welsh Revival produced
similar results. Revival historian Edwin Orr reports phenomenal conversion
growth over a short period of time. The results were even reported in local
newspapers at the time.

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 “Totals of converts added to the churches were published in local newspapers, 70,000 in two months, 85,000
in five, and more than a hundred thousand in half a year. Eighty thousand were still in the membership of the
Welsh churches in 1914.”124

The 1907 Azusa Street Revival led to a global Pentecostal movement. For
example, the powerful revivals in the Belgian Congo in 1914 and the East African
Revival beginning in June 1936 in Rwanda and spreading into Burundi, Uganda
and beyond have positioned Africa as a place of continual revivals. One Anglican
Archdeacon wrote:
“I have been to all the stations where this Revival is going on, and they all have the same story to tell. The
fire was alight in all of them before the middle of June, but during the last week in June, it burst into a wild
flame which, like the African grass fire before the wind, cannot be put out.”125

The East Africa Revival continued for 40-50 years and helped to bring Africa from
a continent of ten percent Christian to over fifty percent Christian today.

The 1965 Indonesian Revival started in a Bible School in East Java.

Again, typical to all revivals, there was remarkable conversion growth. In fact,
one church presbytery noted the following:
“The Reformed Church Presbytery on Timor recorded 80,000 conversions in the first year of the revival
there, half of those being former communists. They noted that some 15,000 people had been permanently
healed in that year. After three years the number of converts had grown to over 200,000. In those three
years, over 200 evangelistic teams were formed. On another island where there had been very few
Christians, 20,000 became believers in the first three years of the revival.” 126

The point I am making here is that revivals are always marked by the fruits
of the harvest; in this case the conversion of souls. This is true of the historical
revivals and the most recent ones like the 1995 Pensacola Revival where “over
26,000 conversions were registered in the first year” and “over 100,000”
conversions” in the first two years.127

Reawakening the Church

One of the primary reasons for God sending revivals is to reawaken His
church. Jesus revives the church before those on the outside. Even judgment
begins first in the church according to the word of God.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins
with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

This is why Christians must take seriously Jesus’ message to the churches in
Rev. 2 and 3 and in the message to the lukewarm Laodicea church.

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 Revelation 3:14-22 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,`These things says
the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say,`I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked-- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be
revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. "To him who
overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father
on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

Pay close attention. This is the only church that is given no commendation.
Instead, Jesus is declaring that the church is ‘lukewarm” and makes Him sick of
His stomach. Generally speaking, “lukewarm” is a spiritual condition somewhere
between love and loyalty. It’s interesting to note that Laodicea was near
Hierapolis to the north, which had a natural hot springs, and Colossae to the east
which had cold, pure water. Laodicea, however, had no permanent natural
supply of good water. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is warning the church for not
providing the spiritual healing nor the spiritual refreshment that comes in revival.
His counsel is for them to eagerly repent and be refined in revival fire. Fast
forward to today. Do you understand the gravity of the situation Jesus so clearly
describes? Many pastors are delivering motivational speeches to churches that
are lukewarm when Jesus, the Head of the Church, is intending to spit out the
lukewarm churches unless they repent and are revived.

The point I’m making here is that no revival is limited to just the church
members, but all revivals begin with the reviving of church members and the
churches through the merciful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The British
Evangelist, G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) noted this truth regarding the 1905
Welsh Revival.
“What is the character of this revival? It is a church revival. I do not mean by that merely a revival among
church members…meetings are held in the chapels, all up and down the valleys, and it began among church
members; and when it touches the outside man, it makes him a church member at once. It is a movement in
the church and of the church, a movement in which the true functions and forces of the church are being
exercised and fulfilled.”128

Charles Finney is right when he says, “When the Churches are thus awakened
and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow.”129 The world is
laughing at the church today and this is why the words of Finney ring so true in
our time.
There must be a waking up of energy on the part of Christians, and an outpouring of God's Spirit, or the
world will laugh at the Church.130

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 Do you understand that revival is God’s merciful plan, for if the church is
not awakened, then God will surely visit them with His judgments? Again, reflect
on what Finney says about this:
“How often God visited the Jewish Church with judgments because they would not repent and be revived at
the call of His prophets! How often have we seen Churches, and even whole denominations, cursed with a
curse, because they would not wake up and seek the Lord, and pray: "Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy
people may rejoice in Thee?"…Nothing but a revival of religion can preserve such a Church from
annihilation. A Church declining in this way cannot continue to exist without a revival. If it receives new
members, they will, for the most part, be made up of ungodly persons.”131

Although we can all agree that the church needs reawakened, there is
tremendous fruit when God sends a revival and she does awake. One thing that
happens is that the church gets so filled with the Spirit that they begin to travail in
prayer for the conversion of sinners. Their prayers daily bring them forth like
birthing new babies (See Isaiah 66:8). Prayer meetings multiply. The evangelistic
fervor of the church goes to an Early Church level. There is the recognition that
nothing can be done without the influence of the Holy Spirit. Revival takes a very
strong hold on the church first. I like what Henry Fish says about the Holy Spirit.
“Genuine revivals are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. “Until the Spirit be poured out from on high,” saints are
neither quickened nor sinners saved. The effective cause in all true revivals is the life-giving, light-imparting,
quickening, regenerating and sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit, converting the hardened sinner and
reclaiming the backslidden and dormant believer.”132

One of the things that needs to be pointed out here is that the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit in revival produces conversion of unconverted ministers and members
of the churches. Few want to take this into account and in the historical revivals
these conversions were not counted. Fish brings this out in his revival handbook:
“It must also be taken into account, that in those earlier revivals great numbers of church-members were
converted, and not put down among reported conversions. Says Tracy of the work at the time of Edwards,
“the practice of admitting to the communion all persons neither heretical nor scandalous, was general in the
Presbyterian church, and prevailed extensively among the Congregational churches. In consequence, a
large proportion of the communicants in both were unconverted persons. Multitudes of these were converted.
In some cases the revival seems to have been almost wholly within the church, and to have resulted in the
conversion of nearly all the members.” A large addition ought to be made, on this score, to the estimated
number of conversions.”133

I suspect there is a significantly higher number of unconverted church members

today than anyone would care to admit. So revivals have a two-fold gain,
according to Fish. Revivals bring gain from within and from without. Numerical
growth is usually what draws the attention of most, but the conversion of the
church is necessary to produce such results through the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in revival.

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 “And this re-conversion of the churches was far more important than mere numerical accessions.
Unconverted members are a dead weight, which no church can afford to carry: and the bodies were thus
relieved from these encumbrances.”134

Revivals also produce strong churches and strong ministers. This was the
case throughout the history of revivals.
“It must be remembered to that revivals mightily increase the number of ministers. It is when thousands of
youth are gathered into the churches that our young men come forward, saying, “Here am I, send me.” What
an exhibit that would be if we were able to give the names of all the ministers of the last hundred years who
were converted in revivals! We believe that nine-tenths of them were the children of revivals.135

Just think of it! Ninety percent increase in Spirit-filled anointed ministers of the
Gospel from revivals. Fish reminds us of the remarkable quality of these
ministers. They were ministers of the Spirit.
“But there is a higher ministerial qualification than bare conversion: namely, the possession of a large
measure of the Holy Spirit. And how many a minister has had his whole character and style of preaching
remodelled by precious revival experiences.”136

The impact of revival upon the churches cannot be underestimated. In fact, it was
estimated from 1815-1840 in America that the Spirit was poured out on 400-500
churches and congregations each year resulting in between 40,000 to 50,000
new converts annually added to the church.137 Not only do revivals repeat the
numerical growth of Acts, they wake up the church to “Go, therefore and make
disciples of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19). The fruit of these revivals speak
volumes to the church and world at large.
“In these revivals the holy fire was kindled which waked up and warmed the churches to an onward
aggressive movement such as had never been known in this country before.” 138

Revival should be a regular experience of the faithful church.

Transformation in Revival
There has been a lot of interest in the subject of transformation in recent
years. Although some tend to overemphasize or take this important concept out
of context, transformation is a primary focus of revivals. For example, Evangelist
Randy Clark makes a very important distinction regarding the 1995 revival in
Melbourne, Florida, where people falling out in the Spirit was a common and
frequent occurrence.
“The “falling” aspect of this visitation was the most visible manifestation, but it was not falling that was
important. What was important was the fact that people were rising up with more love for God in their hearts
than ever before. They were being changed, and their hearts set ablaze.”139

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As I indicated before, particular manifestations must not be the focus of revivals.
God gets our attention in these manifestations, but it’s the transformation of lives
and the church He’s after. I’ve always been taught that you can debate many
things, but you can’t argue with a changed life.

Transformation is biblical. It’s essential to understand that the outpouring

of the Spirit in revival produces change. Transformation does not produce
change; revival does! Transformation comes in three forms: personal, corporate,
and society. Revival must be understood as embracing all three of these
dynamics. Mark Shaw indicates, “Revivals understood in the fullest sense must
incorporate spiritual, structural and social transformation.”140 Before we get into
each of these areas, I want to first examine what the Bible says about
transformation.

The Bible uses several transformation words. A look at these and their
meanings reveals just how much transformation has to do with revival. In fact, a
revival without transformation cannot be called a revival at all.
 metamorphoo – to change into another form, to transfigure
 metaschematizo – to change the figure of
 allasso – to change, to exchange one thing for another
 metatithemi – to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other; to be or allow one’s
self to be transformed and/or transferred, changed; to go or pass over; to fall away or desert from one
thing to another
 metaballo – to turn around or about; change one’s opinion

One of the things I presented at a 2013 conference on kingdom transformation in

Nigeria was that “transformation begins with me.” So personal transformation is
the most fundamental part of revival. There are at least five areas where the
Bible directly speaks of transformation. The following chart indicates each aspect
and the indicated change or transformation.

Point of Transformation Transformational Change

Our hearts (John 3:3; Rom. 2:28-29) New spiritual birth/born again
Our worldly mind (Rom. 12:2) Renewing by the Spirit to know God’s will
Our natural appearance (2 Cor. 3:18) Degrees of glory to be more like His image
Our natural body (Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:51-52) Conformed to His glorious body
The Priesthood and the ministry (Heb. 7:12) Unchangeable priesthood & new priestly pattern
and ministry

The important thing to keep in mind is that revival changes things. Those
that believe they can just keep doing what they have been doing when revival
strikes have another thing coming. Although there’s an understanding that
transformation is a process, revival greatly speeds the process up in every

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dynamic area. The Holy Spirit moves so suddenly and overwhelmingly in a
revival that people are transformed by the power of God in literally moments.
This is why the Bible exhorts us to present ourselves as living sacrifices in
service to God.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Greek word for renewing is anakainosis (an-ak-ah‘-ee-no-sis). It refers to a

total renovation; a change for the better. What a great revival word! In the context
of the renewing of the mind, it could refer to an adjustment from a worldly
mindedness to the mind of Christ. This is one of the big paradigm shifts that
takes place in a revival. Suddenly, the number one interest on the minds of
people and in their conversation are the things of God. They are inoculated with
spiritual things and preoccupied with the Holy Spirit. Nothing else matters. It’s
just like Paul told the Galatians:

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but
a new creation.

Revivals transform everything by the power of God. Author Mark Shaw

identifies four major changes or shifts that take place in revivals. He views each
of these features as an “expression of life in the Spirit” central to the Early
Church in Acts 2 and 4. Each shift moved individuals from the fallen world
systems of society into the kingdom of God or the “reality of the risen and ruling
Christ.”141

1. Personal liberation
2. Eschatological vision
3. Radical community
4. Evangelical activism

I’m going to add my interpretation of these shifts, but I believe they are a good
way to get a more comprehensive view of the transformation produced in
revivals. The following chart will establish the biblical foundation for these shifts.
Keep in mind that these are major paradigm shifts produced by revivals. They
are well documented throughout Scripture. Revival conditions the church to
welcome these shifts rather than resisting them.

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 Transformational Shift Biblical Expressions
Personal liberation – captives freed from bondage, set Acts 26:17-18 `I will deliver you from the Jewish people,
free from spiritual bondage, acquired assurance of as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18
salvation, no longer slaves to sin, move from orphan `to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness
status to adopted by God. to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Eschatological vision – the people live with the reality 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For you yourselves know
of the soon return of Jesus Christ, an urgency in perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in
pursuing the things of God replace complacency, there the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then
is an overwhelming urge that cannot be contained to sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains
preach the resurrection of the dead in Christ and to warn upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4
others those without Christ of eternal judgment But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I
have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have
helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I
have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have
helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.
Radical community – renewed dependence upon Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the
Christ and one another, fellowship built around united apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
prayer and God’s word bread, and in prayers.
Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed
were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say
that any of the things he possessed was his own, but
they had all things in common.
Evangelical activism – outward mission replaces Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went
survival or maintenance mode, the conversion of sinners everywhere preaching the word.
in evangelism and social action take over all other Acts 11:19-21 Now those who were scattered after the
endeavors persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as
Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to
no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men
from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to
Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord
Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a
great number believed and turned to the Lord.

The above breakdown describes revivals to a tee. I want to present just a

few examples of the transformation experienced in some of the historical
revivals. Revivals set multitudes free through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve
said over and over again that revival changes things. People are transformed,

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churches are transformed, and the change doesn’t stop there because revival
also transforms cities and nations. A religious journal describing the 1858
American revival chronicles the widespread transformation.
“Such a time as the present was never known since the days of the Apostles, for revivals. The prostration of
business, the downfall of Mammon, the great god of worship to the multitudes in this land, both in and out of
the church, the sinfulness and vanity of earthly treasures, as the supreme good, have come home to the
hearts and consciences of the millions in our land with a power that seems irresistible. Revivals now cover
our very land, sweeping all before them, as on the day of Pentecost, exciting the earnest and simultaneous
cry from thousands, ‘What shall we do to be saved?’ They have taken hold of the community at large to such
an extent that now they are the engrossing theme of conversation in all circles of society. Ministers seem
baptised with the Holy Ghost and preach with new power and earnestness, bringing the truth home to the
conscience and life as rarely before. Meetings are held for prayer, for exhortation, and for conversation, with
the deepest interest, and the most astonishing results. Not only are they held in the church and from house
to house, but in the great marts of trade and centres of business. Halls are selected, where men may leave
their worldly cares for an hour, and by multitudes, without form or ceremony, drop in, fall on their knees and
pray, with a few words of exhortation and entreaty, and then go about their usual business. In New York
there is a most astonishing interest in all the churches, seeming as if that great and populous and depraved
city was enveloped in one conflagration of divine influence. Union prayer-meetings are held in the principal
centres, and here thousands on thousands gather daily. Prayer and conference meetings are held in retired
rooms connected with large commercial houses, and with the best effects. The large cities and towns
generally from Maine to California are sharing in this great and glorious work. There is hardly a village or
town to be found where a special divine power does not appear to be displayed. It really seems as if the
Millennium was upon us in its glory.”142

America today finds itself in spiritual decline. And I fear this decline is in an
accelerated mode. For the most part American churches are lukewarm and
church members have become resistant to even the notion of repentance. The
spirit of antichrist is emboldened. America is ripe for judgment and in desperate
need for a widespread revival that will produce the transformation from rampant
secularism to a spiritual people. Now I want to turn our attention to promoting
revivals. The revival cry must be sounded again and again throughout the land.

Psalm 85:6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?

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 Revival is Coming

Promoting a Revival
There are those that believe a revival cannot be promoted, but just waited
for. They are not inclined to do anything differently because they feel to do so
would somehow invade the Sovereignty of God. This is not, however, the
testimony of the historic revivals. I say this with the utmost respect for God’s
Sovereignty for He controls the place and timing of revivals. Nevertheless, this
does not mean that a revival cannot be promoted. In fact, it must be promoted.
Charles Finney insisted on promoting revivals. He relates how God changed the
mind of one pastor on this.
“There are so many still unconverted; so many persons die yearly - such a portion of them unconverted; if a
revival does not come under five years, so many adult heads of families will be lost." He put down his
calculations on paper, and embodied them in his sermon for the next day, with his heart bleeding at the
dreadful picture. As I understood it, he did not do this with any expectation of a revival; but he felt deeply, and
poured out his heart to his people; and that sermon awakened forty heads of families, and a powerful revival
followed; and so his theory about a revival once in five years was exploded.”143

Notice how the seed for revival was planted by this minister’s consideration of
those perishing without Christ. The need for revival then was so impressed upon
his heart that it could not be delayed. The point is that if it’s not God’s will for any
to perish, then we should be continually seeking and promoting revival. How
does one promote a revival? Finney discovered that revivals should be promoted
“by the use of means designed and adapted specially to that object.”144 To him it
was just like a farmer who sows the seed expecting a harvest.
“I have seldom seen an individual fail when he used the means for promoting a revival in earnest, in the
manner pointed out in the Word of God. I believe a man may enter on the work of promoting a revival with as
reasonable an expectation of success as he can enter on any other work with an expectation of success -
with the same expectation as the farmer has of a crop when he sows his grain.”145

Although some revival historians debate Finney on this point, I believe he has a
valid point.

John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,
it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

So someone has to plant the seed of revival in prayer. Prayer is an initial means
of promoting a revival. But it can’t be just some ordinary praying, but that which
deeply recognizes a desperate need and expectation for revival. Remember
revival praying is “the state of the heart” where a person is weighed down with “a

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continual desire and anxiety of mind for the salvation of sinners.” So the first
thing to promote revival is this kind of praying. Keep in mind always that the
promotion of revival leads to the spiritual awakening of the church and the
conversion of sinners. With this purpose ever before us, I want to list some of
Finney’s ways, along with a few I’ve learned, to promote a revival.

1. Identify the watchman on the wall who have the spirit of prayer (Note:
these are the ones whom God reveals his secrets to)
 Psalm 85:6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
 Psalm 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
 Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will
pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
 Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
 Isaiah 21:6 For thus has the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he
sees."
 Isaiah 65:24 "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are
still speaking, I will hear.

Prayer meetings can be established once the watchmen have been identified. If
you pray for revival with the spirit of prayer, then should you not expect God to
send it? These excerpts from Finney’s lectures point to fact that the seeds and
start of revivals is with this depth of prayer.146
 “Doubtless one great reason why God requires the exercise of this agonizing prayer is, that it forms
such a bond of union between Christ and the Church. It creates such a sympathy between them. It is as
if Christ came and poured the overflowings of His own benevolent heart into His people, and led them to
sympathize and to cooperate with Him as they never do in any other way. They feel just as Christ feels -
so full of compassion for sinners that they cannot contain themselves.”
 “This travailing in birth for souls creates also a remarkable bond of union between warm-hearted
Christians and the young converts.”
 “Not only must ministers have the spirit of prayer, but it is necessary that the Church should unite in
offering that effectual fervent prayer which can prevail with God. "I will yet for this be inquired of by the
house of Israel, to do it" (Ezekiel 36:37). Can you pray now? And will you join and offer prevailing prayer
that the Spirit of God may come down here?”
 “One individual who obtains the spirit of prayer will often arouse a whole Church, and extend the same
spirit through the whole, so that a general revival follows.”
 A prayer meeting is an index to the state of religion in a Church. If the prayer meeting is neglected, or
the spirit of prayer is not manifested, you know of course that religion is in a low condition.

Unfortunately many congregations do not have such a covenant of prayer to God

for revival. Prayer is a means of promoting revivals and this spiritual tool needs to
be displayed with faith toward the absolute need for revival. When you pray in
this way, you are praying in agreement with the Scriptures. The way the apostles
and the Early Church prayed and applied the promises, the prophecies, and the
declarations of God’s word needs to be duplicated in praying for revival.

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 2. Break up the fallow ground in order to recognize the truth of your
spiritual condition, its weight upon you, and to prepare to receive God’s
word. (Note: this must be done with a prophetic directness that pierces
hearts with the conviction of the Holy Spirit)
 Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow
ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
 John 16:8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment: "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to
My Father and you see Me no more
 Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent.

Many short-circuit this step but the prophet does not. He declares that God’s
people were a nation of backsliders. The purpose is to bring people nearer to
God. The closer you get to God, the more likely you will be ready for revival.
Some excerpts from Finney’s lecture explain the thoroughness and depth of this
step.147
 “To break up the fallow ground is to break up your hearts, to prepare your minds to bring forth fruit unto
God… To break up the fallow ground, therefore, is to bring the mind into such a state that it is fitted to
receive the Word of God. Sometimes your hearts get matted down, hard and dry, till there is no such
thing as getting fruit from them till they are broken up, and mellowed down, and fitted to receive the
Word. It is this softening of the heart, so as to make it feel the truth, which the prophet calls breaking up
your fallow ground.”
 “Examine thoroughly the state of your hearts, and see where you are: whether” you are walking with
God every day, or with the devil; whether you are serving God or serving the devil most; whether you
are under the dominion of the prince of darkness, or of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 “Break up all the ground and turn it over. Do not "balk" it, as the farmers say; do not turn aside for little
difficulties; drive the plow right through them, beam deep, and turn the ground up, so that it may all be
mellow and soft, and fit to receive the seed and bear fruit "an hundredfold."”
 “If you find, as you go on with this duty, that your mind is still all dark, cast about you, and you will find
there is some reason for the Spirit of God to depart from you. You have not been faithful and thorough.
In the progress of such a work you have got to do violence to yourself and bring yourself as a rational
being up to this work, with the Bible before you, and try your heart till you do feel. You need not expect
that God will work a miracle for you to break up your fallow ground. It is to be done by means. Fasten
your attention to the subject of your sins. You cannot look at your sins long and thoroughly and see how
bad they are, without feeling, and feeling deeply.”

The message in this phase of promoting revival is direct and prophetic. For this
reason, various levels of opposition will arise within the church. Typically, there’s
the age old battle between the old school and the new. In revival, Jesus is
making all things new (See Rev. 21:5) and, as we discussed at the beginning of
this work on revival, the Spirit shakes that which can be shaken to leave standing
what cannot (See Heb.12:25-29). Breaking up the fallow ground is a most
essential aspect of promoting a revival.

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 3. Seek and harbor the influence of the Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the
Holy Spirit is the reviving power of heaven. There’s no revival without Him!
The Holy Spirit must not be resisted or quenched. All aspects of the Spirit
must be promoted before and during a revival.

 Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
 Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of
Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
 Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall
be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
 Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was
shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with
boldness.
 Acts 19:2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said
to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
 Acts 8:14-16 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down,
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of
them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
 Ephesians 5:17-21 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord
is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking
to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your
heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
 Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

How some can argue against being filled with the Holy Spirit is beyond reason.
To do so or to limit the biblical understanding of the experience of being baptized
with the Holy Spirit and fire is to resist and quench the Spirit. But if you seek and
promote the influence of the Holy Spirit, you promote revival. Again, these
excerpts from Finney’s lectures on revival serve as effective reminders of the
absolute dependency upon the Spirit.148
 “How little complaining there is that people do not make enough of the Spirit's influence in leading
Christians to pray according to the will of God! Let it never be forgotten that no Christian ever prays
aright, unless led by the Spirit. He has natural power to pray, and so far as the will of God is revealed, is
able to do it; but he never does, unless the Spirit of God influences him; just as sinners are able to
repent, but never do, unless influenced by the Spirit.”
 “I want you to have high ideas of the Holy Ghost, and to feel that nothing good will be done without His
influences. No praying or preaching will be of any avail without Him. If Jesus Christ were to come down
here and preach to sinners, not one would be converted without the Spirit. Be careful, then, not to grieve
Him away, by slighting or neglecting His heavenly influences when He invites you to pray.”
 “Before we come to consider the other department of means for promoting a revival - that is, the means
to be used with sinners - I wish to show that, if you live without the Spirit, you are without excuse.”

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  “But again, God has commanded you to have the Spirit. He says in the text: "Be filled with the Spirit."
When God commands us to do a thing, it is the highest possible evidence that we can do it. For God to
command is equivalent to an oath that we can do it.”
 “No man who is not filled with the Spirit of God is fit to be employed in directing the measures adopted in
a revival. His hands will be "all thumbs," unable to take hold, and he will act as if he had not common
sense. But a man who is led by the Spirit of God will know how to time his measures aright, and how to
apportion Divine truth so as to make it tell to the best advantage.”
 “If you mean to have the Spirit, you must be childlike, and yield to His influences - just as yielding as
air… Christians ought to be willing to make any sacrifice to enjoy the presence of the Spirit.”

It’s imperative for leaders and church members to be baptized with the Holy Spirit
in order to promote a revival. It takes spiritual people to advance the kingdom of
God.

4. Do the work of an evangelist. This is the plan of God.

 2 Timothy 4:5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
 Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall
be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
 Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
 Acts 11:19-21 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen
traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews
only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to
Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
 2 Corinthians 3:2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3
clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the
living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Evangelism must continue in and out of season so to speak. This must be an

endless labor for believers. This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit and it’s
necessary to promote a revival. God is most pleased when He returns to find
those who are so doing. Again, the renowned Evangelist Charles Finney really
puts this in perspective in his lectures.149
 “One grand design of God in leaving Christians in the world after their conversion is that they may be
witnesses for God. It is that they may call the attention of the thoughtless multitude to the subject, and
make them see the difference in the character and destiny of those who believe the Gospel and those
who reject it. This inattention is the grand difficulty in the way of promoting religion. And what the Spirit
of God does is to awaken the attention of men to the subject of their sin and the plan of salvation.
Miracles have sometimes been employed to arrest the attention of sinners, and in this way miracles may
become instrumental in conversion - although conversion is not itself a miracle, not do miracles
themselves ever convert anybody. They may be means of awakening.”

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  “More particularly, Christians are to testify to: 1. The immortality of the soul. This is clearly revealed in
the Bible. 2. The vanity and unsatisfying nature of all earthly good. 3. The satisfying nature and glorious
sufficiency of religion. 4. The guilt and danger of sinners. On this point they can speak from experience
as well as from the Word of God. They have seen their own sins, and they understand more of the
nature of sin, and the guilt and danger of sinners. 5. The reality of hell, as a place of eternal punishment
for the wicked. 6. The love of Christ for sinners. 7. The necessity of a holy life, if we think of ever getting
to heaven. 8. The necessity of self-denial, and of living above the world. 9. The necessity of meekness,
heavenly mindedness, humility, and integrity. 10. The necessity of an entire renovation of character and
life, for all who would enter heaven. These are the subjects on which they are to be witnesses for God.
And they are bound to testify in such a way as to constrain men to believe the truth.”
 “Every Christian makes an impression by his conduct, and witnesses either for one side or the other. His
looks, dress, whole demeanor, make a constant impression on one side or the other. He cannot help
testifying for or against religion. He is either gathering with Christ, or scattering abroad.”

5. Bring in an anointed Evangelist. This was the case in the majority of the
historical revivals I examined. The role of evangelist cannot be
underestimated. Evangelists probe the heart; pastors comfort the heart.
Pastors who have attained the wisdom of God call on an evangelist. Some
traveled to revival meetings to implore the evangelist to come to their
congregation and town. The evangelist will speak, preach, and teach truth
regarding the spiritual condition of the congregation, fully allowing the Holy
Spirit to convict the unconverted and backslidden in the church leading to
repentance and revival. The Spirit then moves the unconverted outside
the church to flock to meetings where they fall under the convicting power
of the truth. Weighed down by an overwhelming awareness of their sinful
plight, they are brought to the stark reality that they must repent and turn
to Christ who alone can save them. This pattern repeats itself over and
over again in revivals. Again Finney documents this in his lectures and his
autobiography reflecting on over forty years of revival experiences.150

 “Ordinarily, there are employed in the work of conversion three agents and one instrument. The
agents are God; some person who brings the truth to bear on the mind; and the sinner himself. The
instrument is the truth. There are always two agents, God and the sinner, employed and active in
every case of genuine conversion.The agency of God is twofold: by His Providence and by His
Spirit.”
 “How He sometimes sends a minister along just at the time he is wanted! How He brings out a
particular truth just at the particular time when the individual it is fitted to reach is in the way to
hear! Under His influence the truth burns its way like fire. He makes the truth stand out in such
aspects that it crushes the proudest man down with the weight of a mountain.”

6. Train and Instruct the church in revival. There are many erroneous
ideas about what a revival is and is not. It is biblical to equip the people of
God in all things beneficial for the work of the ministry and advance of His
kingdom.

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  Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--
Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the
body for the edifying of itself in love.
 1 Timothy 4:6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister
of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have
carefully followed.
 Nehemiah 9:20 You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, And did not withhold
Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst.

The church knows little about what to do in a revival. Ministers are

responsible to instruct the church in revival. Finney makes this clear in his
lectures.151
 “There are multitudes in the Church who never seem to suppose that the work of promoting
revivals of religion is one that requires study, and thought, and knowledge of principles, and skill in
applying the Word of God so as to give every one his portion in season.”
 “How important it is that the Church should be trained and instructed, so as to know what to do in a
revival. Members should be trained and disciplined like an army; each one having a place to fill,
and something to do, knowing where he belongs, and what he has to do, and how to do it.”
 “We see why revivals are often so short, and why they so often produce a reaction. It is because
the Church does not understand the subject.”
 “The Church ought to be so trained as to know what to do, so as never to fail, and never to suffer
defeat or reaction, when an attempt is made to promote a revival. Christians should understand all
the tactics of the devil, and know where to guard against his devices, so that they may know him
when they see him - and not mistake him for an angel of light come to give them lessons of wisdom
in promoting the revival - and so that they can cooperate wisely with the minister, and with one
another, and with the Holy Ghost, in carrying on the work.”
 “We see the guilt of ministers, in not informing themselves, and rightly and speedily instructing the
Churches, upon this momentous subject. Some ministers have acted as mysteriously about
revivals as if they thought Christians were either incapable of understanding how to promote them,
or that it was of no importance that they should know.”

There is a vast ignorance in the churches on the subject of revivals. In

addition, there is widespread disagreement on the topic. But when church
leaders are convinced of the absolute necessity of revival and that without it the
church will be lethargic, then they will labor to promote a revival. On the other
hand, many hinder revivals to the detriment of the church body at large.

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Hindrances to Revival
The hindrances to revival I want to discuss in this section are widespread.
For this reason, we have to pay close attention to each. Again, some will be
those I’ve observed and others noted by Charles Finney, the Father of American
Revivalism. Finney, in Lecture 15: Hindrances to Revivals, lists and explains a
number of these hindrances. He divides the lecture into three parts that are most
relevant and profitable for any student of revival: First using Nehemiah’s revival
(See Neh. 6:3), he proposes “to show that a revival of religion is a great work.”
Secondly, he seeks “to mention several things which may put a stop to it.”
Thirdly, he proposes “to show what must be done for the continuance of this
great revival.”152For the most part, I will only deal with some of the hindrances.
Here is a partial list of the hindrances that will, in his view, stop a revival.153
o A revival will stop whenever the Church believes it is going to cease. (Note: in this case the church predicts
it’s going to end or that it’s in danger of diminishing so they stop laboring and praying in faith for it to
continue).
o A revival will cease whenever Christians become mechanical in their attempts to promote it (Note: this is
when their prayers become cold without emotion and without feeling).
o The revival will cease whenever Christians get the idea that the work will go on without their aid. (Note: here,
the Christians lose sight of their role as a co-workers with God to promote revival and to carry on the revival
work).
o The work will cease when the Church prefers to attend to selfish concerns rather than God’s business. (Note:
this is when worldly employments take undue priority over the reviving work of God. This point can also be
expanded to include church programs and projects that have no bearing on a revival).
o When Christians get proud of their “great revival,” it will cease. (Note: this hindrance deals with the part of the
Church that does the work. They reflect on how hard they labored and prayed to the point they commend
themselves to one another and the rest of the Church. In short, they get puffed up).
o The revival will stop when the Church gets exhausted by labor. (Note: this refers to those who interrupt all
daily living necessities of life even to the point of not eating, sleeping, or taking care of their bodies).
o A revival will stop when the Church begins to speculate about abstract doctrines, which have nothing to do
with practice. (Note: this is when attention is turned away from things pertaining to salvation and the Spirit to
ecclesiastical practices and litigations).
o A revival will stop when Christians begin to proselytize. (Note: this refers to various denominations vying for
converts with a sectarian spirit and envious spirit that produces bitterness in a revival).
o A revival will cease when the Church grieves the Holy Spirit in any way. (Note: this happens when Christians
refuse to give back resources, begin to get strong in themselves, take credit for the revival, and don’t give
glory to God).
o A revival will cease when Christians lose the spirit of brotherly love. ((Note: this is when the affectionate love
of Christians for one another grows cold).
o A revival will decline and stop unless Christians are frequently re-converted. (Note: this means when a
Christian’s heart is crusted over and loses it passion for the things of God in a revival. Therefore it needs
frequently convicted, humbled, even broken before God every few days or the spirit of revival will wain).
o Revivals decline, commonly, because it is found impossible to make Christians realize their guilt and
dependence, so as to break down before God. It is important that ministers should understand this, and learn
how to break down the Church, and break down themselves when they need it, or else Christians will soon
become mechanical in their work, and lose their fervor and their power of prevailing with God.

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 o A revival will discontinue when Christians will not practice self-denial. (Note: this is when a church grows fat
in a revival and runs into self-indulgence and are unwilling to give up luxuries to save sinners).
o Revivals can be shut down by continued opposition from the Old School, combined with a bad spirit in the
New School. (Note: this is when an angry, contentious spirit develops due to continuous opposition between
the old and new).
o Revivals are hindered when ministers and Churches take wrong ground in regard to any questions involving
human rights. (i.e. slavery, abortion, drugs).
o Revivals are hindered when the Church neglects the call to missions. (Note: this is when Christians confine
their attention to their own local church causing the Spirit of God to depart).
o Revivals are hindered when a church rejects the call for the training and sending of young men and women
into the ministry. (Note: when the Church does not actively support the laborers who are called and come
forth by the Spirit of God in a revival).
o Revivals will often be put down by slandering. (Note: this is talking about the Church herself engaging in the
work of slandering a revival).
o Revivals are hindered when its promoters listen to the opposition and begin to reply. (Note: this refers to
allowing those opposing a revival to move your attention from what God is doing to what they are saying).

It’s important to highlight just a few of these hindrances that must be avoided in
revivals.

Denial of Truth. Ministers cannot minister effectively unless they know the
spiritual condition of the church.

Proverbs 27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds;

No revival can take place where ministers and church members cannot accept
the truth about their spiritual condition when revealed by Jesus Christ. Why aren’t
there more revivals taking place? A big reason is what I call the “I say, You say”
thing going on in many churches. The message to the church of Laodicea is
prime example of this. Jesus says one thing; the church another.

Revelation 3:14-17 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,`These things says
the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say,`I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked—

Can you see the disparity between what Jesus says and what the church says?
How often we see ministers stand before the people declaring how wonderful
they are and the work of the church when the truth is something else. I’ve even
seen ministers call for prayer for revival at the same time. Do they not know that
the Spirit of God has departed them and the only remedy is to call upon Him in
truth?

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

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Our God requires truth at the deepest level of our being. Not to accept His truth is
to cater to false notions about the spiritual condition.

Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me
to know wisdom.

The point is that no one, no church can be near to God or expect revival without
calling upon Him in truth.

The American Church is notorious for painting a different picture of the

church than the truth revealed by Christ. This is so prevalent that it seems
ministers no longer even ask Jesus for a wellness exam. As a result, they build
their own case. There are four things that characterize the spiritual condition of
the American Church.

1. Lukewarm
2. Worldly
3. Spiritual decline
4. Fragmented

Revival is the antidote to each one of the above. However, it is hindered without
an awareness of the truth that weighs upon hearts to the degree that they seek
God with a passion like never before.

Division and Disunity. This remains a global problem among leaders and from
church to church. The Scriptures address this issue over and over again.

 Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
 Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running
down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of
Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.
 John 17:22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as
We are one:
 Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
 Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The division among Christians produces a fragmented church. Nothing for revival
can be accomplished in such a church until there’s such an agonized conviction

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with spiritual fire to burn out the sin. Finney explains how this hinders the work of
God.
“We see why God sometimes suffers Churches to be divided. It is because He finds that the members are so
much at variance that they will not pray and labor together with effect… They do not think alike, nor feel alike,
on the subjects connected with revivals, and while this is so, they never can work together. Unless they can
be brought to such a change of views and feelings on the subject as will unite them, they are only a
hindrance to each other and to the work of God… We see why a few individuals, who are perfectly united,
may be successful in gathering and building up a new Church, and may prosper much more than a much
larger number who are not agreed among themselves. 154

The division and disunity in the church with all its baggage is unwise and a sign
that the church is filled with carnal Christians. At least that’s what God’s word
concludes.

1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among
you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Resistance to Conviction. The conviction of sin is one of the major functions of

the Holy Spirit. This function is magnified and accelerated in a revival. Generally
speaking, there is a reluctance to promoting this kind of operation in the church.
Ministers who try to soften the weight of conviction are committing a great error
and will hinder revival.

 John 16:7-11 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do
not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has
come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they
do not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; "of
judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
 Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
 Ezekiel 33:7-11 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel;
therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. "When I say to the wicked,`O
wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked
man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. "Nevertheless if you warn the
wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you
have delivered your soul. "Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel:`Thus you say, "If
our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?"' "Say
to them:`As I live,' says the Lord GOD,`I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the
wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house
of Israel?'

The important point to understand here is that when the conviction of sin comes
upon a person or the church by the Spirit of God, this is not to be interfered with
until the conviction is so strong that the only place to go is to Christ. Finney
explains from his experience:155

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  “There is much less probing of the heart by a deep and thorough exhibition of human depravity, than was
formerly the case…From my own experience and observation, as well as from the Word of God, I am fully
convinced that the character of revivals depends very much upon the stress that is laid upon the depravity of
the heart. Its pride, enmity, windings, deceitfulness, and everything else that is hateful to God, should be
exposed in the light of His perfect law.”
 “No revival can be thorough until sinners and backsliders are so searched and humbled, that they can not
hold up their heads…When sinners and backsliders are really convicted by the Holy Ghost, they are greatly
ashamed of themselves. Until they manifest deep shame, it should be known that the probe is not used
sufficiently, and they do not see themselves as they ought.”
 Revivals decline, commonly, because it is found impossible to make Christians realize their guilt and
dependence, so as to break down before God. It is important that ministers should understand this, and learn
how to break down the Church, and break down themselves when they need it, or else Christians will soon
become mechanical in their work, and lose their fervor and their power of prevailing with God.

Grace is not divine favor to continue in sin and ungodliness. Rather, it’s to show
our utter dependence upon the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit to
repent and be saved.

Wrong Motives. This is to say that some ministers and churches want a revival
to increase membership, finances, building programs and the like. This is what
they have their heart set on and it becomes the vision of the people. Some of
these churches become very successful by the world’s standards with mega
facilities and millions of dollars. These human motives will shift things away from
the purpose of God and are a counterfeit to revival.

 Acts 7:47-50 "But Solomon built Him a house. "However, the Most High does not dwell in
temples made with hands, as the prophet says: `Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not
made all these things?'
 Acts 17:24 "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands.
 Philippians 1:15-16 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from
good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction
to my chains;
 James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your
pleasures.

Finney’s list of things that hinder a revival presented earlier in this section
includes at least two areas that apply here.
 The work will cease when the Church prefers to attend to selfish concerns rather than God’s business. (Note:
this is when worldly employments take undue priority over the reviving work of God. This point can also be
expanded to include church programs and projects that have no bearing on a revival).
 A revival will discontinue when Christians will not practice self-denial. (Note: this is when a church grows fat
in a revival and runs into self-indulgence and are unwilling to give up luxuries to save sinners).

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Minimizing the Holy Spirit. There’s a tendency to shift back to human ingenuity
in the midst of a revival. The Holy Spirit must not be minimized in any way,
shape, or form.

 Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to
Zerubbabel:`Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
 Galatians 3:2-5 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being
made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

There’s mutual agreement among revivalists that it’s the Holy Spirit’s show in
revival. Finney also includes this in his list of hindrances to revival listed at the
beginning of this section.
 A revival will cease when the Church grieves the Holy Spirit in any way. (Note: this happens when
Christians refuse to give back resources, begin to get strong in themselves, take credit for the revival, and
don’t give glory to God).

 No man who is not filled with the Spirit of God is fit to be employed in directing the measures adopted in a
revival. His hands will be "all thumbs," unable to take hold, and he will act as if he had not common sense.
But a man who is led by the Spirit of God will know how to time his measures aright, and how to apportion
Divine truth so as to make it tell to the best advantage.

Pastoral Dominance. Jesus never intended His shepherds to work alone. He

established an interactive team of leaders after He ascended. He gifted apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to the church. These governmental
gifts are to work together. The Early Church followed this gifted leadership
structure, but the modern church for the most part ignores it completely. Instead
they wrap everything into one leadership gift; that of pastor.

 Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers,
 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of
tongues.
 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves
your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

I’ve said it earlier in this manual, but it needs to be repeated. I found no evidence
of a pastor leading any of the historical revivals. In addition, none appear to lead
revivals in the Early Church. The important and God-given function of pastors
should not exclude the rest of the team God has so graciously provided. This

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muted understanding continues to be a serious error in the church. How much
more effective would the church be with a full team?

Ineffective Prayer Meetings. Many congregations are parked in the prayer

closet. Corporate prayer is very weak and limited to prayer requests. This was
not the case in the Early Church and the historical revivals as we have proven
throughout this study. Prayer meetings are essential in revivals. Although they
are quite spontaneous, Finney gives some good advice in conducting prayer
meetings in revival. Here are just a few that are most helpful in his lectures:156
 One individual who obtains the spirit of prayer will often arouse a whole Church, and extend the same spirit
through the whole, so that a general revival follows.
 It is often well to open a prayer meeting by reading a short portion of the Word of God, especially if the
person who takes the lead of the meeting, can call to mind any portion that will be applicable to the object or
occasion, and that is impressive, and to the point. If he has no passage that is applicable, he had better not
read any at all. Do not drag in the Word of God to make up part of the meeting as a mere matter of form. This
is an insult to God. It is not well to read any more than is applicable to the subject before the meeting or the
occasion.
 The design of a prayer meeting should be to bring Christians to the point, to pray for a definite object.
Wandering over a large field hinders and destroys this design.
 It is proper that the person who leads should make some short and appropriate remarks, calculated to
explain the nature of prayer, and the encouragements we have to pray, and to bring the object to be prayed
for directly before the minds of the people.
 In calling on persons to pray it is always desirable to let things take their own course, wherever it is safe. If it
can be left so with safety, let those pray who are most inclined to pray.
 Give up the meeting to the Spirit of God. Those who desire to pray, let them pray.
 If it is necessary to name the individuals who are to pray, it is best to call first on those who are most spiritual;
and, if you do not know who they are, then choose those whom you would naturally suppose to be most
"alive." If they pray at the outset, they will be likely to spread the spirit of prayer through the meeting and
elevate the tone of the whole. The only hope of having an efficient prayer meeting is when at least a part of
the Church is spiritual, and infuses its spirit on the rest.
 The prayers should always be very short. When individuals suffer themselves to pray long they forget that
they are only the mouth of the congregation, and that the congregation cannot be expected to sympathize
with them, so as to feel united in prayer, if they are long and tedious, and go all around the world, and praye
for everything they can think of…They should keep to the point, and pray for what they came to pray for, and
not follow the imagination of their own foolish hearts all over the universe.
 If, in the progress of the meeting, it becomes necessary to change the object of prayer, let the leader state
the fact, and explain it in a few words.
 It is important that the time should be fully occupied, so as not to leave long seasons of silence, which make
a bad impression, and chill the meeting.

Finney also points out that prayer meetings can be defeated when there is a lack
of confidence and spirituality in the leader and the people of God. This leads to a
dull and dry meeting. Here’s a brief list of things that get in the way of prayer
meetings and quench the move of the Spirit.
 Too much singing when people have come to pray.
 People coming late to the prayer meeting.

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  Bad spirit in those leading or praying at the prayer meeting.
 Persons making cold prayers when the Spirit is moving
 Introducing controversial subjects in prayer
 Limited sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit; no spiritual discernment
 People refuse to pray at the prayer meeting; stuck on silent prayer.
 Prayer meetings that are too long
 People dwell on praying for themselves
 People pray who are known to be obnoxious
 One leads and others are thinking on something else; no unity

It’s important to point out here that prayer meetings are the most difficult to
sustain. Nevertheless, they must not be neglected. If they are, all other labor will
be, for the most part, in vain. The state of the prayer meeting always reflects the
spiritual condition of the church.
“A prayer meeting is an index to the state of religion in a Church. If the prayer meeting is neglected, or the
spirit of prayer is not manifested, you know of course that religion is in a low condition. Let me go into the
prayer meeting, and I can always see the state of religion which prevails in the Church.” 157

This is why the state of prayer in the church must be taken most seriously with
intense training and activation.

There are probably other things that hinder revivals. My goal was not to
provide a comprehensive list, but to highlight a number of the major hindrances
revivalists face today. God’s solution to each is repentance and obedience.

A Revival Church
This manual is an apostolic and prophetic call for ministers and church
members to cry out for revival. Many are calling and declaring for the church to
arise today. An unconverted and divided church simply cannot rise up! How can
the church rise up without revival? Only the revived church rises up! Revival
pushes the church forward speedily. How does the church get to that awakened
state? How does a church emerge as a revival church? The church that is broken
and contrite before God with genuine repentance can expect a revival to come.
Ministers and churches who resist and don’t know what it means to be “broken
down,” as Finney says, will not lead the congregation to expect a revival to
come.158 I found this to be the key to a revival church just as much as it’s a key
for personal revival.

The church should be filled with revived Christians. God promises to do

this and we can pray for it and expect it when the Spirit breaks us.

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 Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I
dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of
the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

A revival church is one whose members are broken unto God. Members agonize
over their revealed spiritual state with great sorrow and weeping before God in
repentance. I continue to be appalled why so many ministers stop this divine
engagement. The very thing God has provided as a means to revival is a
stumbling block and when the travail begins, they shut it down with a bunch of
craftiness and double talk. Revival will come to the church with a contrite and
broken heart. The church must take note of this spiritual truth: There is no use
proceeding with anything else until the church is broken and re-converted.

What would a revival church look like and do? Here’s a few things that I’ve
learned from over forty years of ministry around the world and during the course
of this study on revival. Keep in mind, that the following are only relative in revival
to a preoccupation and absolute dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

1. A broken and repentant church

2. A re-converted church
3. A well-digging church
4. A restructured and restored church
5. An evangelistic church

I’ve already spoken at length about the necessity of being broken, contrite, and
repentant for both personal and corporate revival. I can only add here that God
often sends someone like a John the Baptist type in the Spirit and power of Elijah
to speak truth to the church. It’s usually a truth church leaders and members are
not too anxious to hear. And this servant of God does not come in soft raiment.

Matthew 11:7-10 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? "But what did you go
out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings'
houses. "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
"For this is he of whom it is written:`Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare
Your way before You.'

The church today heralds someone in soft raiment to keep members feeling good
about themselves and their spiritual condition. Instead, God sends the church
someone with the “breaker” anointing. Let’s briefly review this from an entirely
biblical perspective.

Leaders tend to follow their own prophetic stream of understanding of

things and fall far short of God’s plan for revival. The prophet Micah, like many of
the biblical prophets, addressed this issue with a sobering message.

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 Micah 2:7 You who are named the house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted? Are
these His doings? Do not My words do good To him who walks uprightly?

The condition Micah was addressing is God’s charge against His people.
Remember, Jesus in His own messages to His church often begins with, “I have
this against you.” (See Rev. 2:4, 14, and 20). Wouldn’t you think that the
church would want to know the things Jesus has against her? Well, the people of
God in Micah’s time had defiled His land with their sinfulness and their prophets
spoke only what they wanted to hear. God’s response was that He was coming
out of His place to deal with it and that He was going to break it! This was also
confirmed by the prophet Isaiah.

 Micah 1:3 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His place; He will come down And tread on the
high places of the earth.
 Isaiah 30:12-14 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like
a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. And He
shall break it like the breaking of the potter's vessel, Which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare.
So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water
from the cistern."

Micah revealed there was an anointing upon one who will break things open.
Remember the church is primarily a gathering of God’s people called out to
worship Him.

Micah 2:12-13 "I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of
Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They
shall make a loud noise because of so many people. The one who breaks open will come up before
them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them,
With the LORD at their head."

What was God’s solution? It was to “break it open.” I believe there’s a remnant in
every place. God promises to gather the remnant and one who “breaks open”
will come. Note the King of kings is leading the way through the old gate into the
new one. The Lord is the Head leading His church onward into a glorious revival!
He’s leading a new generation with the breaker anointing similar to the prophets
who were tasked in their youth to “root out and to pull down, to destroy and
to throw down, to build and to plant.” (Jer. 1:10).

The breaker anointing doesn’t just root out that which does not belong, but it also
repairs things following repentance. The enemy plan has not changed and this
remains true for the church to the present day.

Isaiah 7:6 "Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for
ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel "--

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 The remnant will have to fight for a revival church. The breaker anointing
is needed to do this. Take a look at what this anointing does and how important it
is to God’s plan for revival:

1. Stands in the breech

 Psalms 106:23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen
one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.
 Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the
gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

2. Gives preferred status to the younger generation. (Like Perez, Jacob,

and Ephraim, God plans to break forth the new generation ahead of the
old. This happens in a revival church)

 Genesis 38:29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out
unexpectedly; and she said, "How did you break through? This breach be upon you!" Therefore
his name was called Perez.

3. Repairs the breech

 Isaiah 58:12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the
foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The
Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
 Amos 9:11-12; Acts 15:15-17 On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the
days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by
My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.

4. Breaks through the enemy to victory (God is the God of the

breakthrough)

 1 Chronicles 14:11; 2Samuel 5:20 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David
defeated them there. Then David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a
breakthrough of water." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

The Hebrew word, perets, is used in each of the above references. This word
refers to “a breech, a gap, a bursting forth.” The modern church needs to
welcome those sent by God to speak truth and prepare the way for revival.
Regardless of a churches resistance to this process, it remains God’s way for a
revival church.

A revival church is also a re-converted church. The confession of sin and

repentance become commonplace in the church. What is a re-converted church?

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It’s one with renewed pursuit of holiness and godliness. They cooperate in
partnership with the Holy Spirit to deal with what God reveals about their spiritual
condition before moving on. There’s also a vast increase in sensitivity to the Holy
Spirit. People are hearing and obeying the voice of God again. The redeemed
speak forth the life change of their own personal revival and that of the church.

Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of
the enemy,

The joy of the Lord truly becomes the strength of the church just as it did in the
revival detailed in Nehemiah. Just look at some of these highlights from this
revival gathering of God’s people:

Nehemiah 8:1-12 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was
in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which
the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men
and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then
he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday,
before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had
made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah,
Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana,
Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was
standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the
LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And
they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani,
Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah,
and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So
they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to
understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the
Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not
mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to
them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is
prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12

And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they
understood the words that were declared to them.

Did you notice the positioning of the people? A revival church is positioned
together as one in front of the Water Gate. I love the indication of this. The
degree of spiritual unity is remarkable. Equally remarkable is their expectation for
an outpouring from above. I’m reminded of the revival promise from Isaiah that
says, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry
ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on
your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:3). They were aligned with God’s word before the
Water Gate. They were attentive and respectful of the Word (they stood up). The
revival church understands the Word. I remember someone recently posing the

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question, “When should you listen to God?” Answer: “The first time!” The revival
church listens the first time. And the Word of God moves them by the Spirit. They
respond with amen, lift their hands, bow their heads, fall down in worship, and
also weep when they hear God’s word. The people also hold their position (stand
in place). Spiritual leaders help them understand the Scriptures. This positioning
establishes a holy atmosphere to the Lord that turns mourning into joy. And that’s
the context of the much quoted verse, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
(Neh. 8:10). It’s a revival context that replicates the Kingdom of God.

 Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit.
 Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a
night, But joy comes in the morning.
 Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness.

A revival church is a well-digging church. Many revivalists see a

connection between revival and Isaac’s re-digging of his father Abraham’s wells.
For example, the highly respected British scholar, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, makes a
convincing and I believe very accurate case for this revival connection. First, let’s
take a look at the Scriptures. The Lord continued his covenant with Isaac. He
obeyed God’s instructions to remain in the land during a famine so he sowed
there and reaped a harvest.

 Genesis 26:12-15 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold;
and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became
very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of
servants. So the Philistines envied him. Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his
father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth.
 Genesis 26:18-19 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of
Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called
them by the names which his father had called them. Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and
found a well of running water there.
 Genesis 26:23-25 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared to him
the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will
bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." So he built an altar there
and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a
well.
 Genesis 26:32 It came to pass the same day that Isaac's servants came and told him about the
well which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." So he called it Shebah. Therefore
the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Is it fair to say that Abimelech and the Philistines were a worldly people who had
shut up the wells of water? Is it also fair to say that worldliness in the modern

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church hinders the people from getting to the water? Lloyd-Jones rightly identifies
the problem and the solution:
“The problem, as Isaac found, is that his nefarious work of the Philistines has been blocking the wells,
concealing water, standing between the people and the blessing of God. Next, clearly, we must go on to
consider that this work of the Philistines is. We must be honest and blunt. We have got to be plain and clear,
and we must have the courage of conviction. We need the witness and the testimony of the Spirit as we do
so. Let us pray for it, that God will give us honest minds to face the facts as they are, that we may see the
real cause of trouble. So that, having seen it, we shall be able to emulate the example of Isaac, and clear out
the rubbish of the Philistines, to come once again across the ancient supply of the water of God, the power of
the Spirit. And enter with all God’s people into a period of unusual blessing, and a might outpouring of his
Holy Spirit.”159

Why is so important for a revival church to be digging wells? It’s not just a matter
of getting the worldliness out that’s polluting the church. It’s also a matter of
responding to the direct action of the Holy Spirit. The revival church does not
ignore the Holy Spirit. Again, Lloyd Jones, explains it well:
“The Philistines have always been concerned about concealing the person and the work of the Holy Spirit, or,
if you like, they have been guilty in various ways of quenching the Spirit…In other words, I would put it to you
that what so many are disputing and denying and ignoring, is what I would call the immediate and direction of
the Holy Spirit…The living, powerful, activity of the Spirit; the Spirit coming directly, as it were, and
controlling, and leading, and guiding, and giving orders, and indicating what was to be done; the Spirit
descending upon them; that is what you always have in revival. But hat is the thing that seems to have gone
entirely out of the minds of men and women.”160

The revival church is preoccupied with the Holy Spirit and His operation in
their midst. They are listening for His commands and expecting Him to speak.
They are not hesitant to step into action when the Spirit does speak. There are
many biblical examples of this. Here’s just a couple:

 Acts 13:1-5 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now
separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and
prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went
down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they
preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
 Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go
into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And
a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to
go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Antioch Church was a revival church. The Holy Spirit spoke and told them
what to do and they did it affirming that the Holy Spirit was the sender and the

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supervisor. The Holy Spirit directs the revival church. They are glad to have it
that way.

This next feature of a revival church is where many fall short. There’s a
restructuring and restoration of the church. This involves a New Testament
understanding of leadership and spiritual authority. The revival church comes into
alignment with the word of God on this. The effect of not doing so is greatly
underestimated. What are we talking about here? Again, let’s briefly look at
Scripture. There’s very little basis in the teachings of Jesus and the rest of the
New Testament writings for the current hierarchal pastoral structure of the
church. Generally speaking, churches are structured wrongly today. Jesus
stressed the servant aspect over against the hierarchal one.

 Luke 22:24-27 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be
considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
and those who exercise authority over them are called`benefactors.' "But not so among you; on the
contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who
serves. "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the
table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
 Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ,
 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God.
 Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

I bring this out repeatedly to the dismay of many pastors. There is no indication
of an individual pastor leading any of the churches mentioned in the New
Testament. Could it be that churches today have established a hierarchal
structure contrary to what Jesus and the Early Church did? The revival church
will not fear a return to New Testament principles for the church. Aligning with
God’s word in this requires a new wineskin paradigm shift. Revivalists Ryan
LeStrange and Jennifer LeClaire have been on the cutting edge of this shift for
years. In their book, Revival Hubs Rising, they make a strong case for
restructuring and restoring the New Testament model. The prophetic word the
Spirit spoke to Jennifer says it all:
“I am raising up a new model, which is not a new model at all. I am causing revival-minded believers to return
to the Book of Acts and giving them revelation on the original model of My Church. “This model is a new
wineskin in which I will pour out My Spirit. This model will sustain My glory because it will steward My
presence. This model will focus on equipping and sending rather than gathering and grooming. This model
will establish leaders, mature intercessors, and make an impact on the cities and regions in which they are
established. This model will manifest both the apostolic and the prophetic and rely on five-fold gifts working in
unison to advance the Kingdom. “This model will be rejected and despised by the religious leaders of the day

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 but make no mistake: I am working in this model. I am restoring the church to its original model. I am coming
back for a church without spot or wrinkle and that means cleaning up the structure and truly preparing the
Bride for Christ’s return. “Those who truly embrace this model will feel the wind of My Spirit blowing over
them, My favor resting upon them, My grace empowering them, and My anointing to set the captives free and
bring lost souls into the kingdom within them. It’s all in the Book of Acts, a book which has no end because
you are living in it. Seek My model.”161

A revival church understands and trains the body of Christ in the Ephesians 4-11
leadership structure for the church. They welcome the restoration of the apostolic
and prophetic gifts. LeStrange and LeClaire call us to reexamine how we
understand and do church. Revival requires such an examination as we’ve
discussed before, but we must face reality here. The New Testament Model, for
the most part, is not how the church is structured or operating today. Most
conventional churches “are still building on the five-fold gift of the pastor and
many reject the notion that God has restored apostolic and prophetic ministry.”162

Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a
holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the
Spirit.

“Revival hubs” as LeStrange and LeClaire call them “are not suited for a one-
man paradigm – and the religious spirit that longs to be seen of men will hate
that.”163 This is why it’s going to take the whole team that God has gifted to the
church working together to restructure and restore the new wineskin. This
happens in a revival church.

The last thing that characterizes a revival church is the amazing

empowerment for evangelism. Keep in mind that a revival church is a revival
center established by God where the Spirit is poured out again and again.
LeStrange and LeClaire offer this definition that clearly focusses upon the
harvest of souls.
“The hubs are not only called to be places of revival and outpouring but also of equipping and advancing.
Radical moves of the Spirit and hosting the presence of God are only part of the call of these emerging
centers. These must also be places that teach, activate and equip the body of Christ for Last Days harvest
and every member must be active.”164

This is clearly Early Church activity as recorded in the book of Acts where they
went everywhere evangelizing. Nothing could hold them back. The Holy Spirit
propelled them in His power. This is why I love the Acts 1:8 vision and purpose
for the church.

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

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 I agree with Martyn Lloyd-Jones statement, “And it is only as you have a truly
revived Church that mighty evangelism can take place.”165 A revival church is
one where people on the outside see that God is with you.

Zechariah 8:20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:`Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many
cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before
the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also." Yes, many peoples and strong nations
Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.' "Thus says the
LORD of hosts:`In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a
Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'"

This is the evangelistic impact of a revival church.

How do I conclude this Revival Fire Manual? Was God’s purpose fulfilled
or does it fall short? I will let others determine that, but let it suffice here that I
perhaps learned more in this brief examination of revival than anyone else. I will
close with a quote by Martyn Lloyd-Jones followed by a recent prophetic
revelation from one of those watchmen on the wall. May we all heed the present
truth of the call and desperate need for revival today!
 “If we want to get the people in, here is the answer. Here is the infallible, the certain way – the falling of the
Holy Ghost upon the Church, the shedding forth of the Spirit of God again, and the Church being given a new
baptism of power, and of authority, and ability to witness and to preach. Can more be said? Do you not see it
all here? That is how God started the Church, that is how God has continued to keep the Church alive.
When, in the hands of men, she has, so often, almost died, God has again done this self-same thing. He has
repeated his original action…Go on with all your activities, if you wish to do so. Go on with your work. I am
not saying that you should stop all your efforts and just wait. No, go on, if you like, doing all that you are
doing, but I do say this – make certain you leave time to pray for revival, and to see that that has more time
than anything else. Because when the Holy Ghost comes in power, more will happen in an hour than will
happen in fifty or even a hundred years as a result of your exertions and mine.” 166

 “THE NEXT MOVE OF THE SPIRIT” (Jane Ebie, Prophetic Intercessor)

“Wake up Church! Wake Up! Hear - Do you not hear? Do you not see? Do you not know the power of prayer!
Blind eyes will see - the sick healed - even the dead will rise in the name of Jesus. Do you not know the
power of authority? Speak the Word - My Word into existence child. Some will run in fright and some will
drop to their knees. Yes the trumpet is sounding in all areas. Do you hear what the Spirit is saying to the
Church of today? Nothing will happen without My command. You will look with your eyes and see the
recompense of the wicked. Many will come to know Me through this outpouring of prayer - the wave of My
Word spoken forth with vitality and vigor. Many who hate Christ will appear and try to stifle the Word. But My
Word will not bow. Bow to it - Strengthen the weak and speak the Word - Pray child, pray My Word - Hear
the power of prayer - Call to Me at all hours of the day and night and see the wave of power thru prayer.
Amen and Amen.
My Word will not go void child - Am I ready for this wave Lord? Gird your loins and get ready. Prayer will
come into action - bordering all corners of the earth, signs and wonders being performed in the name of
Jesus - people falling in repentance and crying for lost souls. Prayer will be manifested as never before with
signs and wonders. Speak it child, speak it. End time army troops will bring in the harvest that has been
sprouted. My Word will be activated child - not by power, not by might but by My Spirit saith the Lord.

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 The earth will tremble and the mountains will crumble with people running to and fro seeking a place of
refuge. Do not fear for I am in it all. It will be a big tremendous move of Me. My angels are in position waiting
for My command. What do I do with all the information Lord? Keep it till the appointed time child.”167

What do we see? What do we hear” What do we do?

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Endnotes
1
Spirit Filled Life Bible, Word Wealth 8:32, p. 1589
2
Brown, Driver, Brigs, Hebrew and English Lexicon (Unabridged), 3015 (Hebrew), p. 313.
3
Pratney, Winkie. Revival: Principles to Change the World. Agape Force: Lindale, TX 1984, 2010, p.
20
4
Orr, J. Edwin. The Flaming Tongue: The Impact of Twentieth Century Revivals. Moody Press:
Chicago 1973, p. ix
5
Pratney, pp. 14-15
6
Ibid. pp. 12-13
7
Ravenhill, Leonard. Revival God’s Way: A Message for the Church. Bethany House Publishers:
Bloomington, MN, 1983, p. 63
8
Ibid. p. 64
9
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Revival. Crossway Books: Westchester, IL, 1987, p.50
10
Campbell, Duncan (2015-12-15). Revival in the Hebrides (Kindle Locations 123-131). Kraus House.
Kindle Edition.
11
Waugh, Geoff (2010-12-06). Flashpoints of Revival (Kindle Locations 241-245). CreateSpace. Kindle
Edition.
12
Orr, p. 5
13
Ibid, p. 6
14
Ibid, p. 8
15
Ibid, p. 10
16
Lloyd-Jones, p. 90
17
Ravenhill, p. 101
18
Ibid, p. 107
19
Ibid, p. 109
20
Ibid, p. 115
21
Ibid, p. 16
22
Ibid, p. 68
23
Ibid, p. 50
24
Ibid, p. 58
25
Ibid, p. 78
26
Ibid, p. 119
27
Ibid, pp. 132-133
28
Ibid, p. 147
29
Waugh, (Kindle Location 295)
30
Ravenhill, p. 85
31
Ibid, p. 59
32
Campbell, Duncan. Revival in the Hebrides (Kindle Locations 585-592). Kraus House. Kindle
Edition.
33
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 592)
34
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 606)
35
Ibid, (Kindle locations 606-620)
36
Orr, pp. 144-145
37
Ibid, p. 158
38
Fish, Henry C. Handbook of Revivals (Kindle Locations 2884-2894). Counted Faithful. Kindle
Edition.
39
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 558).
40
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 572-573).
41
The Revival Study Bible. Armour Publishing, 2010, p. 1477

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42
Ravenhill, p. 72
43
This comprehensive series was presented at the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California in
1981. The quotes taken from lecture 1, The Awakening of 1727 Onward and lecture 2, The
Awakening of 1792 Onward. http://www.jedwinorr.com/archives/#sectionA_answer_8
44
Ibid. Lecture 1
45
Ibid. Lecture 1
46
Ibid, Lecture 2
47
Ibid, Lecture 2
48
Finney, Charles. The Works of Charles Finney, Vol 1 (15-in-1) Power From on High, Lectures on
Revivals of Religion, Autobiography of Charles Finney, Revival Fire, Holiness of Christians,
Systematic Theology (Kindle Locations 4143-4144). . Kindle Edition
49
Ibid, (Kindle Location 4269)
50
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4279-4289)
51
Orr, Lecture 1
52
Finney, (Kindle Locations 4294-4298)
53
Lloyd-Jones, pp. 90-91
54
Pratney, p. 59
55
Finney, (Kindle Locations 15895-15900)
56
Ibid, (Kindle Location 4227)
57
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 16197-16202)
58
Ibid, (Kindle Location 175)
59
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4166-4168)
60
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4361-4363)
61
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4370-4371)
62
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4373-4374)
63
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4346-4347, 4343-4347, 4352-4356)
64
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 4400-4402).
65
This revival began among high school youth in March 2016 and spread to families throughout the
poverty stricken coal mining region in the mountains of West Virginia. Within 10 weeks over 4,000
conversions were reported with numerous healings, deliverances, and those baptized with the Holy
Spirit.
66
Kimnach, Wildon H., Minkema, Kenneth P., Sweeney, Douglas A., eds. The Sermons of Jonathan
Edwards: A Reader. Yale University Press: New Haven 1999, p. xxx
67
Ibid, p. xxx
68
Finney, (Kindle Locations 7126-7129)
69
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7130-7132)
70
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7136-7138)
71
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7148-7149)
72
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7190-7194).
73
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7232-7235)
74
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7250-7254)
75
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7290-7292)
76
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7197-7199, 7215-7219)
77
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 7356-7357)
78
Waugh, Geoff. Flashpoints of Revival (Kindle Locations 173-174). CreateSpace. Kindle Edition.
79
This ABCD view of the Old Testament was presented in 1974 during a secular course on the Bible
at Ohio State University shortly after my conversion.
80
Fish, Henry C. Handbook of Revivals (Kindle Locations 172-174). Counted Faithful. Kindle
Edition.
81
Pratney, p. 19 and Waugh, (Kindle Locations 261-265)
82
Pratney, pp. 19-20 and Waugh, (Kindle Locations 266-273).

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83
Orr, pp. 24-25
84
Ibid, p. 25
85
Fish, (Kindle Location 1243)
86
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 1249-1252)
87
Ibid, (Kindle Locations 1253-1256)
88
Lloyd-Jones, p. 145
89
Orr, p. 81
90
Edwards, Jonathan, A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God. Section II, par. 2
91
Peter Cartwright, Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, The Backwoods Preacher, edited by W. P.
Strickland (New York: Carlton Porter, 1856), 30–31, 34–38, 45–52
92
Ibid.
93
McMaster, John Bach. A History of the People of the United States from the Revolution to the
Civil War, Vol. II 1790-1803. D. Appleton and Company, 1914, pp. 581-582
94
Boles, John B., The Great Revival: Beginnings of the Bible Belt. The University Press of Kentucky,
1972, p. 67
95
Ibid., p. 68
96
Cartwright, pp. 30-31, 34-38, 45-52
97
Lloyd-Jones, p. 136
98
Ibid., p. 146
99
Ibid., p. 147
100
Edwards, Section II
101
Ibid., Section II
102
Lloyd-Jones, p. 147
103
Ibid., p. 119
104
Ibid., p. 120
105
Finney, (Kindle Locations 13074-13079).
106
Waugh, Geoff. Flashpoints of Revival (Kindle Locations 876-881)
107
Shaw, Mark. Global Awakening: How 20th-Century Revivals Triggered a Christian Revolution
(pp. 43-44) Kindle Edition
108
Ibid., pp. 44-45
109
Ibid., p. 41
110
Ibid., pp. 95-96
111
Ibid., p. 108
112
Waugh, (Kindle Locations 944-945)
113
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 2660-2661)
114
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 296-297)
115
Edwards, A Faithful Narrative, Section II
116
Fish, Henry C. Handbook of Revivals (Kindle Locations 224, 233).
117
Waugh, (Kindle Locations 297-311)
118
Ibid., (Kindle Location 412)
119
Edwards, Section II
120
Finney, (Kindle Location 4143)
121
Pratney, Revival. pp. 127, 135
122
Waugh, (Kindle Location 706)
123
Ibid.
124
Orr, The Flaming Tongue, p. 17
125
Waugh, Flashpoints of Revival (Kindle Locations 1067-1068)
126
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 1334-1336)
127
Ibid., (Kindle Location 2417)
128
Orr, p. 20
129
Finney, (Kindle Location 4162)

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130
Finney, (Kindle Locations 4301-4302)
131
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 4315-4319)
132
Fish, Henry C. Handbook of Revivals (Kindle Locations 63-66).
133
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 939-944)
134
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 950-952)
135
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 882-885).
136
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 875-876)
137
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 581)
138
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 825-826)
139
Waugh, Flashpoints of Revival (Kindle Locations 2348-2350)
140
Shaw, Mark. Global Awakening, p. 16) Kindle Edition.
141
Ibid., pp. 17-18
142
Fish, Handbook of Revivals (Kindle Locations 702-716)
143
Finney, The Works of Charles Finney, Vol 1 (Kindle Locations 4222-4226)
144
Ibid., (Kindle Location 4213)
145
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 4416-4419)
146
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 4947-4950, 4954-4955, 4999-5000, 5915-5916, 6117-6119)
147
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 4487-4489, 4515-4516, 4636, 4647-4652)
148
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 5463-5466, 5522-5525, 5600-5601, 5619-5621, 5829-5831, 5873-5874, 5877)
149
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 6161-6166, 6187-6197, 6373-6375)
150
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 4166-4168, 4172-4178)
151
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 9214-9216, 9222-9223, 9227-9228, 9232-9236, 9241-9246)
152
Ibid., (Kindle Location 8382)
153
Lecture 15 (Kindle Location 8369ff) of Finney’s Lectures on Revival are worthy of review. I
provide a list here to show the gravity of hindering revivals and that it entails a lot more than
commonly understood.
154
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 9182-9184, 9190-9192, 9196-9197 )
155
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 11597-11598, 11604-11606, 11608-11609, 11612-11613)
156
Finney, Charles. (Kindle Locations 5915-5916, 5931-5935, 5938-5939, 5939-5941, 5952-5953, 5957-
5958, 5960-5962, 5966, 5978-5979, 5984-5985 )
157
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 6118-6119)
158
Ibid., (Kindle Location 8494)
159
Lloyd-Jones, Revival. p. 32
160
Ibid., pp. 49, 53
161
LeStrange, Ryan; LeClaire, Jennifer. Revival Hubs Rising: Revealing a New Ministry Paradigm for
the Next Great Move of God (Kindle Locations 150-160). Impact Awakening Ministries, Inc.. Kindle
Edition.
162
Ibid., (Kindle Location 167)
163
Ibid., (Kindle Location 159)
164
Ibid., (Kindle Locations 138-140)
165
Lloyd-Jones, p. 64
166
Ibid., p. 210
167
Prophetic intercession often manifests with those who feel the weight of the burden for the
church and those outside who are perishing. These prophetic words were given on October 16, 2016
by Jane Ebie, a veteran intercessor and one of the watchmen on the wall set by God.

PAGE 99
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Campbell, Duncan (2015-12-15). Revival in the Hebrides. Kraus House. Kindle Edition.

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edwards.org/Narrative.html

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1803. D. Appleton and Company, 1914.

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