Variations Between Revivals

What are the characteristics of a revival? How do they start and what are the results? In this sermon on Joshua 4:21–24 titled "Revival Sermon: Variations Between Revivals," Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones unpacks the powerful ways revival has affected the church and why the church must plead and pray for revival today. He relates revivals to the stones that were questioned by the children of the Israelites. The stones were a memorial there to remind the people and all the nations that the hand of the Lord is mighty. God has done great things and is still doing great things. A revival causes the people to be humbled by the glory and majesty of the Lord. It always results in praise and worship to God. Men and women who are converted during a revival become members of a church and abide in the faith. They become concerned for the lives of others who do not know God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that there are many ways a revival starts, but only after first recognizing that it is an act of God, not a production of humanity. It may start suddenly or gradually, or it may start in a small group or a great crowd. There are many ways it can start and there are variations in the ways it can end. But the reason for revival never changes. It is so that the people will know the mighty hand of the Lord.