Why Revival Delays 01.12.2025

Why Revival Delays
Candidate Message - Pastor Rob Bray
Sunday, January 12, 2025

Have you ever waited for a spark, only to realize the kindling wasn’t ready? Revival is like that spark—it’s powerful, transformative, and life-changing. Yet, too often, the church finds itself waiting for a fire that never seems to ignite. What if the delay isn’t about God’s unwillingness but about our unreadiness?

Throughout history, every great revival - from Pentecost to the Great Awakening - was born from a readiness in God’s people to receive His Spirit and align their lives with His will. Revival doesn’t just happen; it’s cultivated. Today, we’re going to explore ten reasons why revival delays and how we, as individuals and a church, can remove these barriers.

Revival delays not because God is holding out but because we fail to align our hearts with Him. When we address these barriers, the fire of revival can burn brightly personally, corporately, and regionally.

Why Revival Delays
1. We Forget the Power of Prayer
2. We Tolerate Sin in the Camp
3. We Act Ashamed of the Gospel
4. We Dull and Distract Ourselves
5. We Hide and Pose in Our Shame
6. We Refuse to Answer the Call to Go
7. We Hoard Our Time and Resources
8. We Neglect Biblical Obedience
9. We Ignore Holy Spirit Unction
10. We Live for This Temporary Age

Applications
1. Renew Your Prayer Life
2. Confess Sin Boldly
3. Share the Gospel Fearlessly
4. Scorn Shame
5. Answer the Call
6. Open Your Hands
7. Study and Obey
8. Listen to the Spirit
9. Seek Eternal Perspective

Jesus modeled every aspect of revival during His earthly ministry, addressing each of these barriers perfectly: prayer, holiness, boldness, focus, vulnerability, commissioning, generosity, obedience, spirit, eternity.

Revival begins in the individual heart. Jesus died and rose again to bring spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead. He invites each of us to lay down our barriers and receive His Spirit afresh. If you feel far from God, today is the day to respond. Raise your hand, receive Jesus, and let Him ignite revival in your soul.

“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it. Revival costs everything - it demands surrender, sacrifice,
and single-minded devotion. The question is: are we willing to pay the price?” - Leonard Ravenhill