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Approaching God One Thought At A Time

When is a revival needed? When carelessness and unconcern keep the people asleep.
- Bill Sunday

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Revival Research

While many claim to value the concept of revival, for various reasons relatively few give the subject the study it demands and deserves. In light of today's immediate access to an enormous amount of information, there's no longer any valid excuse not to become a student of the past and present outpourings of the Spirit of God.

The articles and resources found in this section are offered in hopes of inspiring and educating serious Christians on how best in these days we might draw near to God that He should draw near to us. With an eye to "Redeeming the time because the days are evil."


The Holy Writings say, “Wake up, you who are sleeping. Rise from the dead and Christ will give you light.

- Ephesians 5:14 NLV


Given those outside and inside the Church are in desperate need of revival, an important step in seeking God's presence and power, provision and protection would be the study of such movements of the past and present.

An overview of revival research reveals similarities and differences within each move of God. These include when and where the outpouring occurred, how people reacted and it's long term results. Perhaps most important is the question of what actions on the part of believers seemed to initiate the concentration of the Holy Spirit in their midst. Such honest and studious investigation will help to define what revival represents and how best it might be realized. The following are a few excellent resources:

  • One such work was written by Oswald Smith in 1925 and endorsed by such famous evangelist from Jonathan Goforth (the Charles Finney of China to Billy Graham. Entitled, "The Revival We Need" in a single source can be found an overview of past mighty moves of God with quotes from many of those He chose to use as well as an ardent appeal to all Christians to labor diligently in hopes of seeing similar or greater results.
  • The website, "Revival Hymn" provides another excellent source of information centering on commentaries from the 1905 Welsh Revival as well as insightful and moving comments from a variety of recognized experts on the subject.
  • Those brave of heart should consider studying the writings of Charles Finney's, including his famous teaching "Power From On High." This in depth first hand testimony contains vital lessons from someone whom may well be the most spiritually powerful man to have walked the earth since the original apostles.
  • For an unparalleled look at how revival spread throughout China giving rise to 100 million believers in the last few decades, Brother Yun (a.k.a. Liu Zhenying) two books, "The Heavenly Man" and "Living Water" are must reads.
  • Long considered by many to be the most spiritually astute Pastor in America, David Wilkerson's messages (available as free audios and podcasts) delivered from the pulpit of Times Square Church located within miles of "ground zero" in New York City provide an invaluable resource and source of encouragement for the those seeking revival.
  • A leading expert on the subject of revivals the world over, George Otis as the creator of the acclaimed, "Transformation Videos" offers tried and tested methods of attracting the attention of the Holy Spirit in community changing ways.

Every genuine revival produces a clarion call for Sanctification. Long overlooked in modern Christianity, this continued or perhaps second work of grace was a hallmark of Pentecostalism since the time of the Christ's first apostles. For this reason among others, while all moves of God are marked by human weakness, some may be more suspect than others. The recent "Toronto Blessing," "Pensacola Outpouring" are "Lakeland Florida Revival" excellent case study:

  • Lakeland Florida: For more information try the following links. Pro opinion. Con opinion.

Overwhelming Need

Regardless of the good intentions and positive feedback of participants, many, if not all modern revivals or renewals seem to be falling short of the real objective. Overall they sadly fail the crucial test of producing the kind of long term lifestyle altering living faith scripture demands of such a "spoiled rich kid" society like our own. With the modern Church asleep in the face of such unprecedented sins as the following, surely the Holy Spirit requires more repentance from a society so permeated with the original sin of entitlement than intimate intimate songs and holy laughter, the jerks and barnyard shenanigans:

1. Abortion: In a single generation the loss of human life by clinical abortion has grown to eclipse all other forms of murder. With over a billion slaughtered the womb, many times the entire population of the earth in Christ's day, abortion has replaced the battle fields, freeways and crack houses as the world's most dangerous place to be. In this regard, sins of omission and commission are devastating the Church, hindering our prayers and impacting our worship, communion if not our very salvation. Blind to the true nature of God's justice and judgment, to date no modern revival has given this pinnacle sin of mankind its due.

2. Poverty and Need: While First World Nations enjoy the kind of unprecedented blessing and riches technology affords, Third World Peoples live and die in misery and squaller.

3. Violence: Beyond abortion, violence takes many forms. Fatal to over a million and a half annually, its brutish behavior has scared humanity itself. Since the time of Christ's sacrificial example and emphatic command to "love one another" dozens of wars and genocides half resulted in the senseless slaughter of billions.

4. Sexual Sin and Promiscuity: Scripture teaches immorality is a sin against ourselves, individually and as a society. Epidemic in proportion and global in scope, a tsunami of lust has covered the world and our families since the 60's sexual revolution without every receding. With chastity for teens and adults out of date, a Pandora's Box of woes has unleashed a flood of woes. Worse, with Madison Avenue and Hollywood pushing sexuality through advertising and entertainment, it's been raining temptation 40 years day and night with no end in sight.

5. Sensuality and Pornography: For millennia modesty was the norm with even women's swimsuits ankle length. Today we show more skin and curves in church than prostitutes were allowed to for most of human history. Without being overly Puritan, clearly we've left little to the imagination. Of course pornography present and readily available everywhere in print, video and internet all restrain has been removed. The combined effect has overturned thousands of years of morality and our families have, are and will continue suffer for it without the deliverance of God.

6. Broken Homes and Divorce: In American more than 4 out of 10 children are born to unmarried parents. Of those bothering to take the time, today's astronomical divorce rate, even among professing Christians, is leaving hundreds of millions of family members with less resistance to temptation and sin of every kind.

7. Drugs and Alcohol: While usage of this and or that drug may rise and fall, the ravages of addictions have brought pain and suffering to billions. One user can devastate many who love and care for them.

8. Social Apathy: In the face overwhelming spiritual and physical need, the numbers speak for themselves. According to census figures annually the average American spends the equivalent of four months sleeping, six weeks watching TV and four and half days exercising. By comparison, the average American invests only eight minutes a day volunteering or participating in religious or spiritual activities.


Such social and spiritual globally need speaks volumes regarding our desperate need of revival. Essential to obeying both the first an second great commandments, access to power from on High to carry our the Great Commission is both the birthright and responsibility of every Christian.


Revival Related Articles



Great Resources

Sentinel Group: George Otis, Jr. “Transformational Videos”


David Wilkerson


John Wesley:


Charles Finney


Jonathan Edwards


Leonard Ravenhill

Additional Teachings


Testimonials




More information

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