“When the Holy Spirit is poured out in a day of power the result is bound to affect whole communities and even nations.  Conviction of sin, an anxiety to possess the Word of God, and dependence upon those truths which glorify God in man’s salvation, are inevitable consequences.” -Ian Murray

Church history shows us that the Holy Spirit has always been present at times of revival.  Last night we engaged in some stirring discussion regarding this.  What is revival anyway? Stephen Olford emphatically states that revival is that “strange and sovereign work of God in which He visits His own people, restoring, reanimating and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing.”  This can be both personal in nature (the Holy Spirit renewing the hearts/minds of individuals) and corporate (the Holy Spirit bringing renewal to a church or movement).

Think about your own life. Can you recall a time of either personal or corporate revival?  Tell those stories.  Sit down with someone or a group of people and tell those stories.  Tell of what happened.  Speak of what you experienced. Recall how the Holy Spirit moved.  Reflect upon the results of those times.  Read about past times of revival.  Many book have been written on such times.  The internet is full of those old stories.

But do the church of today a favour.  Do our world a favour.

Don’t look in on these past times of renewal like a kid who looks at the pieced together bones of a T-Rex in a museum – eyes full of intrigue and sheer wonder, but a heart and mind that’s pretty sure those prehistoric days will never return.  Let’s be encouraged by stories of past revival but let us never settle there…

In today’s culture, there is a growing number of people who could be called the radically unchurched – those with no clear personal understanding of the gospel message or contact with a church that is Bible-teaching and Christ-honouring.

These people are all around us.

We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  And it must begin with us, within God’s people.

Are we positioning ourselves before God in such a way that this is likely to happen?   Do we fervently desire this?

Time alone with God, daily revisiting the cross of Christ, continual openness to the Holy Spirit’s power, consistent gathering together for worship, fervency of prayer, eyes looking outwards, courage and expectant hearts, unflinching confidence in God’s promises…

“God, create in me a stronger desire to experience you in my life.  Raise up a new generation of world changers who will do extraordinary things for your kingdom.  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.” -Winfield Bevins