Ablaze: Prepare Your Heart for Revival

Endorsements

It is my great privilege to endorse Dr. Lemley’s book Ablaze. In my opinion it should be your primer for how to prepare for, experience, lead, and maintain both personal and corporate worship in the twenty-first century. She contends and I believe that God is always ready to revive His people, the rest remains with us. In these pages you will find a great historical review of revivals through time as well as a strong biblical theology of revival. If you will allow it, this work can guide you systematically into a state of heart and mind primed for revival. As a lead pastor for twenty-one years let me encourage you: Don’t be afraid or resistant, this is solid, biblical truth flowing from a heart that longs for the lost to be saved, biblical knowledge to increase, God’s leaders to be encouraged, and the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest in genuine fashion. As Dr. Lemley’s pastor I have watched her pursue revival with an unwavering passion coupled with great humility. Read on and be blessed.

— Roy Rhodes, Lead Pastor, Abundant Life Community Church, Alton, IL

As a pastor, I prayer walk my church sanctuary each Sunday before service. I find myself speaking life over dead and dry parts of individuals’ hearts. I feel the rattling of spiritual revival in my bones, yet a heaviness of slumber tranquilizing the people of God. In Ablaze, Kristi Lemley meets us in this precise moment of hungering for a fresh outpouring while swimming in a spiritual culture of apathy. Hope for awakening is woven into each page, and you will not want to miss a moment.

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Crystal Martin: National Director-Network of Women Ministers, National Director-Chi Alpha Cross Cultural Missions, Associate Pastor-Central Assembly of God Springfield, MO

Dr. Lemley brilliantly seizes the journey for His presence. She giftedly captures the broad analysis of revival, preps our hearts for creating an atmosphere to receive it, and challenges me to prepare for it. If you have the heart of a revivalist and are Jesus-passionate, looking for His outpouring, this book is a must. It stirs hearts for more. I told, Dr. Lemley, It’s coming, Kristi. It’s coming.

— Joseph S. Girdler, DMin, Superintendent (2004 – present) Kentucky Assemblies of God

In this decade of modernity, the quest for revival has seemingly been placed on the sidelines while it is vitally needed for the spiritual health of the nation’s today. ABLAZE not only gives an in-depth analysis on revival, but is a multi-faceted teaching tool to enable all leaders to strategically and urgently seek the Spirits flow in this direction.

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Rev. Marie Miller – Evangelist, Foundations Ministries Inc.; Lead Pastor, Pickering Pentecostal Church – Canada

The American church needs a fresh wind of revival. The cultural and spiritual warfare taking place in our society today creates the fertile soil for a great revival. Kristi Lemley‘s book, Ablaze is inspired by the Holy Spirit for just this season. Scholarly and biblically solid, her passion for revival comes through in every chapter. Speaking with her experience as an Evangelist and her insight as a counselor, she gives you a unique perspective of Biblical revivals. I love this line from the book. Compromise appeared easier than the conflict that would ensue from standing up for God’s commandments and taking ownership of the Promised Land. This is a word for today! Let the Lord speak to you through this book to light your heart Ablaze!

— Phillip B. Schneider, Superintendent Illinois Assemblies of God

Among those who follow Jesus, believe the Bible to be true, and, at the same time, have open eyes to see all the chaos and brokenness in our world, there can be little doubt now is the time for revival, both personally and (please, God!) among the masses. In ABLAZE, Dr. Kristi Lemley not only educates us about what revival is (and is not) and how sovereign ‘moves of God’ have impacted lives and nations historically, she offers practical help in knowing what our part is when it comes to revival readiness. If, like me, you feel the Spirit’s tug to be prepared for what God wants to do in this world and in your own life, ABLAZE is your next important read.

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Dr. Jodi Detrick, Author of The Jesus-Hearted Woman: 10 Leadership Qualities for Enduring & Endearing Influence

When you meet Kristi, you know that the call to teach, preach, and pray for revival is her passion. ABLAZE is well written and highlights Dr. Lemley’s years of study and experience on the subject. As Kristi wrote about the revival characteristics like social justice reformations, evangelism, and missionary movements, I realized that ABLAZE is a much-needed book for the church today. As you read, ABLAZE I pray that your heart, like mine, is set on fire with the desire to see revival come to every generation, every race, every social class, and spread throughout the world.

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Lisa Potter, Executive Director of Women Who Lead, Potomac Ministry Network Assemblies of God, Writer, Speaker, Coach, and Mentor

Is your soul thirsty for renewal? Kristi Lemley artfully guides us through what it means to experience revival. She not only provides theological and historical context, but also gives a blueprint for a life marked by the presence of God. This powerful resource belongs in every Christian university and in the hands of every pastor, ministry leader, and believer who desires to see God move in a mighty way.

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Angela Donadio, Author, Speaker, and Advocate

Revival is a subject many leaders address with seasonal messages and the Scriptures speak with great clarity. Yet very few authors bring the historical and Biblical truths of Revival to a current day application. Kristi Lemley fills a huge, gaping void with this superb book. Leaders as well as all followers of Christ will be greatly challenged and encouraged as they read Ablaze. This book should kindle into a blazing fire and explode a passion in the heart of every Christian for a Godly revival to overwhelm our churches, communities, nation and world. Ablaze is for today and generations yet to be born.

— Chuck Stecker, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of A Chosen Generation

With genuine love for the body of Christ, Kristi Lemley, draws attention to the loss of zeal and passion for spiritual matters and challenges us to a personal revival of the heart. This book describes important accounts of revivals in the Bible, in history, and in modern day. If you have been praying for revival, and desire a deeper understanding of this sovereign move of God, you must read this book.

— Elizabeth De Jesús Worship Pastor, Women’s Leader and Bible Teacher, New Life Covenant Church, Chicago

With passion that will set ablaze your heart to re-imagine what revival can mean to you personally, Dr. Lemley’s modern day approach to revival is nothing less than compelling and contagious! As you journey through Ablaze, the power of God’s presence will fill your heart, revealing what revival truly is, and that it is possible for you – starting today. Ablaze is theologically sound, delivering a focused snapshot of historical, biblical, and contemporary revival. The author lays out practical steps to prepare your heart to receive a transformed life that will reignite a new hunger for God, empowering you to bring the presence of Christ into the space you occupy.

— Dr. Ava Kate Oleson, Associate Professor of Counselling, Tyndale University

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Copyright © 2020 by Kristi Lemley

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64773-568-5

ISBN 978-1-64773-569-2 (ebook)

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my husband, family, and Dr. Carolyn Tennant. To Kraig, thank you for your unwavering love throughout the journey of life. You have been a foundational support and joint partner. I love you! Thank you to the rest of my family. These two words are not enough to express the gratitude for all your encouragement and prayers. Carolyn, the gift of your mentoring and friendship has provided invaluable wisdom to not only develop this book, but overall ministry for which I am beyond grateful. May revival break forth and allow us to experience His overwhelming Spirit in unprecedented ways.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Heart Of Revival

Chapter 2: Definition Of Revival

Chapter 3: Biblical Revivals

Chapter 4: Theology Of Revival

Chapter 5: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Chapter 6: It’s Not About Us

Chapter 7: Approach The Throne

Chapter 8: Your Face Oh Lord

Chapter 9: Turning From Sin

Chapter 10: God’s Response

Chapter 11: Creating The Atmosphere

Chapter 12: Where Are We Now?

Chapter 13: Experiencing Personal Revival

Chapter 14: How To Lead A Revival

Concluding Remarks

Epilogue

Endnotes

FOREWORD

BY DR. CAROLYN TENNANT

The term revival brings many different scenarios to people’s minds. For some, it is simply a few nights of special meetings. For others, it generates an idea of unusual, perhaps even fanatical events. Certainly, a comprehensive study of revivals throughout history demonstrates great variation. This is probably not surprising since the God we serve is creative, contextual, and has access to unlimited options.

In the midst of these variants, however, revival history contains similar themes. God’s presence sweeps across a group of people, affecting them in such a way that they will never be the same again. Many are saved, delivered, and radically transformed. People are healed in mind, body, and emotions. The Spirit of God touches anyone by convicting, comforting, guiding, and illuminating truth. Holiness becomes a much more important goal. True disciples are formed, and their desire increases to follow Jesus closely.

In addition, historical revivals have often swept across whole territories, countries, and crossed over oceans to other nations around the globe. In some nations, thousands of people have come to the Lord during a revival. In the Welsh revival of 1904-1905, for example, over 100,000 people turned their lives over to Jesus in the first six months of this move of God. The whole society was changed with people making reparation for what they had stolen, bars shutting down, dance halls closing, and the court judges being given white gloves to signify there were no crimes to try. For the first time, Christmas was truly celebrated because the coal miners no longer drank up their paychecks, now being able to buy presents for their children and put extra food on the table. Even the donkeys in the coal mines had to be retrained because the cuss words used to get them to pull out the coal carts were now absent. Truly, revivals have historically affected social structures, morality, economy, health, and well-being.

In these end times in which we are living evil is ramping up, and the world is in desperate need of experiencing the transformation that only God can provide. I have sensed for a long time that the Lord wants to bring in a last great harvest of souls before the rapture takes place. With the signs of His return proliferating, we should be on the edge of our seats asking what our role and place are to be.

It’s obvious this book is timely. Revival is not something for which we should just wait passively, and Dr. Lemley shares specifics of what we need to do to get ready as revealed in the Bible. We must prepare ourselves personally and then equip our churches.

I often preach and teach regarding revival, and people get rightly excited. Learning the history of the numerous revivals which have occurred in the Bible and throughout the centuries generates hope and faith that God can and will do something fresh again in our time. After my sharing, quite a few will tell me that they are praying and also believe God is getting ready to pour out His Spirit in a mighty, last days revival. This is marvelous. But when I ask them what they are doing specifically to prepare, they generally look at me blankly. Particulars escape them completely.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God has set a pattern for what the personal work of revival preparation entails. Dr. Lemley not only explains what this involves, she also leads the reader through the process of self-examination and potential transformation that can occur. I encourage you not to pass rapidly over these reflective portions, thinking you will deal with these matters later. Indeed, the time is short before the Lord comes back, and the moment is now to prepare yourself. Look, meditate, examine, and apply. As you do, you will learn and change because God has a work He wants to do in your life through this book.

I believe we will see revival soon, but it behooves us to take care of business with God first. It is time to put aside our own idols–those things that we treat as if they are more important than God. We must stop being lackadaisical about the Lord and putting Him off to pursue our own pleasures and agendas. We should honestly identify our own sins, weaknesses, errors, and all things that keep us away from God, and then be really radical about repenting and turning away from them. As we move in this direction toward the Lord, He will bring us fresh life and forgiveness. Only then will we be ready to lead others to Him and gather in the great harvest of souls that God intends.

So, anticipate that something will change inside of you as you read this book. God wants to prepare us for what He has ahead. If we don’t want to be on the outside looking in, it is time to move forward.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to ABLAZE: Prepare Your Heart for Revival. You have embarked on a journey to experience the overwhelming presence of the Spirit in your life. This book is not a step by step process on how to create revival, but a heartfelt search for more of God from a place of humility, prayer, seeking His face, and repentance. Biblical revival cannot be whipped up or human-made but is solely a gracious blessing from our heavenly Father. God chooses who to pour out His Spirit upon, when it will occur, where it will transpire, and how it will look.

This book resulted from my doctoral project while studying at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Countless hours of research by attending revivals, reading books and articles, watching videos, and conducting interviews guided the project and are now presented in this book. The project began with a question I consistently asked God as an evangelist and counselor: Why is the Church not walking in the power and authority given by Christ and displayed in Acts? God’s answer laid the responsibility on the hearts of men and women and led me to 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The project provided a six-hour conference, held at Abundant Life Community Church in Alton, Illinois on March 9, 2019, open to anyone who wanted to attend. The schedule included five sessions, beginning with the identification of biblical revival and how 2 Chronicles 7:14 relates, which states, "If my people, who are called by my