Our Cry for Revival
It’s a common mistake to assume all revivals are large and well-known among Christians. The Great Awakening, The Welsh Revival of 1904, Azusa Street, even the Jesus Movement are fairly well-known among believers. But how many of us are familiar with the Kilsyth revival of 1839; the 1860 revival in Tinevelly, South India, or the Moravian revival of 1727? There are dozens of (mostly regional) revivals that we never hear about. Some even count the day of Pentecost as an example of revival. Though Christians may disagree on the theological significance and limitations of Pentecost, we can all admire the fervency of the great evangelist Dwight Moody in one of his last sermons in Boston (his spiritual birthplace) when he said, “See how he came on the day of Pentecost! It is not carnal to pray that he may come again and that the place be shaken. I believe Pentecost was but a specimen day. I think the church has made this woeful mistake that Pentecost was a miracle never to be repeated. I have thought too that Pentecost was a miracle not be repeated. I believe now if we looked on Pentecost as a specimen day and began to pray, we should have the old Pentecostal fire here in Boston.”
We could also ask about the sequence of revival, even as we admit God brings revival in his own, often unexpected, way. But generally, the sequence of revival goes something like this:
God creates the hunger for revival in his people.
We pray for the desired revival (often for years).
God brings revival, which is characterized by a deep sense of his presence, which in turn brings conviction of sin.
Earnest confession and repentance follows conviction.
Forgiveness of confessed sins leads into profound worship and true appreciation for God’s amazing grace.
Though this part of revival is for God’s people—his church—the usual result is that many previously unsaved people are also convicted of sin and are born again, entering the family of God.
This sequence of events is a short explanation—and subject to change as revival is unpredictable and often catches us off-guard, even when it’s been the focus of our prayers.
The big question is: will the God who has answered the pleas of his people in the past for revival, bring yet another revival before Christ’s return?
Most intercessors are certain the answer is yes. Why else would he call so many to pray for revival unless he intends to answer those prayers? Why would he allow us to experience our own paltry efforts at living righteously in an unrighteous world? Why would he show us how empty the amusements of this present age are when compared to the joys of his kingdom?
So, if God is the one who initiates revival, what’s our part to play? There is only one thing we can do—pray boldly and persistently for it. We dare not do anything else. True revival has only God’s fingerprints on it. When we try to manufacture revival, we only thwart God’s ability to usher in true revival. We must simply pray and trust God for revival. Our own hands cannot touch the working of God.
Even though we may not create revival, we can prepare for it as we pray for it.
And remember, when revival comes, it may not be what we expected. How God answers our prayers is up to him. The kind of revival we witness is rarely what we expect.
This excerpt is from Our Cry for Revival by Nick Harrison, published with permission by B&H Publishing.