“Last night was amazing. These football players had about 100 students helping them tell the students on campus to come to the event. About 2,500 showed up. ~400 decisions for Christ. They had a line hundreds of feet long wanting to be baptized. Security did not allow them to be baptized on campus grounds. The football players told them they would have to kick them out of school to stop it. ~200 baptized in a metal tub in the school square under lights that were held in the d

University of Georgia students gave their lives to Christ earlier in April after being baptized in pick-up trucks in a parking lot. Unite Georgia brought together thousands of Gen-Zers for worship, prayer and personal testimonies. Some students were so moved by the prayer service that they decided to get baptized in the beds of pick-up trucks nearby. "I just heard the call from the Lord, and he said, ‘Be obedient,'" student Nate Kearns, a junior who was baptized, told "The I

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 6 Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD (Joel 1:14 NASB). I have met a number of precious pastors in my lifetime who really struggle emotionally and mentally when their church attendance numbers begin to decline and they realize that the powerful, manifest presence of God is no longer being experienced by their congregatio

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 5 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 NASB). Have you ever noticed how the spiritually dynamic (and often first-recorded) messages of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2), Jesus (Matthew 4:17), Peter (Acts 2:38), Paul (Acts 17:30), and John (Revelation 2:5) all contain a powerful focus on one key word? What do you think it is? Would love be that often-repeated word, since God

Written by Bill Elliff Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim.… Then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God (2 Chron. 5:7, 13-14 NASB). I am overwhelmed this morning with this picture. Lose your familiarity wit

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 1 Have you ever tried describing the unique beauty of a precisely cut, high-quality diamond? With every turn of the gem, a new facet of light and design emerges. This same experience happens when we look intently at biblical and historical revival. For the Christian, every view of God’s supernatural work in reviving His children reveals an inspiring glimpse into His compassionate glory and power. Over the next several months, our goal is to e

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 2 Have you ever noticed that everything about Christianity is relational? Personally, I believe this is one of the main reasons Jesus taught His disciples to view and refer to God as “Father” when they prayed. When a person genuinely begins a love relationship with God by believing in Jesus and following Him as Lord of their life, that individual becomes God’s child (John 1:12-13). Now, when you put this biblical reality into the context of r

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 3 “On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding” (Proverbs 10:13 NASB). Loving parents often use a number of disciplinary approaches in helping their children overcome willful disobedience. Sometimes, the method used depends on the nature of the child and what it will take to see that particular child repent and change their ways. Some children only need a clear, strong, verbal remin

A Biblical View of Revival - Part 4 “Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the lands. According to their ways and their deeds I judged them” (Ezekiel 36:19 NASB). Prior to COVID-19, statistics tell us that 74% of America’s churches were stagnant or declining in the area of church attendance. The largest evangelical denomination in the United States has been reporting an annual decline in church baptisms for the past nine years. Weekly chur

Adapted from Simply Prayer (copyright 2020), by Bill Elliff. Used with permission. A National State of Emergency is a governmental declaration which usually suspends some normal functions of executive, legislative, and judicial powers; alerts citizens to change their normal behaviors; or orders governmental agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. In response to COVID-19, every nation suspended normal functions, alerted citizens to change their normal behavior, and

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). In this season of uncertainty and unrest, discerning the voice of God is critical. What is He saying to us about peace, justice, mercy, forgive

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries When you hear the word “zealot” what do you think of? Fanatic? Weird? Overly religious? Maybe an extremely emotional person? I think that most people would say of zeal that it’s just not who they are. Many people have a tendency to identify being zealous as an overly emotional or extreme personality type and would distance themselves from being labeled a “zealot.” The Bible, however, looks at zeal not so much as

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Christians around the world are praying for revival. What are they praying for and do they have good reason to expect revival? Is revival something God wants to do for His people today? To answer these questions, we need to understand that God has always worked in the area of revival with His people. From the earliest days of Israel, on through the history of the Church, God’s method of dealing with His people h

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Dave & Kim Butts with Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt.24:14). May I suggest to you that this massive, world-changing event, which Jesus told us to watch for, happened during the funeral of Billy Graham. In every nation, even those we call closed nations, the funeral of t

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Saturday, October 7, 2017, is marked in my mind and heart as one of the most extraordinary days I’ve ever experienced. My wife and I were in Washington, D.C. for the Awaken the Dawn days of worship and prayer. Though there was a main stage and some really great worship leaders and speakers, that’s not what I will carry with me the rest of my life. What impacted me most were 58 tents, one for each state, along wi

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries What is it we are asking for as we pray for revival? Ultimately, it is for the people of God to begin to experience the presence of Christ in a fresh new way. All other results flow from that. Changed lives in the Church as well as transformation in a culture come not from human effort, but the power of God made manifest in the lives of His people. This isn’t about praying for a better life or that things would

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “But You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your name” (Isaiah 63:16). This scripture passage has a powerful and much-needed statement of faith. In spite of the poor spiritual condition of the nation and their estrangement from God, His people still spoke out by faith the truth that God was their Father. It was an ess

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “Where is He who set His Holy Spirit among them, who sent His glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for Himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided Your people to make for Yourself

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries There are many definitions for revival. For the Christian, they all revolve around experiencing the Presence of Christ in a fresh, new way. My friend, David Bryant, has often said that the Second Coming of Christ will be the greatest revival, because it will be the clearest expression of the Presence of Christ. Until that time, though, the Spirit of Christ will continue to stir us up to pray for an even greater

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries No matter how long I teach on prayer, I don’t think I’ll ever plumb the depths of the teaching of Jesus on prayer through what we call The Lord’s Prayer. In its simplicity it is packed with practical guidance for effective prayer. I believe that the focus of this prayer is the heart of Jesus’ other teaching as well…the Kingdom. Jesus’ lifestyle and teaching focused on the Kingdom of God. So it shouldn’t surprise

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Whenever I watch the news and see our nation erupting in pain, suffering and violence, my heart is grieved and my spirit aches for God to pour out revival in our midst – that there might be a great move of His Spirit, a re-establishment, restoration and renewal of the family…and hearts that are turned to Jesus resulting in Christlike obedience and behavior. Yet, without repentance on the part of God’s people, p

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries One of my favorite verses on prayer is a real challenge to me to persist in my praying. Habakkuk 2:1 calls us to a commitment to pray until something happens. “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” The prophet Habbakuk’s situation was clearly wrapped up in prayer. In the first chapter he was bringin

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries In a radio interview regarding revival in America I was asked, after many years of traveling and teaching on prayer in the Church, do I think things are better or worse. My answer? Both! That’s not intended to be a cute answer, but an accurate one. In so many ways, the Church in America is in trouble. Stagnant church growth, abysmal discipleship, poor prayer life, confused leadership, a blending in with our cult

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries The Statue of Liberty loomed before us as we worshipped the Lord and prayed on board a small ship this past September 11. Prayer leaders from around the nation had gathered to participate in Cry Out America. We were praying around New York harbor on this memorable 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that have so impacted our nation. As we slowed down nearest the shoreline where the new Freedom Towers are