On Revivals of Religion

Lecture XXII – On Revivals of ReligionWhat is a revival of religion—and why do they begin, flourish, or decline?In this episode, we walk through a classic lecture that defines revival not as emotional excess or manufactured excitement, but as “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” The lecture explores:How revivals begin—often with the preacher, but sometimes with praying saints hidden from viewThe role of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility working togetherWhy prayer, fasting, humility, and faithful preaching are essentialCommon reasons revivals decline—including pride, passivity, and fear of disorderA biblical defense of visible emotion in revival, drawn from both Old and New TestamentsA warning against quenching the Spirit in the name of “order”A call for humility, faith, and perseverance until the knowledge of God fills the earthThis is a pastoral, searching, and Scripture-heavy reflection that challenges modern assumptions about revival, church growth, and spiritual vitality.