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Some define revival as a "reawakening of religious fervor". However, revival is a lot more. It is the invasion of God in the lives of His people, the setting of hearts ablaze with the purposes of God, the inhabiting of His Church by the Holy Ghost, the explosion of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world and the transformation of hopeless sinners into glorious sons and daughters of God who do mighty exploits for their God.

The Why of Revival

Without revival, the Church is a maintenance program at best, and completely ineffective and ruined at worst. For many of us that have grown up in Pentecost, we have become accustomed to hearing and repeating lovely phrases that talk about revival, but rarely have we seen a genuine move of God that gets the attention of the world and demonstrates the power of God. Some may not even understand their need for the fire of God burning within their souls. Sadly, their spiritual senses have been dulled and the call of the Spirit is unheeded. There are many in the church, as well as outside the church, that have been told they are born again, but they have never come to full and genuine repentance. Instead, pride and self-sufficiency are the order of the day, rather than purity and holiness. Many are bound by dead religious traditions and do not even know it. Instead of crying out for lost souls, people are consumed with their own interests. Only revival can restore the Church to the purpose and plan of God.

The Way of Revival

The Bible is clear and definite. Revival will only come in response to prayer and repentance. "If my people, which are called by my Name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7: 14). With prophetic insight, Isaiah looked into the future and saw the terrible upcoming judgments upon Israel for their sins and cried out, "Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down ..."(Isaiah 64:1). Likewise, Joel looked to the day of God's judgment against sin and cried in anguish, "Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come" (Joel 1:15). No wonder he cried, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children ... Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and altar, and let them say, spare your people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God?" (Joel 2:15-17).

It is time that churches and congregations everywhere unite, and cry out to God for His sovereign Holy Ghost intervention, that the Church of Jesus Christ may impact the world for God. We too must pray the way the prophets prayed. Oh, how desperately we need God to "rend" the heavens and come down in our day. It is time we also blow the trumpet and sound an alarm. We need to call for prayer and fasting. God's appointed message is a call to repentance. "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalms 85:6).

The Wonder of Revival

How will the Lord respond to the cries of intercession? His word to the prophet Joel is also His word to us. He will answer and send corn and wine and oil in abundance (2:19). He will cause His people to be glad and rejoice for He will do great things (2:21). He will restore the year that the locust has eaten (2:25). He will do wondrous things so that His people will never be ashamed (2:26). "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28). With Habakkuk, we also anticipate the day when "the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).

Let us be steadfast and sure in prayer. For the Lord whom we seek shall suddenly come to His temple.

About the Author

Rev. Rosemarie Brown is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. She has served the body of Christ for over 30 years as a Bible teacher, evangelist, conference and seminar speaker. She has become distinguished as an anointed Bible teacher with keen insight into biblical principles, bringing to her audiences a message of hope and restoration. Rosemarie Brown is the Assistant Pastor at Van Nest Assembly of God in the Bronx. Van Nest Assembly is a thriving multi-cultural church, whose Senior Pastor is Rev. David H. Hernquist. Due to the growing number of worshippers, Van Nest Assembly has five services on Sunday, three of which are consecutive morning Services. Rosemarie is the Director and an Instructor at the Berean Bible Institute, Bronx Campus, which is hosted by Van Nest Assembly. Rosemarie received her Bible training at Northeast Bible College (now Valley Forge Christian College). She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York and a master’s degree from Lehman College in New York City. Rev. Rosemarie Brown is the author of the book, The Cry God Answers that deals with the subject of restoration through intercession