In his latest work, Revival: Spiritual Awakening in the Reformed Tradition, Historian Michael A.G. Haykin looks back at the Holy Spirit’s glorious outpourings over the past five centuries. By studying these revivals, he provides eight common qualities that give us a biblical framework for expectant prayer for revival in our day:

1. The History of the Church is a History of Revival and Times of Declension.

In this respect, the book of Judges seems to be emblematic of the history of the church. There are times of declension when God’s people trust in anything but the Spirit of the Lord to do the work of God. The church, in such times, languishes in weakness until she cries out to God, “Will You not revive us again?” There follow times of flourishing, when the church is teeming with vigor and power, and there is a conscious dependence upon the might of the Spirit of God. 

 2. Revival Is a Work Grounded in the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit.

Revival—the breathing of new life into the church—is a divine work of grace. It cannot be accomplished by mere human zeal and ingenuity. If it were possible for men and women to revive the church by their own innate energy and will power, what need would there be of the Spirit of God in our midst? The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost is our model here: wait in Jerusalem, their Lord told them, “until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). 

 3. When God Determines to Revive His Church, He Begins by Stirring up His People to Pray for What He Will Do.

The fact that revival is a work of the Holy Spirit does not mean that in times of declension, God’s people can sit back, do nothing, and wait for the Spirit to act. No, they are called and indeed energized to pray for revival and to repent of their sins and spiritual lethargy. 

4. Times of Revival Are Attended by a Solid Commitment to the Bible as the Word of the Living God, Infallible and Unerring.

The Scriptures have been created by the Holy Spirit, who has breathed them into existence (2 Tim. 3:16). During those times when His work of regeneration and sanctification is so remarkable, it is unthinkable that the Bible, by which He saves sinners and sanctifies them (James 1:18; John 17:17) should be held as anything but what it is: the Holy Word of God.  

5. Genuine Revival Is Always Attended with Faithful Preaching of the Scriptures.

The Word of God is the great instrument of conversion and sanctification (see Heb. 4:12–13), not human oratory and eloquence, nor the sacraments (important as these are in the life of the church), nor the pattern of worship. It is the Word of God in the hand of its author, the Holy Spirit, that convicts, illumines, liberates, regenerates, and rejoices the heart.  

6. Revival Is Accompanied by Theological Renewal, for the Holy Spirit Is Ever the Spirit of Truth.

The Holy Spirit, who is the leading agent of revival, is ever the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 16:13). When He comes in power to revive His people, He takes them back to the truth of His Word, and there is theological renewal and even degrees of reformation.  

7. Spirit-Wrought Revival Always Impacts the Societal Context of the Churches That Are Being Renewed and Revitalized.

Revival cannot be contained within the four walls of Christian congregations. As the hearts of God’s people are revived and stirred afresh, they engage in evangelism and mission to those outside of their communities. They engage in good works, which leads to significant streams of blessing.  

8. Revival Is a Christ-Centered Experience.

The central feature of the new-covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit is the glorification of Jesus Christ (John 16:14). As a work of the Holy Spirit, revival then is first and foremost a time when Jesus Christ is set forth in all of His glory as Savior and Lord.