When I was a young believer, many churches of different denominations held annual revival meetings, week-long evangelistic campaigns, or special prayer times asking God to send revival. These meetings were often held in conjunction with evangelistic outreach efforts in the community, seeking to bring the Gospel to the lost. Today, we still pray that God would intervene in our community, our country, our government, so that many would come to know Him personally. Yet, the reality is studies are showing a decline in church attendance and involvement, and a downward trend in biblical knowledge and understanding.

Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher known as the “prince of preachers” (1834-1892), wrote, “If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God. If we want conversions, we must put more of God's Word into our sermons; even if we paraphrase it into our own words, it must still be His Word upon which we place our reliance, for the only power which will bless men lies in that.”

True revival begins with a revival of God's Word in our hearts—that is, daily feeding upon the Word of God that allows the Spirit of God to guide our thoughts and actions, and is evidenced by a heart connected to, and filled with compassion for the souls of the lost. Like Matthew said regarding Jesus, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt.9:36).

True revival begins with each of us individually. It starts with renewed and vibrant love for and study of God's Word as a discipline each new day. In the world of AI, social media, and online helps, it is easy to look at the Word superficially or hastily, scanning for easy tidbits of knowledge or encouragement. However, true revival will only come when we feed and drink deeply from the Word, when we study, meditate, and memorize the living Word, allowing it to permeate our souls and impact our deepest thoughts and actions.

The Word of God must become the lens through which we see the world. To see people as Jesus does is not to judge or condemn them, for they are already judged, but to see them as helpless sheep without a shepherd, who are alone, afraid, susceptible to predators, and in need of a Savior, and to engage them with the good news of the hope of the Gospel.

True revival begins not with the week-long revival meeting or evangelistic outreach efforts. It starts when we see the Word of God as a daily necessity for our personal and spiritual growth. Through the Word we commune with the author of the Word, and it becomes the lens through which we see the world.

As September begins, many of us in vocational ministry look forward to a new ministry year after the summer break. Congregation members, stewards, and ministry leaders look to the “fall kick-off” as ministry activities begin anew. Let us all continue to pray for revival – but let it start with each of us, with a renewed commitment to the Word of God that we might grow in our relationship with the author of the Word and impact the world for Jesus!

I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

Bill Allan,

AGC President

A Legacy of Blessing: True Revival Begins with Us