Revival

What we have called revival during the last three hundred years represents an unusual work of the Holy Spirit with the following characteristics:
1. Converted and unconverted men, women and children, are stunned by a vision both of God's holiness and his mercy, are awakened in large numbers to repentance, faith and worship.
2. God's power is manifest in human lives in ways no psychological or sociological laws can explain adequately.
3. The community as a whole becomes aware of what is happening, many perceiving the movement as a threat to existing institutions.
4. Some men and women exhibit unusual physical and emotional behaviors. These create controversy. They can be an offense to opponents of the revival and a snare to its supporters.
5. Some revived Christians behave in an immature and impulsive way, while others fall into sin. In this way the revival appears to be a strange blend of godly and ungodly influences, of displays of divine power and of human weakness.
6. Wherever the revival is extensive enough to have national impact, sociopolitical reform follows over the succeeding century. In this way Christ kingdom begins to be exercised over the evils of oppression and injustice.

John White, When The Spirit Comes With Power, p. 32-33.