Isaiah 44:3
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.”
New King James Version
Dear Friend,
Throughout church history, the ebb and flow of revival has often been compared to the tidal movements of the ocean. The tide comes in and goes out, with subsequent waves of activity in between. Such is the nature of God’s manifest presence through revival, awakening, reformation, and transformation.
We often pray for and eagerly anticipate the next great move of the Holy Spirit. Yet there are important lessons we must learn if we are going to successfully move from one wave of God’s presence to the next.
There is an art to catching, surviving, and thriving in every wave of the Holy Spirit!
We do not want to be numbered among those who pioneered one movement of God, only to resist the next because it looks different from what we have previously experienced. Rather, we must remain humble, teachable, and hungry for everything the Lord desires to release in our generation.
We cannot afford to settle into becoming passive stewards of the best of the past. We must press into God’s heart and cry out for a fresh outpouring of His grace in our time.
Three Preliminary Stages of Revival
As we look at the historic movements of the Holy Spirit, we find three important stages that often prepare the way for a fresh move of God.
1. An Intense Hunger for Change
Every genuine movement of revival begins with hunger. Whether we are seeking personal renewal, supernatural manifestations of God’s power, or an awakening that brings lasting transformation, we must cultivate a deep desire for more of Him.
Jesus reminds us that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3).
Spiritual hunger is a sign of life and growth. We must never become so satisfied with yesterday’s experiences that we lose our appetite for what God wants to do today.
2. Prayer for God to Release His Presence
In Exodus 33:12–15, Moses pleaded with the Lord for His presence to accompany the people of Israel. Moses understood that no amount of human effort could substitute for the manifest presence of God.
His declaration remains a powerful example for us today: If God’s presence does not go with us, we do not want to move forward without Him.
We must become a people who continually seek His face, invite His presence, and cry out for Him to move in our lives, churches, communities, and nations.
3. Networking Towards Unity
Revival is not intended to be carried by isolated individuals. God calls us to work together in unity for His greater purposes.
In Mark 2:1–5, we read about four men who carried their paralyzed friend into the presence of Jesus. When they could not reach Him because of the crowd, they worked together to lower their friend through the roof.
What a beautiful picture of cooperation and unified faith!
We need one another. As we honor the diverse gifts and callings throughout the Body of Christ, we position ourselves to see a greater expression of God’s purposes.
What Happens Between the Waves?
Catching a fresh wave of the Holy Spirit is exciting. But what happens when the tide recedes?
In the natural, the ocean sometimes leaves debris along the shoreline between waves. Cleanup becomes necessary before the next wave arrives.
The same can be true in our spiritual journeys.
Perhaps we have experienced disappointment, spiritual weariness, broken relationships, or even wounds from previous ministry experiences. These things can cause our hearts to become guarded or hardened.
The condition of our hearts is essential if we are going to embrace the next move of God.
In the beginning of a fresh spiritual journey, we often experience zeal, fresh faith, and a willingness to count the cost without looking back.
But between the waves, there are three areas we must continue to cultivate:
1. Forgiveness. We must release offenses, forgive those who have disappointed us, and even extend forgiveness toward ourselves. We cannot carry yesterday’s bitterness into tomorrow’s breakthrough.
2. Worship, Prayer, and Devotion to the Word. These spiritual foundations sustain us through every season. Whether we are experiencing great manifestations of God’s presence or walking through quieter times, our devotion to Him must remain steadfast.
3. Possible Realignment. Sometimes the Lord invites us to examine our direction, relationships, or assignments. What served us in one season may need adjustment as we prepare for the next.
Preparing for What Is New
If we are going to move forward into the new things God has prepared, we must intentionally cultivate three qualities.
An Awakened Heart
We must remain childlike in our trust, filled with wonder at the goodness and greatness of God. Even those who have pioneered significant movements of the Holy Spirit must continually ask the Lord to awaken their hearts again.
A Love for Adventure
Walking with the Holy Spirit requires a willingness to step beyond the familiar. The next wave may look different from anything we have experienced before. Will we embrace the adventure of following wherever He leads?
Eager Anticipation
We cannot spend our lives looking backward through the rearview mirror. We must look ahead with expectation, believing that God still has wonderful purposes to accomplish through His people.
As we posture ourselves properly, the cycle begins again. But now we move forward with zeal tempered by wisdom, tried and tested faith, and a determination to look forward rather than over our shoulders.
A Call to Renewed Vision
My challenge to leaders, intercessors, and believers everywhere is to lift your vision higher.
Do not limit your concern to your own congregation, ministry, or sphere of influence. Ask the Lord to give you His heart for your city, your region, and even the nations.
The Body of Christ needs every part working together. We must learn to recognize the redemptive gifts God has placed within the many expressions of His Church, honoring one another and cooperating for His greater purposes.
This is how we prepare for a greater harvest.
My prayer is that we would remain thankful for every realm of increase, faithful in the seasons between the waves, and ready to welcome the next outpouring of God’s Spirit.
May we learn the art of catching, surviving, and thriving in every wave of His amazing presence!
In Jesus’ great name,
James W. Goll
