Beg God to Move Again: Praying for Revival

Beg God to Move Again: Praying for Revival

Revival is a topic that has been discussed by Christians for centuries. It is a time when God moves in a powerful way, and we see many people come to know Him. Revival is not something that can be planned or scheduled; it is an act of the sovereign God. However, there are things that we can do to prepare ourselves and our churches for revival.

What is Revival?

Revival is a time when God's Spirit moves in a powerful way, and many people come to know Him. The Bible talks about revival in several places. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This verse shows us that revival starts with God's people turning back to Him and seeking His face.

In Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit come upon the disciples in a powerful way, and many people come to know Jesus. This event is often referred to as the birth of the Church. Throughout history, there have been many revivals, including the First and Second Great Awakenings in America, the Welsh Revival, and the Azusa Street Revival.

Why Do We Need Revival?

As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel with others and make disciples. However, we cannot do this in our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us. Revival is a time when the Holy Spirit moves in a powerful way, and we see many people come to know Jesus.

In addition to leading people to Christ, revival also has a purifying effect on the Church. When we seek God's face and confess our sins, we become more like Him. We become more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient, more kind, more good, more faithful, more gentle, and more self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23).

How Can We Prepare for Revival?

While we cannot control when or how revival comes, we can prepare ourselves and our churches for it. Here are a few things that we can do:

1. Pray

Prayer is the most important thing that we can do to prepare for revival. We should pray for our own hearts to be soft and open to the Holy Spirit. We should pray for our churches to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We should pray for our communities to be transformed by the power of the Gospel. We should pray for God to move in a powerful way.

2. Confess Our Sins

Revival starts with repentance. We need to confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness. We also need to confess our sins to one another and ask for their forgiveness (James 5:16).

3. Read the Bible

The Bible is God's Word, and it is the source of truth and wisdom. We should read the Bible daily and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us through it. As we read the Bible, we will learn more about who God is and what He wants us to do.

4. Worship

Worship is a way to express our love and adoration for God. We should worship Him with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. We should sing songs of praise, lift our hands in worship, and give thanks for all that He has done for us.

5. Serve Others

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We should look for ways to serve others and show them the love of Christ.

Seven Marks of Revival

While we cannot dictate to God what He will do, history shows us that there are some things that happen before and when revival comes that are worth noting. Here are seven marks of revival:

1. Faithful Preaching

Revival often starts with faithful preaching of the Word of God. The preaching is not just informational, but transformational. The preacher is not just delivering a message, but a message that delivers people from their sins.

In Acts 2, Peter preached a powerful sermon, and many people came to know Jesus. Peter was not just giving a lecture on theology; he was proclaiming the Gospel with power and conviction. The Holy Spirit used his preaching to pierce the hearts of the listeners.

2. Prayer

As we have already mentioned, prayer is essential to revival. During times of revival, people often spend hours in prayer, seeking God's face and asking for His mercy and grace.

In Acts 4, the disciples prayed for boldness to preach the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit filled them with power. They spoke the Word of God with boldness, and many people came to know Jesus.

3. Repentance

Repentance is a key ingredient in revival. We need to confess our sins and turn away from them. We need to seek God's forgiveness and His power to overcome sin in our lives.

In Nehemiah 8-9, the people of Israel confessed their sins and repented of their disobedience. As a result, God poured out His Spirit upon them, and they experienced a time of revival.

4. Unity

During times of revival, there is often a sense of unity among God's people. They are not divided by denominational differences or personal preferences. They are united in their love for Jesus and their desire to see others come to know Him.

In Acts 2, the disciples were all together in one place, praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came, they were united in their love for Jesus and their desire to share the Gospel with others.

5. Evangelism

Revival is often characterized by a renewed passion for evangelism. People who have been transformed by the Gospel cannot help but share it with others.

In Acts 8, Philip preached the Gospel to the Samaritans, and many people came to know Jesus. He then went to the Ethiopian eunuch and shared the Gospel with him. The eunuch believed and was baptized.

6. Signs and Wonders

During times of revival, there are often signs and wonders that accompany the preaching of the Gospel. These signs and wonders are not the focus of revival, but they are a confirmation of God's power.

In Acts 2, the disciples spoke in tongues, and many people were amazed. They knew that something supernatural was happening.

7. Transformation

The ultimate goal of revival is transformation. When people come to know Jesus, their lives are changed. They become more like Him, and they begin to love others as He loves them.

In Acts 2, the disciples were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. They became bold witnesses for Jesus, and many people came to know Him.

Conclusion

Revival is something that we should be praying for and seeking. We cannot control when or how it comes, but we can prepare ourselves and our churches for it. We should be faithful in preaching the Word of God, praying, repenting of our sins, seeking unity, sharing the Gospel, and looking for signs of God's power. Ultimately, we should be seeking transformation in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

Let us pray for revival in our churches, our communities, and our world. Let us beg God to move again.