by Darren Stott

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14


Historically, there is a dynamic that exists within the church that disappears as fast as it appears; it has been known to result in regional repentance and the transformation of societies. I will refer to this as a revival dynamic, and will define it as an intensified moving of the Holy Spirit on a corporate level. During these unique moments normal Christianity seems to get redefined, and there is a return to Christological methods of ministry.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a fascinating passage because it seems express God's heart for revival. In this text God communicates that he is looking for a humble, praying, desperately hungry, people that is quick to repent so that he can unleash forgiveness of sins on perhaps a city or national level and a sanctifying restorative move of God on a societal level – as if to hit a very small reset button hidden somewhere on the surface of our culture. You see revival as defined in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not just a good meeting, it's a release from heaven that cannot be contained to a meeting or a church service. It's a release from heaven that not only brings about redemption for individuals, but healing and restoration for geographic locations. When this takes place on a corporate level you have a revival dynamic with enough momentum to make a redemptive imprint on generations and nations.

2 Chronicles begins, if my people, who are called by my name… Revival does not just happen! God does not randomly rip open the heavens and force his glory into earth's realm. When God's people come before him with a red hot, non-negotiable, non-compromising, pursuit of the person, presence, and power of God – the person, presence, and power of God shows up and everything changes.

We must have a biblical theology for revival and see that the power of God is never for shock-and-awe in and of itself. God is not Stephen Spielberg, he's not trying to sell tickets or fill seats. The power of God is always for a redemptive and restorative means and end. His love and concern is for his people and the land that they dwell.

This revival dynamic can actually propel the church into the orbit of relevance. By relevant I don't mean the ability to be culturally savvy. The nations are raging, kings are gathering, people are rioting, the earth is groaning, and nobody cares if your church is on Twitter or if you had a good service. This is a unique moment in history where hype is not relevant, but hope is. An intensified moving of the spirit of God that awakens communities to the desires of the Father and transforms culture is a plumb line for revival, and it is for this cause that we were born.