The basic foundations of revival

1. Unity

Revival breaks out wherever there is unity. “For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore” (Psalm 133:3). One of the saddest things in the church is competition. God has given everybody different gifts, callings, and anointings. Christ “gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8). Expect pushback. They crucified Jesus. “Every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn” (Isaiah 54:17).

2. Hunger

Many think revival is a sovereign move God simply decides to send. The challenge was blunt: revival is not a sovereign move of God. Revival is birthed wherever there is hunger. Waves die out because people get complacent after the power hits. Hunger can be cultivated. Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26). God loves touching stubborn people. The opposite of hunger is being casual.

3. Paying the price

People always paid a price to get their miracle. The woman with the issue of blood was unclean under the Law (Leviticus 15:25), yet she pressed through the crowd: “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well” (Mark 5:28). Four friends broke through a roof. “When Jesus saw their faith…” (Mark 2:5). Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). It is not “I will.” It is “we will.”

4. First love

You have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.

When you first fall in love, you do everything to show it. Later you get tired of it. Many have fallen out of love with God the same way. Revival comes in to break you out of that rut.

5. Tear down the idols

“They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols” (Ezekiel 36:18). We may not bow to statues. We still have idols: entertainment over church, family above the fire of God, religion, tradition, and pride. Commitment gets called a cult while sin is treated as normal. The devil makes sin look normal and the things of God look weird. Jesus loves you, but He can love you all the way to hell if there is no commitment. Do not turn down your fire to accommodate somebody else’s flame. We are called to stand out like a sore thumb.

6. A believer must believe

“Miracles died with the last apostle”? Nowhere does the Bible say that. Stephen was not an apostle. He was one of the seven, and he “did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). “These signs will follow those who believe” (Mark 16:17). It is not weird to have a miracle. It is weird not to have one. Jesus said the one who believes will do the works He did, and greater works (John 14:12). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He is not the great I was. He is the great I AM. Restoration is resurrection. Job received twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).

7. Lay down religion

One of the greatest idols is religion and tradition. People are fine until God moves outside what they were taught. Religious pride is more dangerous still. The fiercest opposition to revival often comes from the religious community. Lay the ideology down and let God work.

8. Be cleansed

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.

Two keys: get rid of the idols, and be cleansed of anything filthy that blocks the touch of God. Sin blocks the power. Sin blocks breakthroughs. Sin blocks the blessing. That includes sins people do not realize are sins: pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, and offense.

9. Guard your heart from offense

A critical spirit is not a discernment spirit. Constant criticism sounds like “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Offense blocks your miracle. Hungry people are never offended, and offended people are never hungry. The Syrophoenician woman could have left insulted. She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs” (Matthew 15:27). Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!”

A woman told her doctor that everywhere she touched, it hurt. He said, “Your problem is your finger’s broken.” Many are offended at everybody else and never look at their own hand. You can stand in the most anointed room and receive nothing. One woman touched Jesus with expectation, and power went out (Luke 8:46). You cannot blame the minister for what you chose not to receive.

10. A heart of flesh

I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

A heart of flesh is a heart that believes and responds. Hebrews 3 warns of an evil heart of unbelief. “They could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). God can save you from any sin. It is very hard to get somebody free from unbelief.

Unity. Hunger. Pressing in. First love. No idols. Faith for today. No religion. Holiness. No offense. A new heart. These are the foundations of revival.

Holy Spirit, come, touch me, change me, fill me, use me. Let me never be the same. From this moment, I give You all that I am. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ankit Rambabu Pinnadari · Acts of Faith Ministries

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version and the New Living Translation, as noted.