A second mark of Spirit-inspired revival is the recovery of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its bold proclamation. This was very clear in the Awakenings of the 18th century. Men used by God during this time, such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley travelled all over the world and would preach to anyone who would stop long enough to listen. And to those who wouldn’t.

Furthermore, God used each of them in different ways. Edwards preached to his Northampton, Massachusetts congregation. Whitefield preached to thousands in the open air. Wesley, like Whitefield, crossed oceans to proclaim the salvation of the Lord.

But it was the content of their preaching that set these men apart. There was a growing sense among them and others that much of the preaching of their day was not declaring the fullness of the gospel. As is the case in many revivals, God works in the hearts of some men who will bravely confront the weak preaching of the day.

Pastor and author Tim Keller notes that during revival, there is a noticeable turn away from both legalism and liberalism that results in a new appreciation for the gospel and a fuller picture of what Christ has accomplished. First, many Christians are delivered from a joyless, lifeless faith that is marked by rule-keeping and box-checking:

“I have to read my Bible today, or else . . . I don’t know what else!”

“I have to pray today or bad things might happen to me.”

“I have to go to church because it’s expected and I need to be sure that God sees me there.”

I have to, I have to, I have to. This is the faith of a dear brother or sister stuck in the rut of legalism. When we are driven more by “I have to” than “I get to,” or “I want to,” then we quickly forfeit the inexpressible joy that can be ours in Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s your faith right now. If our relationship with Jesus Christ is more duty than delight, more obligation than celebration, and there’s even a small longing that desires something more, then we are ripe candidates for revival.