During my time in the charismatic movement, I remember hearing many sermons where those in the pulpit repeatedly emphasized the need for God to grant revival. At the time, it didn’t seem confusing because we believed we knew what that meant. But looking back, I realize I didn’t actually understand what was being asked. If I had asked for clarification, my guess is that the answer would have been something like this: revival meant that God would pour out His Spirit in the same way He did in Acts. People would begin flooding into the building, speaking in tongues and prophecy would be common, and ecstatic expressions of the Spirit would be ongoing. Revival would also include many people praying the sinner’s prayer and coming to salvation.

Looking back now, the issue for me is that many of these movements were led by what Michael J. Kruger described in his book Bully Pulpit. Kruger writes, “Such leaders embody the essence of spiritual abuse—they are domineering, authoritarian, and heavy-handed in the way they rule those under their care.” What is striking is that while these leaders constantly preached about and prayed for revival, their own abusive and heavy-handed ministries were left untouched and unexamined. In many cases, what they really desired was what came with large numbers of people filling the church building—more money, more “amens,” more influence, and more numbers to boast about. In that sense, revival became little more than a code word for gaining more for themselves. Sadly, this pattern still happens today. The cry for revival is not inherently wrong if it reflects a genuine desire to see people come to repentance and faith in Christ. But within many charismatic circles, revival can become more about what these personalities gain rather than about the glory God receives when a life is truly transformed.

I remember sitting in a revival service where the preacher, as the crowd began displaying emotional expression, crying, speaking in tongues, and similar things, suddenly commanded the Holy Spirit to be silent. I was stunned. At the time, I believed in and longed for a genuine move of God, so when I heard that, my heart quickly dropped and turned to anger. In that moment, the preacher revealed just how far they had gone in their understanding of authority. In movements like this, God is often treated as if He were a servant, like a butler who, when called upon, must bring whatever is requested from the menu. Revival, then, is no longer about God sovereignly changing lives. Instead, it becomes about God supposedly yielding to the authority of the person leading the meeting, as if He is at their beck and call. In reality, what is happening is that they are not calling on the true and sovereign God at all. They are calling on a god of their own making.

There can be a preoccupation with revival so much that God is not sought. Only what the revival brings. Is wanting God to change the lives of sinners good? Of course! Without question. But wanting revival can happen without wanting God. And there are times when revival happens without the numbers to prove it. In the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10, Jesus responded to the Pharisees and Scribes who grumbled because tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Luke 15:8–10 (ESV) “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

There were many revival services where the preacher would refuse to end the meeting until a large number of people came forward to “accept Jesus.” One person coming forward was not enough for them. They were dissatisfied with one, yet when many came forward, they quickly assumed that all of them were genuinely converted. In this way, numbers became the measure of success, even though true conversion cannot be produced or verified by the pressure of a moment. It is proven through discipleship and through life within the community of the local church. Fruit takes time to grow and become evident. But for the revivalist, it had to happen immediately, and it had to appear in a way that satisfied their expectations.

Revival is something that should be desired, but it must be biblical and Spirit-led, not man-centered. True revival begins when God reveals His grace to sinners who need salvation. It continues in the life of the church through faithful discipleship and genuine fellowship within the community of God’s people. Revival leads believers toward spiritual maturity, equipping them to walk alongside others and help them grow in the faith. It is marked by the faithful exposition of God’s Word, a commitment to live biblically, and a sincere desire to be led by the Spirit in our walk with Christ. In the end, revival is not about God responding to our demands. God is not at our beck and call. Rather, we are at His, as He sovereignly leads and guides His people.