On August 31, 1986, in the evening service from the Thompson Road Baptist Church pulpit in Indianapolis, I began the message with these words: “It happened 18 months ago here in the heart of America—a 20th-century moving of the Holy Spirit of God—what one man who was an eye witness described as ‘the most remarkable manifestation of His power that I have seen in many years.’ Here is what a few folk who were part of what many called a “genuine revival” said of it:
- “For the first time in 20 years, my mother and I have a peace and freedom in the Lord.”
- “Our church was very cold. There were a lot of bitter feelings. Some of us were not speaking. Sunday night we ended up in tears, hugging one another.”
- “Our marriage has been refreshed—it’s like a second honeymoon.”
- “God has taken away all the hate and anger I had for my wife. He stopped a divorce. He has replaced the pride and bitterness and stubbornness with a love and peace.”
- “God turned our school upside down.”
- “Praise the Lord—I now have that heart relationship that for 40 years was missing in my life.”
- “I have seen many ‘mercy drops’ in over 30 years of ministry, but nothing like this ‘shower of blessing!’”
And there were many more. It was a protracted revival meeting in some western Indiana communities that changed lives, homes, and churches as evidenced by a broad swath of personal testimonies.
We do not hear too much about “revival meetings” today, but God has not changed, and none would argue that there is—in our sophisticated, 21st century, high-tech oriented worship gatherings—no longer a need for such a moving of the Holy Spirit. The question is not, “Can God still give revival?” The question is, “When will God revive His church, His people?”
- The preparation for revival
A.T. Pierson said, “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in prayer.”
Charles Finney said, “Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—or, if need be, to win and die!”
2. The price of revival
> Confession
> Contrition
> Restitution
> Consecration
Milton Kerr, in his newsletter, quoted George Sweeting on “Practical Steps To Revival: (1) Be dissatisfied with yourself—your spiritual posture; (2) Ask God to transform your life; be as determined for the blessing as Jacob was when wrestling with God; (3) Put yourself in the way of blessing, not neglecting prayer; (4) Do a thorough job of repenting: ‘Create within me a clean heart,’ David sobbed; (5) Make restitution whenever possible; if you owe a debt, pay it. (6) Develop a seriousness of purpose; keep off the detours; (7) Deliberately narrow your interests. The Christian life requires specialists—Jesus said in effect, ‘Be a one-eyed man,’ and Paul said, ‘This one thing I do.’”
3. The product of revival
> Reconciliation
> Rejoicing
> Restored love
> Revitalized power
> Renewed freedom
I began this post with a brief reference to an area-wide revival in the mid-1980s in west-central Indiana. I close with an except of a testimony from one man transformed by that revival: “I was doing great and enjoying the revival immensely until the night Del (Fehsenfeld of Life Action) preached on holiness. That night God began to pull the cover off of some sins I had suppressed for years. During the next few days, as I listened to the messages on clear conscience and bitterness, I was under deep conviction. But there was something wrong in my life I could not put my finger on. One night I went home and fell on my face before God. I fell asleep….with still no answer. The next thing I realized the dog was barking. I got up to let him in, and as I did I noticed that it was 3 a.m. I remembered during the revival, God had been waking many people about this time, so I started praying. No sooner had I hit the couch in prayer than God gave seven names of people from whom I needed to ask forgiveness.
“I awakened my wife and told her that God had shown me what I needed to do to clear up my sin. I decided I would wait until morning, but as I walked back to the couch, God’s Holy Spirit said, ‘Do it now.’ He told me to start driving and He would show me where to go. At 3:45 a.m., I was in the car headed for I-74. On the list was my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my wife’s sister, a pastor, my brother, and his wife. At 6 a.m. I drove by my in-law’s trailer. It was so dark I went to a motel to call them so I wouldn’t scare them.”
I am not going to have space for all of this testimony, but here is the final paragraph: “Since that day my life, which I thought was ok, has changed radically. My conscience is clear; my spirit is free, and Christ is living His life through me.”
“Oh Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years…Wilt Thou not revive us again that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?” (Hab.3:2; Ps.85:6)
YOU and GOD 