Fifteen years ago incessant prayer was made for a worldwide revival. One phase of that revival was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in all the earth. But so much was made of the experiences that many ran after the signs and wonders, and the saints looked away from Jesus, until many left the faith.
The demand for a revival is imperative; the need is urgent; danger is imminent; division and death are wrecking the lives and souls of men. There is a trumpet call to the Church—to the angel or messenger of the Church—to repent and do the first work, because he has left his first love.
God has made every provision for a revival. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son who gave His life on the cross, to atone for sin. He sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He has given His Word, sharper than any two-edged sword, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He has called, endowed, and sent messengers to preach the gospel—the power of God unto salvation. He has called every saint to pray for lost souls.
The Holy Spirit was given to make a revival easy, for, after dreams, visions and prophecy, signs and wonders, it is added, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So God has made all the necessary provisions for the revival. It remains for us to pray it down. Let every saint pray for it, talk for it, and let the papers be filled with it. Let the word “revival” be burned in on our hearts until we can see it everywhere. Get a vision of Jesus on the cross. Get His resurrection power in our lives. Be filled with His Spirit. Then prayer will be the atmosphere of your soul—to live in, to walk in, to work in, and to sleep in.
Turn down everything that hinders prayer. Then unity, power, blessing, and salvation will come. Let all the backsliders pray with David: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a free spirit.” Let us pray without ceasing, praying always for all saints, with all perseverance for the preacher. Give God no rest. Say, “I will not let Thee go.” Throw yourself on His mercy.
Nothing is more in divine order or according to the divine purpose than a revival. Let all the saints everywhere pray for a revival and believe and expect it and praise God for it. In view of the shortness of time, the impending judgments of God, and the wreck and ruin everywhere, let everybody pray.
This Pentecostal movement has the greatest opportunity to prove to the world that revival is of God. Filled with the Holy Spirit, endowed with the gifts, equipped as no other people are—what an overwhelming responsibility is upon us.
Let me appeal to all the saints everywhere, entreating you in the name of Jesus. Lay aside everything that hinders prayer and watch and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape those things that are coming on the earth and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.
A.P. Collins, chairman 1914–15, succeeded E.N. Bell as the leader of the Assemblies of God. His peers called him “the saintly peacemaker.” He was considered one of the sweetest spirited men in Pentecostal history. This sermon is adapted from the January 22, 1916, issue of The Pentecostal Evangel.
