I am a revivalist! I say this boldly, unashamedly, and without reservation.
There are many pastors, leaders, and believers who sense the call to revivalist, but do not have the encouragement or support necessary to walk in the fullness of that call.
As a matter of fact, many are afraid to call themselves revivalists because of the wrong connotation it brings to some. Don’t be afraid! If God has called you to fan the flame of revival, own it. Say it out loud: I am a revivalist! Decree it for both God and the enemy to hear!
Did you know that Jonathan Edwards, leader of the First Great Awakening, belonged to a mastermind group of revivalists of sorts? Edwards and seven revivalists in the United States and Great Britain formed a letter-writing cohort to encourage one another, exchange revival information and methods, and share outcomes.
I find it interesting that today, hundreds of years after the First Great Awakening, revivalists still need to encourage one another because they receive little encouragement elsewhere. The enemy hates revival and brings massive amounts of discouragement to revivalists, to the point that revivalists are fearful to even call themselves revivalists!
The first point of encouragement I want to bring to you is this: God desires to send revival even more than we want! Winkie Pratney, who was a revivalist in the 1970’s Jesus Movement, described God as “one pent-up revival!” Like a cloud full of rain, or a piñata bursting with candy, so Almighty God longs to pour His Spirit out upon a people who hunger and thirst for the God of Revival.
For more revivalist encouragement please listen to this week’s Fire Starter episode.
