The Church on Fire!

The Church on Fire! What a revival looks like.

What does a church look like that is the midst of a revival? That is experiencing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit? We know what to look for from the history of revivals. Here are eight signs:

First, significant numbers of people are coming to know Christ as Savior. Paul told the believers at Ephesus that their transformation began when they heard the word of truth—the Gospel—and believed it. Christianity is a supernatural religion. People enter into it when they are miraculously born again. When the church is being fired by renewal we see many coming to Christ.

Second, a revival produces a strong sense of sin in the people followed by heartfelt repentance. In John 16:7 Jesus said He was going to leave his disciples. Why? Because he Holy Spirit would be coming. And what’s the first thing the Spirit does? He convicts of sin. When the Spirit arrives in revival power He convicts of sin.

Third, in a revival people develop an uncompromising commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. They seek to live holy lives and reject the values of the age. They want Him to be in charge and they seek every day to yield their lives to Him. Tozer was surely right, whom Christ saves He has the right to command.

Fourth, revival produces the confession of sin and asking for forgiveness, not just to God but to each other. Reconciliation takes place, old wrongs are forgiven. In Matthew 18 Jesus tells us that when we have a broken relationship with a brother we are to seek immediately to heal that break. In revival this happens on a large scale.

Fifth, revival produces a hunger for the Bible and a belief that it is the written Word of God. Revivals are accompanied by a deepening commitment to biblical truth. People who deny the truth of the Bible never experience revival. This would be true of theological liberals as well as the cults.

Sixth, a renewed commitment to missions. When Christ transforms your heart you want to see that transformation all over the world. I remember reading about one of the great revivals of all time, on Azusa Street in Los Angeles in 1906. One of the first things the Azusa Street Mission did was send missionaries all over the world. It was the beginning of the worldwide Pentecostal revival, a revival Walter Russell Mead of the Wall Street Journal has called the greatest social movement of all time. It began with personal revival but moved quickly into a passion for foreign missions.

Seven, revival brings a new compassion for the weak, the poor, the disadvantaged, children, the suffering, the unborn. When Christ is in your heart you develop the heart of Christ and His compassion for the weak and needy among us.

Eighth, revival is accompanied by spiritual warfare. Quite literally, when a revival breaks loose so does hell and all the powers of the devil. A renewal in a church or community sees many counterfeit revivals spring up as Satan tries to destroy the work of the Holy Spirit.

So there are eight characteristics of a revival. In my previous video I talked about the conditions in your heart and in your family and church that precede a revival like this. My great prayer is that our churches experience the above and continue the expansion of the mighty Kingdom of God until He comes.

Thanks for listening. May our God bless you this day in a mighty way.

More resources: What causes renewal in the church? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feiHEqpLkxI