A verse that is oftentimes used regarding revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states the following, ” If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The context of this verse surrounds the completion and dedication of the temple that King Solomon built for the Lord. It was after he finished all that he had planned to do in the construction of this amazing Temple that the Lord appears to him in the night and lets Solomon know He has chosen the temple for Himself to dwell in. What a fearful and glorious reality this must have been for Solomon!
However, God immediately lets Solomon know that when the sin and idolatry of the people cause Him to shut up the heavens from rain, and when locust and pestilence are present, they must understand that there is an ancient yet still valid and fresh way to reach the heart of God in the quest for new life or revival.
It is in this setting that 2 Chronicles 7:14 comes alive and grips our hearts in this generation. It is now vital for the church to become humble, penitent, contrite and even desperate in prayer as we beseech the Lord to come and reveal his glory, holiness and power in our generation.
This revivification must start in the church! It is here where conviction, repentance and even biblical judgement must begin. As we allow the Lord to grip our hearts and bring eternity into view, it is then that He releases his glory upon His own people, which in turn can change a nation.
Keith Collins is the founder of Generation Impact Ministries and Impact Global Fellowship. He is actively involved in itinerant ministry, teaching and writing. In recent years, Keith served as the president of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and as the director of FIRE School of Ministry, which were both born out of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. His recent book, Samuel’s Arising: Waking Up to God’s Prophetic Call, is now available on Amazon. and his podcast, titled Maintain the Flame, can be heard on iTunes and at cpnshows.com. You can contact Keith via his websites at keith-collins.org or impactgf.org.