God’s Pattern for Spiritual Revival and Awakening

When God awakens His people, lives are radically changed. It is during these times of revival followed by a spiritual awakening that major reforms happen. People begin to put off their old life of sin and put on a brand new life in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Jesus’ instructions for this to happen is simple and to the point. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

After His death and resurrection Jesus came to revive the spirits of His disciples and gave them these instructions.

“He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father… you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-8)

When the Holy Spirit came on that Day of Pentecost He empowered the church and multitudes came marveling and amazed by what they saw and heard, Acts 2:1-12.

So here’s the formula (I really hate saying it like this, but I think you will see what I mean).

When God’s people surrender themselves fully to God’s word and the Holy Spirit then God will draw this watching and waiting world to Himself through the church and His people.

It says the people were cut to the heart when Peter began preaching the gospel message and a great spiritual awakening took place.

God’s pattern therefore begins with revival of God’s people and then a spiritual awakening among the lost will occur. In other words, revival begins with us.

Let me give you a short prayer to pray every day. The prayer comes from the book by Evelyn Christensen entitled, “Lord Change Me,” and a prayer uttered by Evan Roberts that basically started the great revival of 1904.

“Lord Change and Bend Me.”