Revival Behavior | William McDowell | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Revival Behavior

William McDowell

Change Church • Jul 2, 2025 • 72 min

Start a Devotional

Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor William McDowell examines the biblical marks of revival behavior, calling believers out of spiritual passivity and into bold, active faith. Drawing from Joshua 18 and the Gospels, he demonstrates that while corporate moves of God are powerful, every individual must take personal responsibility to possess the promises God has provided. Believers are challenged to count the cost upfront, articulate their faith boldly through prayer, and operate in great faith that pulls future realities into the present.

Themes

RevivalDiscipleship & CostActive FaithPersonal ResponsibilityPrayer & ArticulationGreat Faith

Key Points

1.
Following Jesus requires counting the cost up front rather than attempting to pay as you go, surrendering everything to Christ from the beginning.
2.
Biblical revival occurs when God awakens people to their need for Him, leading them to reject idols and hunger for others to experience His presence.
3.
Jesus asks open-ended, faith-awakening questions to prompt believers to articulate their faith, moving belief from passive agreement into active prayer.
4.
Although believers enter into corporate moves of God together, each person carries an individual responsibility to pursue and possess the promises assigned to them.
5.
Complacency sets in when believers become accustomed to living off the overflow of corporate encounters without cultivating a personal relationship with God.
6.
To possess God's promises, believers must become reacquainted with them and be able to clearly describe what they are believing God to perform.
7.
Great faith looks beyond present limitations and refuses to allow current circumstances to dictate what it asks of God.
8.
True revival behavior is characterized by "Krazo"—an intentional, directed cry of faith that disrupts spiritual passivity and pulls future realities into the present.

Sermon Moments

“The Builder Analogy: With Jesus, the cost is upfront. It is a posture that surrenders everything at the beginning because Christ is worth it all.”

“Native Language of Faith: The native language of faith is prayer. When faith talks, it prays—you do not pray for what you do not believe.”

“Corporate vs. Individual Encounter: Participating in a great church service does not replace having your own personal encounter with God; living off corporate overflow is not enough.”

“Defining Revival: Revival is when people are awakened to their need for God by God, pursue only Him, reject idolatry, and long for others to know Him.”

“The Readiness of Prayer: A cry for revival does not inform God that you are ready for it; it informs you that you are ready.”

“Great Faith Defined: Great faith looks into the future, trusts God's power, and refuses to let present circumstances dictate what it asks for.”

“Authority in Faith: Great faith refuses to accept a 'no' from circumstances or people that do not have the authority to give a 'yes.'”

This Week

Surrender every area of your life to Christ up front rather than waiting for trials to test your commitment.

Verbally articulate your faith and specific requests in prayer daily rather than remaining in passive agreement.

Take personal responsibility for your individual spiritual walk instead of relying solely on corporate worship services.

Identify and confront any areas of spiritual complacency where you have settled for being near God's promises without possessing them.

Take time to write down and clearly define the biblical promises you are trusting God to fulfill in your life.

Refuse to let negative circumstances or human reports set boundaries on what you boldly ask God to accomplish.

Engage in intentional, fervent prayer ("Krazo") to press through obstacles and draw down God's supernatural response.

Remember This

True revival requires an awakened, active faith that counts the cost upfront, articulates its requests boldly in prayer, and refuses to let present circumstances limit what it trusts God to do.

A Challenge for You

I need some people with some great faith to look into the future and start pulling it with your faith into the present. Open up your mouth and cry out for it—this is revival behavior.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.