The turn of this new millennium has seen back to back revivals, outpourings and moves of God.

Rodney Howard Browne’s Refreshing “Holy Laughter” made its U.S. debut in 1987, but was brought to the forefront in the early 90s by Christian television giant, TBN.

The Toronto Blessing with John Arnott in 1994.

The Brownsville Revival with Steve Hill and John Kilpatrick in 1995.

The Smithton Outpouring with Steve Gray in 1996

And more recently 2008, the Lakeland Healing Revival with Todd Bentley.

All these moves have promised they would sweep the world. But what has been the fruit of these revivals in comparison with the Awakenings and Reformations of centuries before, all the way back to the Book of Acts?

If God is doing a “New Thing” then what is so new about what’s happening now?

The beginning of Pentecost was by far the purest move of the Spirit this world has ever seen. It’s recorded for a pattern for many generations. The early believers were in unity, they were empowered and equipped to do the work, going everywhere preaching the Gospel. They were plugged-in to their local church, going from house to house fellowshipping and breaking bread. They were steadfast in the teaching of the apostles (they loved the Word of God) and the Scriptures record there was great grace upon them. So many of them gave their lives to proclaim the glorious Gospel of the Kingdom of God and His Christ. The end result was, they Christianized the entire Roman Empire and left a better future for the next generation.

With John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, Smith Wigglesworth and many more, every move of God or revival produced stable, strong and Scripturally sound Christians who represented the Lord well in a morally bankrupt society. We are still benefiting from these past revivals today.

If you study history you’ll discover that revivals not only bless believers and the Christian Church. But it always affects the society and culture of its time. They have a purpose to equip believers to be the salt and light of the world. Results and fruits of a revival should be that of the Book of Acts. Every move of God in history has strengthened the local churches of Jesus Christ. The local church is where believers get equipped, activated and released to be Kingdom influencers in culture today. Remember He (Jesus) said, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).