Revival Is Coming
Joel 2:28–29 ESV
²⁸ “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. ²⁹ Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
There’s a stirring happening across the church. Something is shifting. The Spirit of God is preparing His people for a new move—a true outpouring of His presence that will reshape the spiritual landscape of our nation. Revival is coming.
Back in December 2022, I began sensing a growing spiritual intensity in my personal time with the Lord. It wasn’t emotional hype; it was a weighty awareness that heaven was near. Then, one morning in January, as I prayed, it felt like information began to “download” into my spirit. It wasn’t an audible voice or a vision, but it was undeniably clear. The Lord impressed on my heart that within 18 to 36 months, we would see a great outpouring—a revival unlike anything we’ve seen in decades.
I’ve never backed away from that word. And now, as that window draws to a close, it’s more evident than ever: we are standing on the edge of a move of God.
A Nation Ready for Awakening
When the Lord first spoke that word, revival wasn’t exactly trending. The church world felt tired and lukewarm. Pentecostal fire had cooled. But just three weeks later, the Asbury University revival broke out in Kentucky.
At first, I thought, “Maybe I missed the timing—maybe this is it.” But within a few days, it was clear that while Asbury was powerful, it was a foreshadowing, not the full fulfillment. God was giving us a glimpse—a tremor before the earthquake.
Every great awakening begins this way: small fires break out in different places before a massive blaze consumes the landscape. The Azusa Street Revival didn’t appear overnight. You can trace its roots back through Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and even across the ocean to Wales. Each was a spark leading to something greater. That’s what I sense right now. We are due for another great outpouring.
History shows a pattern—revivals tend to emerge about every 20 to 35 years. The last major move of the Spirit faded around 2005 to 2007. That means statistically and spiritually, we’re right on schedule. Revival is not just possible—it’s probable.
The Cycle of Revival: Formation, Consecration, Visitation
During this season of prayer, the Lord showed me a pattern that runs through Scripture and church history. Every genuine move of God follows a divine cycle: formation, consecration, visitation.
Formation is the foundation. This is when God’s people return to the basics—Bible reading, prayer, doctrine, and obedience. It’s a season of strengthening what’s been neglected and rebuilding what’s been lost.
Consecration follows formation. As we fill our lives with the Word and presence of God, eventually it grabs hold of us. Consecration isn’t about legalism; it’s about hunger. We start letting go of distractions that dull our appetite for God. It’s not necessarily pulling away from sin—it’s pulling away from anything that competes with His presence.
And then comes visitation. This is when heaven responds to earth’s hunger. It’s not something we can schedule or control—it’s sovereign. When God sees a consecrated people, He pours out His Spirit. That’s revival.
But the cycle doesn’t end there. After visitation, God calls us back into formation. Revival is not arrival. When we mistake a move of God for a finish line instead of a fresh beginning, we lose what He’s doing. If we’ll re-enter the cycle—formation, consecration, visitation—we’ll go deeper and grow stronger with every wave.
What to Expect When Revival Comes
The first and clearest evidence of revival is salvation. When the Spirit moves, people rush to Jesus.
Acts 2:1–4, 41 ESV
¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
When God poured out His Spirit at Pentecost, three thousand people were saved in one day. That’s what happens in revival—salvations multiply. People can’t get to the church fast enough to meet Jesus.
But salvation isn’t the only sign. Throughout Scripture and history, we see four recurring manifestations in genuine outpourings:
1. Prophecy. God speaks through His people with clarity and conviction.
2. Tongues. The baptism of the Holy Spirit increases in frequency and power.
3. Healing. Divine healing becomes common—a tangible expression of Jesus’ compassion.
4. Falling under the power of God. The presence becomes so strong that people cannot physically stand.
2 Chronicles 5:13–14 ESV
¹³ It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,
¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
When the glory filled the temple, the priests could not stand to minister. The power of God was that real. That’s not a modern phenomenon—it’s been recorded throughout church history. Wesley, Whitefield, Edwards, Spurgeon—each saw people fall under the weight of God’s glory. Revival is not weird; it’s biblical.
The Two Marks of the Next Move of God
The Lord also revealed two defining marks that will characterize the next great outpouring.
1. Preaching Will Be Central
Revival without the Word never lasts. Every awakening in history was sustained by strong, Spirit-filled preaching. John Wesley once said, “Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” When God ignites a church, crowds will come—but if preaching isn’t prioritized, the flame fades.
In revival, we don’t just need emotion; we need revelation. The Word never returns void—and only preaching can anchor the fire in truth.
2. Pastors Will Lay Hands on People Again
For nearly two decades, many pastors have stepped back from altar ministry. In many churches, altar calls became observational instead of participatory. But the Lord is calling ministers back to the altars.
The next move of God will be marked by leaders stepping into their apostolic authority—laying hands on people, praying for them, and watching the power of God flow. The priesthood of believers is real, but it doesn’t replace the laying on of hands. It complements it.
When pastors engage in the altar again, heaven engages with them.
Signs That Revival Is Already Stirring
We’re seeing early signs of revival across our culture. According to recent Barna Research, Gen Z men are attending church more than Gen Z women for the first time in American history. From 2019 to 2025, Gen Z church attendance among men climbed 15 percentage points. That’s unprecedented.
This generation has consumed more Christian content online than any before it—and now they’re walking into churches, saying, “I need to be in the house of the Lord.”
And when tragedy strikes our nation, hearts open. After the assassination of Charlie Kirk—a moment that shook the country—we saw an unexpected spiritual response. People began reading their Bibles, attending church, and joining faith-based organizations in record numbers. What the enemy meant for evil, God can turn for good.
Something is happening. There’s a stirring. The eyes of the Lord are searching the earth for people and churches whose hearts are fully His.
2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
If we’ll commit ourselves to the Word and the presence of God, there’s no reason He can’t pour out His Spirit right here. At Saraland Church, we are building a Jesus-centered, Spirit-filled church for all people. We believe revival isn’t just coming—it’s starting.
