There will never be a shortage of topics to pray for. As intercessors, we all have something on our hearts, a burden or assignment from God. One of the topics I come across most is revival. The Bible and church history tell us that intercession paved the way for incredible movements of God throughout history. There is a shaking happening in America and other nations right now. Yet, the more leaders and people I speak with, the more they say the same thing: “Church, rise and shine!”

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 5:13- 16 ESV).

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Jesus exhorted his disciples, also called the Sermon on the Mount. He calls his disciples salt (a purifying and preserving agent) and light of the world. He called them a city on a hill, a place of refuge. He was not addressing the religious Pharisees or Jewish leaders, but his disciples and masses who came to hear him preach.

His disciples consisted of former fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, a doctor, and a thief. Yet, aside from Judas Iscariot, these same disciples would become the first church after Christ ascended. His instruction was clear: Go and be the light. Don’t be hidden; light serves no purpose if it can’t be seen. Go and shine before men so my Father will be glorified. 

Many have prayed for revival for years, which is a great thing to pray for. The only issue is that we can often stop there when there is a time to move from prayer to action. I am seeing this more and more; perhaps you have, too. I have seen pastors standing and fighting to protect children’s innocence. A brave Christian woman is being sued for protecting kids. But most recently, we saw the body of Christ united when Hurricane Helene struck parts of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

I contacted several pastors in North Carolina to ask how we could pray after the devastation left behind. Each pastor told me how the church sprang into action. Aside from praying, many used their resources to buy water and various supplies to try and help the people in any way they could. The church was and still is the boots on the ground. This is the church Jesus was talking about, the light of the earth, the city on a hill. 

When Hurricane Milton, a monstrous hurricane seemingly growing overnight, threatened Florida, which Helene had already impacted, prayer efforts were ongoing. IFA held a 24-hour prayer line, day and night, to intercede for Florida. Different states hosted calls as intercessors flooded the lines with prayer. This is the church, the light of the world, and the city on a hill. 

Jesus will always be the world’s answer to those looking for salvation. He is not one of many ways to salvation but the only way (see John 14:6). When He walked the earth, He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, and preached the gospel. Being fully God, He could do these things. Being confined to a human body, He couldn’t be everywhere at once. So He trained this group of disciples to do the same and promised them they would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you, but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 AMP).

Once they receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we see them step out in boldness, fulfilling the great commission (see Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18). Acts 2:42-47 says the believers devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, prayer, communion, and meals. They generously gave and shared everything they had. The outcome is listed in Acts 2:43, “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” It was the very first revival or move of God. 

The apostles continued to meet and pray, but they did not hide in their prayer closets, even under the rule of an evil emperor and being hunted down by religious factions. They devoted themselves to Jesus’ words and lived them out, as we, the church, should be doing. 

It was said of the early church, “These men who have turned the world upside down, have now come here” (Acts 17:6). All they did was preach, teach, and do what Jesus did. Yet their presence brought fear to the religious leaders. The Presence of God will do this; He will allow our false kingdoms to be shaken, religious systems to be undone, selfish plans to falter, and false motives exposed. He loves His church that much. 

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13 NLT). 

Notice that this verse says they were ordinary men with no special training. Yet people recognized they had been with Jesus. I want to highlight this verse. Fear keeps people from sharing the gospel and being the church to the lost. You don’t need to be a pastor to share Jesus with someone. It costs nothing to be hands and feet to someone in need. And you don’t need a degree to show the love of Jesus to someone. 

God has been shaking His church, awakening her from her slumber. It’s time for the church to be the church. We cannot afford to hide behind the four walls when the harvest is ripe. We cannot sit back and put all the responsibility on the pastors and church leaders. We need to work together and be the church.

Did you know that you already have everything you need? The same Holy Spirit who filled the disciples on Pentecost and raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (see Romans 8:11). No wonder the scriptures say, “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.” The Holy Spirit has gifted you. Those gifts are not for us but to reach and serve others (see Romans 12:3-8).

Leonard Ravenhill said, “The world out there is not waiting for a new definition of Christianity; it’s waiting for a new demonstration of Christianity.”

We are commanded not just to be hearers of the Word but doers (see James 1:22). We are also told that faith without words is dead (see James 2:18-20). The lost don’t need “Christianese.” They need a demonstration of the gospel to see believers be Jesus’ hands and feet. Christianity without the power of Holy Spirit is mere religion. The Pharisees knew the law better than anyone else but still missed their time of visitation. They had a form of godliness but denied the power (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The kingdom of God was never meant to be passive. Neither Jesus nor the disciples were passive. The church was meant to be an extension of Christ’s ministry, an answer to the needs around them. You have the same Holy Spirit in you the disciples received on Pentecost. Somebody, somewhere, is praying, and you have the answer. They are waiting for you to do what God has called you to do. 

“Maybe you are the key to revival in your church.”—Leonard Ravenhill.

By all means, continue to pray for revival, but even more so, be the revival. It’s not about you or your church. It’s not about your connections. It’s all about the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s about His kingdom; it’s about souls being saved. I thought I would end this article with quotes from generals of the faith we are probably familiar with. There is a price for revival, and I pray that each of us will be ready to pay the price. 

“In revival, God is not concerned about filling empty churches; He is concerned about filling empty hearts.”—Leonard Ravenhill.

“If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.”—Charles Spurgeon.

“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility.”—Charles G. Finney.

God is speaking to His people today. Please share what you are hearing in the comments.  

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share.