It’s Time! Time to believe God for citywide revival. My city, your city, any and every city.
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Below are some things the Lord showed me about initiating and sustaining a citywide revival. Understand, when I mention “revival” I’m not referring to a series of evangelistic meetings, special services, crusades, or anything like that. While God could use those things, I’m referring to an “awakening” of sorts. Like, when God brought revival to the city of Nineveh.
God longs to restore every man and woman, boy and girl, to their original position and purpose in Him. And He is able and willing to do that very thing; He just needs co-workers, laborers, who will join with Him for our cities.
Don’t read these “points” and feel this is all that’s necessary for citywide revival. These are only things the Lord revealed to me. May He help us hear and obey His voice.
1) Faith is necessary for citywide revival.
Gen 45:27
But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
As substance and evidence was given, verifying Joseph was still alive, the heart of Jacob was given new life. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Joseph’s words and carts were evidence of what Jacob hoped for.
Faith revives the heart. Faith can save a city and restore lost sons and daughters.
2) Humility is necessary for citywide revival.
Judg 15:19
So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.
Lehi means jaw-bone. God split the hollow place (tooth socket) of the jaw-bone and a fountain erupted, reviving Samson. Samson therefore called the place “Fountain”.
“God fills the hungry with good things, but the ones who are full, or satisfied, go away empty. To the hungry, even bitter things are sweet. But those who are full loathe the honeycomb.” Luke 1:53 and Proverbs 27:7
“God resists the proud, the filled, the satisfied; but gives His grace, His ability to the humble.” “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” James 4; Isaiah 57
God uses the lowest, the emptiest, to pour forth His Fountain of Revival.
3) Carrying the burden for the city is necessary for citywide revival.
1 Kings 17:22
Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
The owner of the house’s son died. She said to Elijah, “Did you come to show me how sinful I am? Is that why my son was killed?” Elijah said, “Give me your son.”
Revival comes when we begin to bear the burdens of those in authority over us; those who are in control. Instead of just showing people their sin, begin to bear their concerns, those things that have them at their wits end.
Elijah took the burden, carried it to his private quarters, and interceded on its behalf. Reminds me of 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people…” Also, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, where Paul exhorts us to pray for everyone in authority…because He wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
God heard the words of Elijah and brought revival.
4) Connecting with past revivals is important for a new, citywide revival.
2 Kings 13:21
So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
Past revivals may appear dead and gone, but the God of revival is not. Reading books, testimonies, and sermons of key “players” of past revivals can help stir the heart and challenge the mind to believe for more of the same. “Rubbing shoulders” with people who have been where God is leading us is a key to receiving the “revival impartation”.
God takes dead bones and creates a revived army.
5) Recognizing God’s favor and timing is necessary for citywide revival.
Ezra 9:8,9
And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
Open doors, open opportunities can seem so rare; so hard to come by. To the point we may miss an opportunity because we didn’t recognize the timing. “Trust in the Lord all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding…” Proverbs 3. God is working behind the scenes when we don’t see anything happening. It may appear, for a season, that God hasn’t heard our prayers, doesn’t care about us or our city, and just wants to be left alone. But we must pay close attention to the voice of God so we’ll hear Him say, “The set time has come…”
I’m certain those in captivity were amazed when things began to change in their land. God raised up leaders for a whole new movement. It was important for them to move while the door was open.
Doors do not stay open forever, so be prepared to move when they open.
6) Opposition is common to every citywide revival.
Expect it, but don’t let it divert your focus and energies.
Neh 4:2-3
And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish — stones that are burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”
Ps 138:6-7
Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.
Opposition comes in many forms. Words, physical, emotional, and spiritual attacks are some of the devices the adversary uses. Stirring up brother against brother is another.
Don’t believe everything you hear, read, feel, or experience. Take it to the Lord and get His advice and direction. He is the One Who covers you, and Who will stretch out His hand toward your enemy.
Opposition cannot stop the move of God, if those moving with God don’t stop.
7) Patience is necessary for any citywide revival.
God doesn’t always move at “man’s speed.” But He’s never late.
Hos 6:2-3
After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
It’s important for us, and our cities, to not let up, give in, or allow our focus to be redirected. Every past move of God has ended because the people quit moving with God. Why? Mainly because people grew tired of waiting or working. The things of God don’t
necessarily “fall on us” like a bottle of pop from a pop machine. Following His plans, His steps, and His voice, are all important; but those things are not the magic coin we drop in the “God’s Promises Slot.”
Even Mary had to wait nine months for the new move of God to be birthed.
“By faith AND patience you obtain the promise of citywide revival.”
Let us believe God for our cities. As Abraham, David, Isaiah, Paul, Jesus and others have done.
For the set time has come, to rebuild ‘Jerusalem’; Jerusalem – your city.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust. So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer. Ps 102:13-17
[all scriptures NKJV]
Jan Grace 