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Ten
Characteristics of
Revival in the Scripture
Dr. Bob Griffin,
Rockford Renewal Ministries
Twelve
Revivals in the Old Testament—Jacob:
Gen 35:1-15; Asa: 2 Chr 15:1-15; Jehoash: 2 Kgs
11-12/2 Chr 23-24; Hezekiah: 2 Kgs 18:4-7/2 Chr
29-31; Josiah: 2 Kgs 22-23; Ezra: Ez 5-6;
Nehemiah/Ezra: Neh 8:9/12:44-47; Jonah;
Jehoshaphat: 2 Chr 17:6-9, & Chp. 20; Moses:
Exod 32-33; Samuel: I Sam 7:1-13; Elijah: I Kgs
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Eight Revivals in the New
Testament—John
the Baptist: Matt 3:1-12; Pentecost: Acts 2:1-4,
14-47; the Church: Acts 4:23-37; Ananias and
Sapphira: Acts 5:1-16; Stephen’s sermon and
death: Acts 7:54-8:25; Cornelius: Acts 10:
23-48; Pisidian Antioch: Acts 13:44-52; Ephesus:
Acts 19:1-20
Confirmed in History
Through the First and Second
Great Awakenings--1726 and 1776, the New York
City Prayer Meeting Revival--1857, the Azusa
Street Revival--1906 and the Welsh Revival of
1904.
1.
Revival occurred in a time of deep moral
darkness and national depression, personal or
national crisis, a time of spiritual decline or
apostasy among God’s people Israel or his Church
and generally a time of great spiritual need.
2.
Revival began in the heart of one or more
consecrated servants of God, who became the
energizing power behind the revival, the agent
or agents used of God to lead God’s people back
to faith in God and obedience to him.
3.
Prayer was central to revival. Leaders called
out to God in prayer and in many instances, led
God’s people to do the same, passionately
seeking God’s face in repentance and in the
confession of their personal and national sins.
4.
Revival rested upon the powerful teaching,
proclamation or preaching of the Word or law of
God, and many of the revivals were the result of
a return to the Law or Word.
5.
Revival in the Old Testament was dominated by
God the Father for the awakening of his people
Israel to a restored relationship with him, to obedience and to
serving his purposes. Revival in the New
Testament was dominated by the work of the Holy
Spirit and miracles for the equipping of people
for ministry, and it resulted in the spread of
the gospel and the growth of the Church.
6.
Revival was marked by a return to the worship of
God.
7.
Revival witnessed a destruction of idols or
ungodly preoccupations, a separation from
personal and corporate sin.
8.
Revival witnessed a return to the offering of
blood sacrifices in the Old Testament and a
concentration on the death, resurrection and
return of Jesus Christ in the New Testament,
celebrated in the Lord’s Supper.
9.
Revival resulted in an experience of exuberant joy
and gladness among the people of God.
10.
Revival was followed by a
period of blessing and/or social reform.
DEFINITION OF REVIVAL
“Revival is a spontaneous spiritual awakening by
God the Holy
Spirit among God’s people. It results from
their humble prayers, when they passionately
seek God’s face, and repent for their sins. The
awakening
results
in deepened intimacy with God, passion for Him,
holy living, evangelism and social reform.” Dr.
Bob Griffin
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