On this page are featured helpful articles on revival from the writings of Ellen White and other denominational writers. A bit of background is shared on less familiar authors.—Dan
"God rebukes His people for their sins, that He may humble them, and lead them to seek His face. As they reform, and His love revives in their hearts, His loving answers will come to their requests. He will strengthen them in reformatory action, lifting up for them a standard against the enemy. His rich blessing will rest upon them, and in bright rays they will reflect the light of heaven. Then a multitude not of their faith, seeing that God is with His people, will unite with them in serving the Redeemer."
"A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow his blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our Heavenly Father is more willing to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us his blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer. While the people are so destitute of God’s Holy Spirit, they cannot appreciate the preaching of the word; but when the Spirit’s power touches their hearts, then the discourses given will not be without effect. Guided by the teachings of God’s word, with the manifestation of his Spirit, in the exercise of sound discretion, those who attend our meetings will gain a precious experience, and returning home will be prepared to exert a healthful influence. {RH March 22, 1887, par. 1}"
"I beseech the parents in our churches to make a solemn covenant with God by repentance and confession. Confess your past neglect, and in the fear of God take up the work of educating your children in righteousness. A spiritual revival and reformation must take place. Then God’s people can claim the blessings he has promised. When parents take up the cross and follow Christ, when they bring their lives into conformity to the will of God, their children will be converted."
"When the church is awakened, decided changes will be made. Men and women will be converted, and so filled will they be by the Spirit of God that they will pass from country to country, from city to city, proclaiming the message of truth. With hearts filled with earnest love for souls, they will open their Bibles and present the Word—“It is written.” Wherever they go a people will be raised up to stand in the day of the Lord. The simplicity of these humble workers will be their strength, for angels of God work with those who are humble and obedient. Learned, eloquent men will not see the results from their work that are seen by these humble, zealous, praying men." {Ms2-1900.15}
"Self-love excludes the love of Jesus from the soul, and this is why there is not in the church greater zeal and more fervent love for Him who first loved us. Self is supreme in so many hearts. Their thoughts, their time, their money, are given to self-gratification, while souls for whom Christ died are perishing. ... This is why the Lord cannot impart to his church the fullness of his blessing. To honor them in a distinguished manner before the world would be to put his seal upon their works, confirming their false representation of his character. When the church shall come out from the world, and be separate from its maxims, habits, and practices, the Lord Jesus will work with his people; he will pour a large measure of his Spirit upon them, and the world will know that the Father loves them." {HM-November 1, 1890, par. 24,25}
"Why is there so dim a perception of the true spiritual condition of the church? Are there not standing on the walls of Zion blind watchmen who do not perceive? Are not many unconcerned and well satisfied, as if the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night rested upon the sanctuary? Are there not those in positions of leadership, claiming to know God, who in life and character deny Him? Are there not many who count themselves as His chosen, peculiar people, yet are satisfied to live without the evidence that of a truth God is among them, to save them from Satan’s snares and attacks? ... O how Christ is dishonored by those who, professing to be Christians, disgrace the name they bear by failing to make their lives correspond with their profession, by failing to treat one another with the love and respect that God expects them to reveal in kind words and courteous actions." {Ms32-1903.5}(Read the rest of Found Wanting.)
"This is a remarkable analysis of the condition of hundreds and hundreds of our young people, and of many of our older people. There is so much today that is artificial, so much that is superficial, so much that is theoretical, that there is coming into the hearts of those who are sincere, a great cry after reality, a great, longing for a real experience. Theory does not satisfy, and the knowledge of the truth, however precious that truth may be, does not give them personal victory...."
"THERE is no greater or more solemn commission given to the ministry than that of bringing, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the promised and greatly needed revival of spiritual life and power to our people. The servant of God has told us...."
Click for Revival: Responsibility of the Ministry
"I may be the head of a department with all the detail and all the routine, but still I can have a revival. I may be a pastor of a little church or a big church, or I may be in radio work. No matter what particular line I happen to be in, the Spirit of prophecy says that the time will come when the Holy Spirit will sweep away all these things, and like a mighty flood will overflow the barriers and lines, the chains and wheels, and everything in a mighty revival tide. That is coming. O Lord, send a revival...."
"As a church we have done much, but even so, we cannot save ourselves. The keeping of the Sabbath, attendance oftentimes with much inconvenience and sacrifice on our part, will not save us. Our liberality will not save us, though we go so far as to give all our goods to feed the poor and our bodies to be burned. We cannot buy our way into heaven. The attainment of our church goals will fail to bring us salvation, even though we may pursue them most zealously and obtain their full realisation. Our beautiful system of doctrine will not bring us our reward. Rather it will prove our condemnation in the end, unless we are sanctified through the truth."