The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way’—
‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.”’
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:1-4

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In the cross-fire of political turmoil, the wake of the pandemic, culture wars and social upheaval, the church is at a tipping point—a dark moment when many churches have lost their voice, their way and the trust of the rising generation. But this is also the perfect moment for God to move and answer people’s most desperate prayers. God wants to prepare the way with a spiritual fount, an overflow of His love. How do we get ready for what God wants to do at this moment in history?

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• Revival is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is sovereign, unplanned and, if sustained, leads to awakening.
• Jonathan Edwards defines revival as “an intensification and acceleration of the normal work of the Holy Spirit.” It’s not a different operating system but a normal work of the Holy Spirit, just intensified.
• Charles Finney says, “Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility.”
• If you knew revival was coming in a year, how would you live? What would you do differently? Do you live expectantly?
• Even if we never see revival in our day, would we not be better off living expectantly rather than reluctantly? Better to burn with passion than slumber in compromise.
• If we pursue revival alone, we end up disappointed, but if we pursue Jesus, we get revival thrown in.

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Committed to Consecration

• Mark 1:4-5 says, “And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the River Jordan.”
• We are meant to be a community of radical forgiveness where messed up people get right with God and are being set apart for Him.
• Ongoing repentance looks like walking in humble dependence on Jesus, not anything or anyone else.
• Every move of God is preceded by a turning of the heart of people back to God—what starts with the church flows to the streets.
• Joshua 3:5 says, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
• When we go low and get out of the way, we dethrone ego and unhealthy power.
• We must learn to linger with Jesus and not rush away—to put his presence before program.

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Committed to Contending

• John the Baptist’s declaration was that, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)
• John was always pointing to Jesus and away from himself.
• This is why we pray. Every great awakening is preceded by a season of sacrificial, passionate, travailing prayer.
• In Charles Spurgeon;s tabernacle in South London, which tens of thousands converted, the true “boiler room” was the prayer room beneath the main hall, where people were crying out to God in prayer.
• Matthew Henry says, “When God intends great mercy for His people, He sets them apraying.”
• Would we commit to contend in prayer for revival?

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Committed to Communion

• Mark 1:11 says, the telling of Jesus’ baptism, says, “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”
• The heart of God is a relationship of love: The Father delighting in the Son, the Son delighting in the Father, the Spirit delighting in the Son.
• God is in community and union with himself—this is what communion is.
• We’re called to be a community of love, in communion with God and each other.
• Communion requires relational reconciliation. Just like repentance to God is vertical, it also needs to be horizontal to those around you.
• What is wounded that needs healing? What is divided that needs reconciling?
• Because we all get things wrong, we all need forgiveness. If you get stuck in comparison or judgment, gossip or anger, you will block the flow of the fountain.
• God is on the move in this generation. He’s done it before, and he will do it again!