Revival: A Call to Advance | Essential Christianity 201

Essential Christianity
Revival: A Call to Advance 

Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV) 2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 

Essential: Absolutely necessary; extremely important. 

Christianity: Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Christians believe that God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins. 

What is revival, salvation, and renewal? 

Revival: A sovereign move of God that awakens His people from spiritual sleep, rekindles passion for His presence, restores holiness, and empowers the Church to advance His Kingdom. 

Psalm 85:6 (NIV) 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 

Salvation: God’s act of rescuing humanity from sin and its penalty through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, offering forgiveness, new life, and eternal relationship with Him to all who believe. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Renewal: The ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that refreshes, restores, and strengthens believers, bringing personal transformation and sustained spiritual vitality. 

Romans 12:2a (NIV) 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Revival wakes us up.  Salvation raises us up.  Renewal keeps us going. 

1. Deep hunger for God. 

Common Thread: Every revival begins with people desperate for more of God—not programs, not personalities, but His presence. 

Example: The Moravians at Herrnhut (1727) launched a 100-year prayer meeting because of their hunger. 

Takeaway: Revival is birthed in prayer and sustained by holy desperation. 

2. Extraordinary Prayer. 

Common Thread: Fervent, united, persistent prayer is always the furnace of revival. 

Example: Azusa Street (1906) was marked by prayer meetings where people spent hours on their faces before God. 

Takeaway: Revival always flows out of a praying people. 

3. Repentance and holiness. 

Common Thread: Revivals call people back to repentance, brokenness, and holiness before God. 

Example: Brownsville Revival (1995) emphasized deep conviction of sin—altars were filled nightly with repentance. 

Takeaway: Genuine revival always produces transformed lives, not just emotional experiences. 

4. Fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit. 

Common Thread: Revival brings renewed awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power—often with spiritual gifts being stirred. 

Example: Azusa Street sparked a global Pentecostal movement through Spirit baptism and gifts. 

Takeaway: Revival reawakens the Church to Spirit-empowered living. 

5. Radical love and unity. 

Common Thread: Barriers of race, denomination, and status are often broken down. Revival produces deep love among believers. 

Example: At Azusa Street, in a deeply segregated America, people of all races worshiped together. 

Takeaway: Revival heals divisions and displays the unity of the Body of Christ. 

6. Passion for evangelism and missions. 

Common Thread: Revival doesn’t stop in the Church—it spills into the streets and nations. 

Example: The Moravian Revival birthed one of the greatest missionary movements in history. 

Takeaway: True revival doesn’t just fill altars; it empties pews as people go out with the gospel. 

7. Joy and renewal in worship. 

Common Thread: Revivals often bring new songs, new freedom in worship, and a sense of God’s tangible presence. 

Example: The Charismatic Movement brought a wave of contemporary worship and expressive praise. 

Takeaway: Revival renews the Church’s song and restores joy in God’s presence. 

Revival—A Call to Advance 

“For so many, the task of the Church has become a holding engagement rather than a campaign of advance. Neither person nor an institution can stand still. It must either advance or retreat. It must either progress or decay.” William Barclay, Daily Celebration Volume 2 

Matthew 16:18 (ESV) 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

4 Thoughts on Revival: 

1.) Revival awakens the sleeping church. 

Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) 14Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 

Revival doesn’t hit snooze, it wakes us up for God’s mission. 

2.) Revival advances God’s Kingdom. 

Matthew 11:12 (NIV) 12The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 

“The Church is not a hotel for saints but a hospital for sinners.” D.L. Moody 

Revival turns the Church from caretakers into Kingdom conquerors. 

3.) Revival demands personal progress. 

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

If I’m not growing in Christ, I’m drifting from Christ. 

4.) Revival leads to lasting renewal. 

Psalm 85:6 (NIV) 6Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? 

Revival is not a flash of fire, it’s a sustained flame of renewal. 

Personal application:  

Where have I fallen asleep?  Where do I need to advance?  Where do I need to grow?  Where do I need lasting renewal? 

“For so many, the task of the Church has become a holding engagement rather than a campaign of advance. Neither person nor an institution can stand still. It must either advance or retreat. It must either progress or decay.” William Barclay, Daily Celebration Volume 2 

Awakening: Lord, wake me up from spiritual sleep. Remove complacency and stir my heart for You.  

Ephesians 5:14 (ESV) 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 

Advancement: Lord, help me to move forward in faith, to share boldly, to live with Kingdom purpose.  

Matthew 11:12 (ESV) 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 

Growth: Lord, don’t let me drift. Grow me in grace, in prayer, in holiness, and in love for others.  

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 

Renewal: Lord, light a flame in me that doesn’t fade. Make revival in me a lasting renewal that overflows to others.  

Psalm 85:6 (ESV) 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 

“Lord, revive us again. We will not stand still. We will advance, we will progress, and we will burn for You.”