When revival comes, I expect to see two things which we have not seen yet. First, a new sense of the holiness of God on the part of Christians; and second, a new sense of the sinfulness of sin on the part of Christians.
Acts 4:33, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all” (NIV).
The word "Great" in this text appears in several verses in the book of Acts and each place where it is used it suggests an important dimension of revival. Concerning the subject of revival, An article in Moody Monthly stated, "Evangelism, fine as it is, is not revival. After a signally successful meeting, Billy Graham was asked, 'Is this revival?' Graham replied, 'No. When revival comes, I expect to see two things which we have not seen yet. First, a new sense of the holiness of God on the part of Christians; and second, a new sense of the sinfulness of sin on the part of Christians.'
We might add a third and closely related indication of revival: a new working of the Holy Spirit in the local church. Why? For two big reasons, among others; first, because the Word of God calls for it; and second, because the world challenge calls for it."
Persecution does not always come from outside the church; sometimes it comes from within. During the revival that shook the early frontier in America from 1800-1840, criticism arose from the ranks of religious leaders. Speaking of camp meetings, historian Philip Schaff wrote in 1849, "There is a stamping and bouncing, jumping and falling, crying and howling, groaning and sighing, all praying in confusion, a rude singing of the most vulgar street songs, so that it must be loathing to an educated man, and fill the serious Christian with painful emotions."
On the other hand, with the benefit of 150 years of hindsight, Notre Dame historian Nathan Hatch can claim that early Methodism was "the most powerful religious movement in American history, its growth a central feature in the emergence of the United States as a republic." Christianity Today/Christian History, 1995
Dr. Jack Hayford in early 1995 wrote about the "Seven Signs of Imminent Grace." Let me list them for you.
1. A multiplying of unusual signs(manifestations).
2. A trans denominational unifying of pastors.
3. There's an ever-broadening worship renewal.
4. A movement awakening men.
5. An addressing of needed reconciliation.
6. A deepened form of intercessory prayer.
7. A stirring in Israel and among Jews