Forecast: Wind and Rain
I’ve been praying for revival in America since 1985. I know that for many of you the concept of revival or spiritual awakening may be a bit foreign. If you haven’t personally lived through one, or if you don’t know someone who has lived through one, or if you haven’t studied the history of spiritual awakening, it can be hard to get your brain around.
Let me tell you what I mean and for what I’m praying:
Revivals are periods in history when God powerfully makes his presence known in villages, cities and even countries. In revival, believers are convicted to live holy and sacrificial lives and unbelievers find themselves terrified and deeply convicted by the sheer, raw presence of God. A common feature of revival is unbelievers seeking out pastors and preachers so they can ask them how to be saved.
Revivals can last for days, weeks, months or even years, but their impact typically lasts for decades. Sometimes longer.
In revival it’s not unusual for:
Crime rates to drop dramatically
Bars and strip clubs to shut down
Church services to last for hours and even days
Mission movements to be birthed
People of all walks of life and levels of influence to publicly confess their sins
Business and banks to close during the day so employees can attend prayer meetings
Significant numbers of people to embrace Christ and be baptized
And, for the spiritual and moral trajectory of entire nations to be changed. Many historians believe that the British were spared a bloody revolution like France experienced because of the revival that swept through England in the 18th Century.
That’s what I’m praying for, and I know that countless others are as well.
I’ve been slowly reading through a book by Art Wallis on revival called, In the Day of Thy Power. I’ve read several of Wallis’ books, and this is by far (in my opinion) his most important. It is thorough, well-written and well-researched. Wallis covers the history of revival around the world, examines the nature and causes of revival, and repeatedly calls believers to pursue revival for their respective cities and nations.
In a closing chapter, Wallis talks about the signs that revival is on its way. The chapter really encouraged me. I see several of these signs all around me today. Do you? Here is a brief list of the signs and some of what Wallis says about them. His words are italicized.
Sign 1–A Spirit of Lawlessness and Deadness
It is strange but true that the prevalence of lawlessness in the world and of deadness in the church is often an indication of impending revival.
Sign 2–A Spirit of Dissatisfaction
But a sure mark of impending revival is where this spirit of dissatisfaction becomes apparent among believers. It may not be widespread, but here and there among different groups there is a growing thirst for a fuller, richer and deeper experience of God than they have known.
Sign 3–A Spirit of Sin-consciousness
A spirit of contrition among the saints is therefore a strong indication that revival is coming. Where this happens, and there is a deep desire on the part of the saints to walk in the light with God and in love one with another, it is evident that the Spirit of God is working and hearts are being prepared for the outpouring of the Spirit.
Sign 4–A Spirit of Tender Concern
When the harsh, unfeeling criticism with which believers often speak of the state of the church or the sin of the world gives place to a deep solicitude and tender concern which manifests the strong compassion of the Son of God, then we may be sure that the hour of revival is near. When the saints mourn before the Lord as did Hannah, Nehemiah and Daniel, the answer of heaven will be as near to them as it was to those of a bygone age when they wept in the secret place.
Sign 5–A Spirit of Expectancy
To find groups of Christians in different places—meeting independently of one another, with no denominational or other connection and yet possessing the same spirit of desire and expectancy throbbing in their hearts—is presumptive evidence that it has been created by the sovereign Spirit, that out of the fullness of His loving heart God may abundantly satisfy it.
Sign 6–A Spirit of Unity
“With one accord” marked the preparation of those early believers for the first outpouring of the Spirit, and so it has been in every subsequent outpouring.
When, however, such (traditional religious) barriers are thrown down and believers come together in true humility and on the common ground of their love for Christ and desire for souls; when denominational pride and jealousy are slain and there is a willingness, without compromising personal convictions, to learn in meekness one of another, to receive light and impart light, then there is evidence indeed that revival is coming. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . . . For there the LORD commanded the blessing” (Ps. 133:1, 3).
Sign 7–A Spirit of Prayer
Finally, the infallible sign of impending revival is a spirit of prayer for it.
Therefore, we may be confident that where a true spirit of prayer for revival exists, it does not proceed from the devil.
This spirit of prayer need not be widespread before it constitutes a sign of impending blessing. It may be but a small group of earnest souls; it may be but a single intercessor who has caught the vision of what God is about to do and refuses to let Him go until He does it.
Like a said, I see many of these signs being lived out in significant ways all around me. Is God on the verge of answering our prayers? I believe so. Are you ready for it? Will God’s sudden movement in our land miss you because you’re distracted or spiritually lazy?
The Scriptures urge us to prepare the way of the Lord. Friends, no words could be more relevant for us today. It’s time.
Two metaphors in the Bible symbolize the presence and blessing of God, respectively–wind and rain. Based on all that is happening in the Church and in our world, I believe both are in the forecast. Yea God.
*Besides Wallis’ book, I also recommend Trey Kent’s Revival Cry.
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