What Does the Bible Say About Revival

In our Christian walk, there are times we face spiritual dryness. We go to church or pray numerous times, looking forward to spiritual nourishment, but at the end of the day we remain in the same state. We long for something more; it could be a real communion with God, where we need to pour out our fear, anxiety, and desires. At times we pray, and the prayer seems to hit the roof. We quote verses, but the promises sound like they belong to others and not us. When you feel like this, you must look for a way to bring revival in your life.

Personal or church revival is very important for spiritual growth. This article aims to answer one of the most important questions: What Does the Bible Say About Revival? Through God’s words and life experiences, we have explained what a Christian revival is, as well as biblical cases where revival is evident. Finally, we have outlined how to pray for revival, verses for revival and a simple sermon on revival. This is not just another article; it is a guide that will guide you to a great spiritual revival.

What Does The Bible Say About Revival

In the Bible, there are numerous instances where there was great revival. As Christians, there are lessons we can learn from these biblical examples. Below, we have looked at the great revivals in the Bible and the lessons we can learn.

Revival in the Old Testament

1. Jacob’s Household (Genesis 35:1–15)

One of the greatest revivals in the Old Testament happened in Jacob’s family. The events before Genesis 35 were shameful; in fact, the whole chapter has no reference to God; it was all about works of man at its worst. Dinah is raped; Simeon and Levi plot and kill the men in Shechem. These shameful things happened because Jacob settled in Shechem instead of his native land. God instructed Jacob to leave Padan-Aram, his uncle’s home, and go back to his native land. But Jacob had disobeyed God’s instructions. He decided to settle near Shechem.

In Genesis 35, we see God appearing to Jacob. God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” Genesis 34:1

Jacob had chosen for himself a place that wasn’t in God’s plans. As a loving Father, God called Jacob to return to Bethel. He had to leave Shechem to go where God intended for him. It is at Bethel that Jacob saw God’s presence as he was running away from his brother, Esau. It is the same place where he needed to go back and resume a life of worship.  Jacob commanded his household to put away foreign gods and purify themselves. This was a revival of consecration and returning to covenant relationship with God.

Some of the lessons we can learn from Jacob’s family revival are these

Lesson 1: For revival to happen in our lives, we need to be in the place where God intends for us. No revival could have happened at Shechem if Jacob had decided to stay there.

Lesson 2: Revival does not happen until we obey God’s voice. The reason why some of us are facing spiritual dryness is that we have refused to obey God’s instruction. Maybe God has told you to move from that relationship. Or from that business deal, but instead of doing the right things, we have excuses.  God will not give a second instruction if we are not willing to act on the first one.

Lesson 3: Before a great revival, we need to bury the “gods” in our lives. These “gods” could be: belief in our own ability, idols, self-righteousness or doubts. Jacob asked his family to surrender all the foreign gods, and he buried them under the oak in Shechem. We should always remember that God’s presence cannot dwell where there are idols.

Lesson 4: Change of Garments

Jacob told his family to change their garment. This was an important step, with a literal and symbolic meaning. Throughout the Bible, garments symbolise character. Jacob wanted them to be clean and in their best character as they appeared before God’s presence.

Lesson 5: Obedience ushers in God’s presence. We see this when Jacob was moving from Shechem to Bethel. The bible says in Genesis 35:5, “Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.”

Lesson 6:  Great revival comes with blessings

It is in Bethel where Jacob’s name is changed to Israel.  God also assures him that a nation and a community of nations will come from him.

Read: July Devotionals – Daily Devotionals for Faith, Growth, and Renewal

2. Samuel’s Revival (1 Samuel 7)

In 1 Samuel 6, the ark of God had stayed in the land of the Philistines for 7 months. Finally, the ark is returned, but something unthinkable happened. The men of Beth Shemesh looked into it, and 70 men were struck down. Out of fear, people in Beth Shemesh sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.” 1 Samuel 6:21

The ark was then kept at Kiriath Jearim, where it remained for twenty years. During those two decades, Israel mourned and lamented, aware that something was wrong spiritually. They were living under oppression, and they knew why.

Although they had the ark back, things were not really set right. In fact, in those 20 years, they were not right with God just because they had the ark of the covenant again. But the interesting question would be, why would they mourn when the ark was right there with them?

Well, when Samuel appears, he makes it clear why they were lamenting. The Israelites had sought after foreign gods; Baal and the Ashtoreths. Samuel told them to put away the Baals and Ashtoreths. They did so, and then they gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before the LORD. This was seen as an act of humility. They also fasted and confessed their sin. Samuel then cried out to the LORD on their behalf, and God answered with thunder that threw the Philistines into confusion. Israel pursued their enemy, the Philistines, and won a great victory. Samuel then set up a stone and called it Ebenezer, meaning “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Lessons from Samuel’s Revival:

Lesson 1: Revival cannot be rushed.

At times, we think revival is immediate, that we will have it when we do certain things. Just like the way the Israelites had the ark of the Lord but suffered for 20 years before true revival occurred is the same thing that happens in a Christian’s life. We think just because we go to church, or recite prayers, we will have a true revival.  Sometimes Christian revival takes time. God allows a long season of dryness to create genuine hunger for true revival

Lesson 2: Revival requires a wholehearted return.
Samuel did not call the people to a simple revival meeting, prayer session or an event. He called them to a decision. “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts”. One cannot return to the Lord half-heartedly.  Halfhearted seeking produces halfhearted results. God responds to full surrender; anything less, He keeps off.

Lesson 3: The “gods” must go before the blessing can come.
Just like in Jacob’s case, God does not share the same presence with idols. For the Israelites, the Baals and Ashtoreths had to go first. The Philistines could not be defeated while Israel was still worshipping Philistine gods. This too means we cannot overcome the devil when we are entertaining evil in our lives.

Lesson 4: You will get attacks even in the midst of a revival

The Philistines gathered to attack Israel right in the middle of their revival gathering. The devil knows the power that comes with true revival, so he will try to attack you to discourage you.

Lesson 5: Intercession is the engine of revival.

Another important lesson we can learn from Samuel’s revival is the importance of intercession. When the people were afraid, they begged Samuel and said, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us.” Samuel’s intercession was vital.  Every great move of God is sustained by someone standing in the gap in prayer.

Lesson 6: Revival should always bring back the glory to God

God’s power and the work of His Spirit are not for show; they intend to fulfil a purpose. The stone of Ebenezer was not a monument to Samuel or to Israel. It was a testimony to what God can do. “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” Revival always produces testimonies that glorify God.

3. Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20–40)

The spiritual condition of Israel before this revival was one of the darkest seasons in the Old Testament. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel had stopped most true worship of God. Jezebel had hunted down and killed the prophets of God, and Baal worship had become prominent in the Land. God’s true prophet lived in caves. Elijah himself was also afraid, and for some years he hid. When he declared a drought, he ran away and hid in a cave, and Ahab tried to find him. The spiritual dryness of Israel was great.

Elijah boldly challenged King Ahab to gather all Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Two bulls were prepared, and water was poured on each altar, first for the Baal prophets and then for Elijah. One condition would prove the true God, one who would answer by fire. The bible records that the prophets of Baal cried out from morning until noon, then until evening, cutting themselves and raving, but there was no answer. When Elijah’s came, the altar was repaired, and with water three times until the trench overflowed. Then he prayed one simple, faith-filled prayer and fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.   When the people saw it, they fell on their faces and cried, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” (1 Kings 18:39).

Lessons from Elijah’s Revival on Mount Carmel

Lesson 1: Revival sometimes requires a confrontation.
Sometimes for revival to happen, an open challenge is better than silent intercession. Elijah did not persuade Israel to stop worship of Baal. He called for a public challenge.  There are moments in ministry when sin needs to be pointed out as it is.

Lesson 2: The condition of the altar reflects the condition of the worshipper.
Today, as Christians, we have different altars; it could be personal devotion, family prayer, or corporate worship. When the altar is in bad condition its means we are in a bad state spiritually. If we are going through spiritual drought, it could be because we have neglected the basic things like prayer, worship, praise and communion with God.

Lesson 4: True revival comes from God. No one can take credit
What Elijah did on Mount Carmel was beyond human ability. When God shows up, there is no one who can stand and take credit for what He does.  We can simply agree that God delights in impossible situations because they leave no room for human explanation.

Lesson 5: Even a simple prayer can bring a great revival.
Elijah’s prayer was neither long nor dramatic. It was a simple, honest declaration of who God is and a request that the people would know it. As Christians, revival in our churches will not happen because we are eloquent with prayer, or good with works. It will only happen if we have honest, faith-filled prayer.  Prayers from people who actually believe God will answer.

4. Hezekiah’s Revival (2 Chronicles 29–31)

Another instance where we see an example of revival in the bible is during King Hezekiah’s time. Imagine becoming a king when the worship of the Lord in the temple was unheard of. The generation before Hezekiah’s revival was one of the most godless in Judah’s history. King Ahaz, who was Hezekiah’s father, shut the doors of the Temple. This young Hezekiah saw all what happening during his father’s reign, and he was never pleased or influenced by him. The first thing Hezekiah did when he became a king at 25 years was to reopen the door of the temple.

He gathered the priests and Levites and charged them to consecrate themselves and consecrate the temple of the LORD and remove all defilement from the sanctuary (2 Chronicles 29:5). They cleansed the Temple and then restored the sacrifices, re-established the Levitical worship order, and reinstated congregational praise.

Another thing that Hezekiah did was to call people from both Israel and Judah to come and celebrate the Passover. The Passover had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written. People responded to his call; many came from as far as the northern tribes of Israel, tribes that had been separated from Judah for generations. The Bible says, “there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26).

Lessons from Hezekiah’s Revival:

Lesson 1: You are not responsible for the generation before you, but you are responsible for what you do with what you have inherited.
Hezekiah was Ahaz’s son. He grew up in a home where God was openly rejected. He had every excuse to continue in his father’s ways. Instead, in his first month as king, he opened the Temple doors. Your past does not have to write your future. You may not have had a true revival in your earlier life, but with God’s help you can set up things that can bring true revival in your generation.

Lesson 2: Revival begins with reopening what has been shut.
The Temple doors were physically closed. Hezekiah’s first act was to open them. Many of us have shut doors in our lives. Some have stopped praying, reading God’s Word, while others have totally ignored gathering with God’s people. Revival always begins with reopening these doors. The presence of God has not moved; it is us who have simply stopped going to where He dwells.

Lesson 3: Consecration must come before service.
Before we seek revival, we should let go of sin. We should plead for the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from unrighteousness and be ready to walk away from sin. God is always looking for clean vessels before He fills them. Revival requires us to deal honestly with the defilement in our own lives before we can lead others into God’s presence.

Lesson 4: Genuine revival is not limited by boundaries.
The invitation to celebrate Passover was not meant only for Judah but also the northern Kingdom, Israel.  Some mocked the invitation but some came. When there is a true revival, God truly moves, and His presence pulls in people from unexpected places and breaks down walls that seemed permanent.

Lesson 5: You cannot force revival, but you can create the conditions for it.
Hezekiah did not create any revival. He just did what he knew was right. He opened doors, removed defilement, restored worship, invited people and finally God moved. As Christians, our role is always to prepare the ground. God’s role is to send the rain.  We should always remember that revival is a partnership between human obedience and divine sovereignty.

5. King Josiah’s Revival (2 Kings 22–23)

After King Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh took over. Interestingly, he was the most wicked King in Judah. But God works in an unexplainable way because Josiah, Manasseh’s grandson, was one of the kings who did what was right in God’s eyes. By the time Josiah came to the throne, idolatry had become so common in Judah that most people had never known anything different. His grandfather Manasseh had reigned for fifty-five years, the longest reign of any king in Judah. Manasseh put back the idols His father had taken off. He even practised child sacrifice, and to make it worse, he installed a carved image of Asherah in the house of God. Josiah’s own father Amon continued in the same path.

After his father was assassinated, Josiah became King at the age of 8 years. In his twenties, Josiah launched a great reformation against idolatry. The defining moment of his revival came when he commissioned the repair of the Temple, and workers discovered a copy of the Book of the Law. When it was read to Josiah, he tore his robes. He immediately recognised the big gap between what God required and how the nation had been living. He sent messengers to inquire of God, and the prophetess Huldah confirmed that judgment was coming, but it would not come in his lifetime.

Josiah then gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, and in a solemn public assembly he read the entire Book of the Covenant to the people. He stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the LORD. All the people pledged to what was read to them.  What followed set up an atmosphere of revival. He removed the high places, Asherah poles, altars to Baal, shrines to false gods, and the practice of child sacrifice. He then celebrated the greatest Passover since the time of the judges.

Lessons from Josiah’s Revival:

Lesson 1: Revival can begin in a young heart.
Josiah was only eight years old when he became king. At 16 years old, he began seeking God. He did not wait until he was older, wiser, or more established. He sought God with what he had, and at an age he was. God is not waiting for you to reach a certain stage of life before He can use you. He is waiting for a willing heart.

Lesson 2: The Word of God is always the foundation of genuine revival.
The entire nation had been living in spiritual darkness. Why? You may ask, because the Book of the Law was buried and forgotten. When it was found and read, everything changed. The Word of God always forms the foundation of every great revival, and there can be no true and lasting revival without it.

Lesson 3: Revival begins with a tender heart toward God.
When our hearts are filled with God’s love, even the instructions from His Law become easy to obey. When the Law was read to Josiah, he had every opportunity to defend himself based on the environment he was brought up in. All that Josiah did when he heard God’s word was humble himself by tearing his robe and responded with the right actions. Josiah’s soft heart towards God changed the course of a nation. Today, God is still looking for people whose hearts are tender enough to be broken by His Word.

Lesson 4: Public reforms deepen and sustain revival.
Josiah could have made private reforms.  Instead, he gathered all the people, read the Word publicly, and renewed the covenant before the LORD in a public assembly. When communities make a covenant together, the revival is harder to walk away from. There is a power in public commitment.

Lesson 5: At times, revival requires removing what has been tolerated for generations.
The idolatry Josiah destroyed was not new in Judah. It had been there for decades, even centuries in some cases. Some of it was inside the Temple itself. He had to destroy what previous generations had allowed, and even what seemed structural and permanent. There are things in our families, our churches, and our communities that have been there so long they feel normal. Revival requires the courage to remove even what feels entrenched.

Lesson 6: A revived leader revives a nation.
Everything in Josiah’s revival came from one man’s encounter with God’s Word. Josiah’s personal brokenness became national transformation. The responsibility of leaders is great, not because they carry revival alone, but because their hunger sets the spiritual temperature for everyone around them.

Revival Topics for Preaching

1. True repentance that brings Revival- 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV)

The best revival comes from seeking the Lord. When we truly meet with the Lord nothing remains the same. As we stand at the crossroads of our faith journey. God requires us to humble ourselves, to turn from our sins, and to seek His presence in fervent prayer. Let us heed this divine call, for in our humility and repentance, we find the key to revival—a revival that brings healing and renewal to our souls.

Read: Prayers of Repentance in The Bible

2. Revival that brings Joy-  Psalm 85:6

Psalm 85:6

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (NIV)

As Christians, we should long for the refreshing touch of God’s presence in our lives. A true revival that renews our passion for Him and causes us to rejoice.

Revival isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuing process of seeking God’s face, repenting of our sins, and committing to His will. As we sincerely seek God, let us make this plea, “Revive us, O Lord,” knowing that our joy will be re-established in His revival.

Read: Bible Topics for Preaching

3. A Prayer for Revival- Habakkuk 3:2

Habakkuk 3:2

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” (NIV)

As Habakkuk prayed to the Lord, in our time we should ask the Lord to grant us great longing for His mighty works to be repeated in our times. This can only be done when we recognise God for his greatness. Plead for His mercy.

Read: Encouraging Sermon Topics

4. The Revival of the Contrite and Humble Heart- Isaiah 57:15 

Isaiah 57:15 

“For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (NIV)

 From the above verse, we can see the true promise of God, although he dwells in the highest heavens. He also lives with those who possess a contrite and humble heart. If we come to Him with broken hearts that are weighed down by our sins, He will indeed revive us.

Read: Sermon Topics for Youth

5. Breath in our Soul for True Revival- Ezekiel 37:4-5

Ezekiel 37:4-5 

“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” (NIV)

Our Spiritual dryness and despair are portrayed by the dry bones. At times our spiritual life is dead, separated from God. But when we seek the Lord, he revives our soul by breathing life into it

Topics for Revival Sermons

1. The Path to Spiritual Refreshing- Acts 3:19

Acts 3:19

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (NIV)

The basis of revival is repentance and seeking the Lord. When we are separated from God by sin, we cannot enjoy His presence. Revival is not an emotional feeling but a transformation of the heart. When our relationship with God is restored, the journey to a changed and revived heart begins

Read: Bible Study Topics for Women

2. Transformed for Revival- Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (NIV)

The Key to revival is through the transformation of our minds and hearts. We have to break free from the patterns of this world. This kind of transformation of the mind comes from reading the Bible and applying it in our lives. Through this, our values and character usher in God’s presence and lead to a revival

3. Revival that comes from going back to our first love- Revelation 2:4-5

Revelation 2:4-5

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (NIV)

In the above verses, Jesus delivers a heartfelt message to the church in Ephesus: You have forsaken the love you had at first. To experience revival, we must acknowledge that we have strayed from our ways. Self-examination helps us know when and where we lost the way. After knowing where we fell, we have to repent and go back to the first love, when God was the priority.

Read: Bible Lessons for 8-10 Year Olds

4. Drawing Near to God- James 4:8

James 4:8

“Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (NIV)

James 4:8 invites us to get close to God. Revival is only experienced through an intimate relationship with God. Through prayer, worship, and hunger for God’s word, we can enter a time of great revival.