THE REVIVAL WE NEED

As we cry out for revival in our generation, it is important that we study the truths of what the Bible says concerning starting and leading a revival. In the pursuit of revival, there are certain principles we cannot overemphasize. Two of them we will consider briefly in this study.

UNITY AS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF REVIVAL

We cannot underestimate the gracious power of unity in bearing lasting fruits. The scriptures talk about one chasing a thousand and two chasing ten thousand (Deut. 32 vs. 20). This Divine mathematics for unity posits that two people united together will achieve far more than the double effort of a single person. That is what we call the multiplicative effect of unity.

A very powerful example is in what transpired in the Tower of Babel, according to Genesis 11:5–8. Though these people were working together against the purpose of God, the Lord recognized that their unity would make them surmount every challenge. Hence, to stop them, God had to break their unity.

It is a pity that in the church today, unity is a difficult issue. In Acts 23 vs. 12–15, forty men united themselves to do evil by killing Apostle Paul. They even placed themselves under a fast to kill Paul, unlike today when you ask brethren to fast and they won’t. If these men could unite to do evil, why can’t God’s people be united together to pursue the purposes of God?

When the Lord wants to do something great upon the earth (create man, scatter Babel, etc.), he summons the power of the Trinity—‘Let us make man in our image.’  Thus, what gives the saints the power and ability to summon the Trinity is unity. When the saints are united, they will be able to pull power from the Godhead. There were three major revivals recorded in the Bible. These revivals were greatly built on the strength of unity.

The first was the Pentecost Revival (Acts 2): We noticed that when the day of Pentecost was fully come, the disciples were together IN ONE ACCORD (Acts 2 vs. 1). Also, when the Holy Spirit descended and there was a need to address the gathered crowd, Peter (standing with the eleven) gave the address (vs. 14). I don’t know whether you got the picture—12 men were standing, but only the voice of one was being heard—that is the power of unity. They were united in revival; that was why God’s power was so mighty in their lives.

The second revival was the Antioch Revival (Acts 11:23–26). Barnabas saw God’s grace in the lives of the new disciples and encouraged them to keep following the Lord. Then Barnabas went intentionally to seek for Saul, and when he found him, they worked together as a team to lead the revival at Antioch. So great was this unity that the Lord had to set them apart for special assignments (Acts 13 vs. 1–5).

The third revival was the Ephesus Revival in Acts 19:8–10. How did Paul’s daily teaching in the School of Tyrannus lead to a global gospel outreach that conquered the whole of Asia Minor? It was the power of unity through teamwork. The disciples (working together with Paul) reached the whole of Asia Minor with the Gospel. Only Paul could not have achieved this great feat single-handedly. We must note that everybody has a role to play in the work of God. We will not all be on the pulpit, but we can play our own special role to get God’s word to the ends of the earth. That is the power of unity.

TEACHING AS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF REVIVAL

As we study this matter of revival, it is important to note the role that God’s word plays in revival. All three revivals in Acts of the Apostles placed teaching as a major tool for transformation. After the 3,000 new disciples were baptized, they were subjected to the Apostles’ doctrine. Though born again, there was still a need to renew their minds through the instrument of God’s word. So important was teaching in the Pentecost revival that the Sanhedrin worked hard to discourage the Apostles from preaching. They were allowed to do other things, but not preach. This the Apostles refused. Yes, they prayed, gave alms and offerings, etc., but they taught daily. They filled Jerusalem with their teaching. The best way to deal with darkness in society is not by complaining, but by teaching the truth of God.

Daily teaching was also at the forefront of both the Antioch and Ephesus revivals. Through teaching, they established the brethren and spread the Gospel of Christ.

To accomplish this practically, the Lord has led us to commence Global Revival Spark—a daily Bible teaching platform. To find out more, click here.

May the Lord help us to be perfectly united in thought and mind, and may we see the revival we pray for daily. Amen.