“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” — Leviticus 6:13

This verse alone reveals one of the main reasons why revival is necessary. The Church is that great altar of sacrifice where people freely offer themselves to God as living sacrifices, in line with the “reasonable worship” the apostle Paul encourages (Romans 12:1).

So as long as the Church remains on earth, this altar of God among men, the fire must never go out because it must constantly consume the lives offered upon it. And with this fire, revival must always follow. For fire produces heat, and that heat among men can only drive away all forms of spiritual slumber.

“The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.” — Acts 28:2-3

Another major reason for revival is simply to expose the Devil and his works within the Church. Lester Sumrall once said:

“Notice that the demon-possessed man in Luke 4 did not cry out in a loud voice until Jesus came. These people were singing their songs, saying their prayers, reading their scriptures—and the Devil was just fine with it all. But when the power of God entered the scene, the Devil suddenly got angry.
Why? Religious ceremonies pose no threat to him. We can hold regular religious services and demon-possessed people can sit right beside you undisturbed. But when the glory of God is manifested and the Spirit of God is moving, the Devil cannot stand it.”

The idea here is that, very often, when the fire is no longer present—or simply when its intensity diminishes—the Church becomes a favorable environment for the world and for darkness. These can thrive there without being disturbed. Like worms gnawing at a tree, the spread of darkness within the Church leads to its downfall.

If the universal Church is what it is today, it’s largely because we have provided the world with a peaceful environment. The fire is no longer there—or not as it used to be. And so, the world has settled comfortably into the Church, even to the point of trying to impose its own rules on a now-defenseless Church.

Let us remember: the Church is built on a revelation of warfare.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18

“To prevail” means to gain the upper hand—it’s a battle of advantage. And what better strategy than to infiltrate the enemy camp and manipulate it from within? Sadly, that is what happens when the Church loses its fire. The serpent feels safe there, just as it did in that pile of brushwood with Paul—until the fire exposed it.

The fire of revival brings the light of discernment and revelation.
So everything that was in darkness is brought to light, and everything disguised as light is exposed. When the genuine reappears, all the false can be clearly seen—and cast out. Or better yet, they leave on their own, just like that demon in Luke 4, because what was once a breeding ground, a place of comfort, becomes a hostile environment. That is why we need this revival.

We can cry out all we want about scandals in the Church and demand change, but in a state of lethargy, a state of sleep, no one can take meaningful action. And the same is true for the Church, which is made up of people—it can do nothing. Because the Church is the people together. To say the Church is asleep is to admit that its people have lost their spiritual awakening. The fire comes upon the members—the people—to raise up the body, which is the Church.

This fire comes to purify the Church once again.
This fire comes to separate the wheat from the tares.
This fire comes to bring to light the schemes of the Devil masked within the Church.
This fire comes to expose false ministers who bear the appearance of lambs but are in fact wolves at the altar of the Lord.

This fire comes to awaken the Bride’s awareness of the imminent return of her Groom. Yes, Maranatha—Jesus is coming back soon. Even today, I sometimes feel the warmth of the heavenly procession accompanying the King. I know He is coming very soon, and this fire goes before Him…

This text is an excerpt from the book “THE REVIVAL SEEN THROUGH A SON” written by Jefferson Grace Mango.

We invite you to read the next article: “HIDE OR REVEAL YOURSELF.”