Customer Reviews

Revival: Principles to Change the World

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I'd begin this book by reading the conclusion because this accurately defines the heartbeat of an author whose heart is not just to write the biographies and histories of past revivals, but to inspire and motivate this current generation, "who know not the Lord nor the works that He has done in Israel" (Judges 2 v 10), to be a generation who usher in another mighty move of God.

If you're looking for an overview of men and moves of God, this book moves from one to the next with a passion and hunger that will keep you reading. This book doesn't just feed you information, it exposes the root of our powerlessness today in the Western Church. It underlines the fact that God has not finished working in His church, He is just waiting for a people who will yield and obey Him. "I looked for a man...".

So whether you're looking for a good devotional book, or you're searching for a book that pulsates with a hunger for God, this book will move and encourage you to press in to God, and lay hold of His purpose for THIS generation. Don't miss it, let's grab the baton and go after God! Be blessed.

I will first admit before I begin this review that I have much respect for Winkie Pratney and his ministry. YWAM has done much good for the glory of God and for that I am thankful. By no means do I write this review to attack Pratney nor his ministry per se.

This is a somewhat dated book on revival. The book was written and published in 1983. Therefore it lacks some content about the fall of some prominent Pentecostal figures as well as the 1990's with the entire Toronto and Pensacola revivals. On a minor note the author uses the KJV where he does include Scripture.

The positives of this book are that the book is full of studies of past revivals. Pratney does a good job of showing the power of revival to change entire nations. He shows how Acts records that the disciples turned the world upside down through the gospel. Pratney focuses on revival's since Pentecost (Acts 2) focusing mainly on the English and American revivals. He does briefly touch on revivals in South America and Asia. The book includes brief sketches of revivals under men such as Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and the Pentecostal/Charismatic revivals of the 20th century.

The negatives of this book are many for me. First, the author is limited in his details on revivals. Pratney could have done well to show the postives of the First Great Awakening under Edwards but show its errors as well that Edwards defined after the revival. The same could be shown of the Pentecostal revivals as well. Second, Pratney spends little time in the Scriptures defining revival. While the word "revival" is not found in the Bible, Pratney could have done a better job of showing biblical principles for revival such as those under Ezra or John the Baptist or even Acts. Third, Pratney spends little time on theology. The theology of a revival does matter. The theology of William Branham is important to keep in mind as he rejected the trinity, believed in a personal angel that travled with him and spoke to him, and some of Branham's followers believed he would raised from the dead after he died since he was so close to God. Branham's theological errors needs to be discussed. Fourth, Pratney (and possibly this is the publishers fault) labels Arminianism as Armeninism. Armenians are an ethnic group while Arminians are a theological system from Jacobus Arminius. There is a difference.

Overall this is not a good book to study revival. There are better books both on the history of revival as well as the theology of revival. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' book on revival comes to mind.

This well sought after book is a not just a revival of self but a revival of an age, an era. Taken into consideration that the world is in a chaotic state, this changing outlook is food for a starving world. What are principles? Well read this book and you will absolutely know. A page turner. A. Monty

This book is worth the money and time to purchase and read.It will make you hungry for Revival.