Robin J Johnson
Back in November I had one of those encounters, which unexpectedly and suddenly catches your attention. A post appeared on my Instagram feed that grabbed my attention. Being honest, at first I was not sure how to respond or even if I should. Nevertheless, deep inside me I knew it required a response. The weeks have past, but the challenge of this statement continues to provoke and challenge me.
“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it!” Leonard Ravenhill
Shaken and my spirit stirred within me I began to consider — Oh God, is that me? Have I been subtly seduced, as many are, into accepting the ordinary, the mundane? Has the fire and passion for revival waned? Am I at ease?” To some extent I guess the answer was yes.
Once we talked of nothing else. Revival was what we lived for; a passion to see God’s manifest presence come down; a longing for the Shekinah Glory saturating us, giving us no option but to lay on our faces before Him in total surrender.
We must ask ourselves; are we satisfied with just doing the same thing week after week with little or no impact? Are good meetings and momentary touches of the Holy Spirit enough? Are lives being transformed? Are we just trying to keep people happy without being challenged?
These are legitimate questions, which we should be asking ourselves and if we answer yes, then be prepared to do something about it.
Looking back over the past year with much gratitude and thankfulness, I was wondering what the coming year (2026) would look like. More importantly, what is the Holy Spirit saying? Even after experiencing the grace of God throughout the year ministering in various places across several nations, there remains a dissatisfaction, an unsettledness within. I am truly thankful, yet there is a desperate cry for the much, much more that the Lord has in store for all His surrendered lovers.
Often we equate such longing with seeing great works and I am all for seeing great things that glorify God. However, we must seek the Giver not the gifts. For at the heart of our pursuit, our cry must be, I want Jesus. Throughout the scriptures we see, time and time again, that it is the pursuit of our God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which is the priority. This must be our passion and desire.
So what is revival?
There have been many inspiring things said and written about revival, how it starts and numerous attempts to define what it is. So let’s keep it simple, Jesus; a closer and more intimate fellowship with Him.
[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. Ephesians 1:17 (AMP)
When we think about revival it is usually about great moves of the Spirit of God sweeping across nations with thousands surrendering to Christ, lives transformed and restored. This of course is our great dream and a legitimate one. Today across the world there are pockets of revival in various places. The Holy Spirit is being poured out, large numbers of people are turning to Jesus and there, the church is rapidly growing; and we say, “Glory To God!”
Revival is personal
Our focus must be on Jesus a passion for more of Him. Revival always starts with a personal encounter, one which involves intentional and intense prayer and the relentless pursuit of the Holy Spirit. Our attention needs to be on the Holy Spirit, for it is He who has come to reveal Jesus; to bring and unfold revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me. John 15:26 (NASB)
I think some have wondered if I have an obsession with the Holy Spirit? The answer is simple, yes I do. My obsession for Him is equal to my fixation for Jesus, because it is He who continually teaches me about Jesus. Therefore, we certainly do need to live a life in pursuit of the Holy Spirit, surrendered to Him, listening for His voice and walking in obedience.
Revival is about the “recovery of breath”
That is bringing back to life that which has ceased to exist. Is your love alive or cold and dead? Jesus told His disciples that in the last days the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). This was due in part to the increase of sin and lawlessness, which we must avoid at all cost.
Referring to the last days the apostle Paul says more; people will be lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:1-4). All these can be easily identified in the world, but has the church also subtly entered into a compromised position? Discipleship has ceased, a spirit of generosity has wained and the Sunday service is now an event, no longer a passionate and unhindered worship service focused solely on the lover of our soul.
A recovery of breath, to restore life, only comes through repentance, as Peter said, “Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). A reviving of our passion for Jesus, a sustained imploring of the Spirit to come and breathe on us again. Our prayer, “Breathe on us Lord, let the breath of God blow on us in Jesus name.”
Revival is about returning to our first love.
But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. Revelation 2:4 (TPT)
“The Greek word for “first” (protos) means “foremost,” “best,” “paramount,” “supreme,” “crowning,” “number one.” Jesus is referring to exclusive love that has first place in our hearts above all else.” (Brian Simmonds, The Passion Translation Comments)
Returning to our first love will also always bring us back to the cross; a fresh revelation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Here we are reminded again of the power that is in His blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, healing body, soul and spirit and freedom to live a surrendered life, dedicated to serving our God.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8 (NLT)
Revival is a renewed commitment to be a witness for Jesus
Our renewed love for Jesus must also manifest in loving what Jesus loves; people. We cannot claim to be experiencing revival without a renewed passion for the lost. It appears that much of the church is merely going through the motions, but if honest they are not impacting the communities where they are planted.
And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)
Evangelism must be an integral aspect of revival, both individually and corporately. The church has one mission, as Jesus did. Seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to be our priority. Not a weak apologetic plea to come to Jesus and be His friend, but a clear and bold declaration of the cross and blood of Jesus; requiring a total surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)
Never the same, no going back, hungry for more
In February 1995 my wife and I, along with our whole church, experienced a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, an encounter far greater and more intense than anything we had experienced in the past. It was radical with over flowing ecstatic joy (1 Peter 1:8). However, there was one thing that stood out above everything else; a renewed love for Jesus and more of the Holy Spirit.
Experiencing this fresh touch of the Holy Spirit my wife and I made a promise to each other and the Lord. We said, “This is what we were born for and if no one else comes with us, this is where we will live for the rest of our life.”
Beginning this year with prayer and fasting the Holy Spirit reminded me of that promise, stirring us to press in further. There is still much, much more as we continue to pursue Jesus with a passion; the one who baptises us with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16).
Revival is solely centred on Jesus and embracing all that the Holy Spirit wants to pour out, on, into and through us. Our prayer continues to be, No limits, no boundaries, in Jesus name!
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Ephesians 3:20 (TPT)
“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it!”
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