Some Christians have asked me if this could be the revival for which I've been calling through my books, my preaching, and my conferences. From a historical and Biblical perspective, I am convinced that this is not the seed of a mighty sweeping revival that will restore our society to a moral greatness and spiritual awakening. As I've studied the great moves of God in the Bible and throughout history, I have found two consistent characteristics of the birthing of revival throughout the ages.

First, God's people always receive a glimpse of His absolute purity and their own sinful tendencies. That never produces "holy laughter" but rather a humble heart of brokenness, confession, and repentance.

Second, they see a world that's lost, dying and going to hell. When Jesus saw the multitudes, He had compassion for them. He wept over the condition of Jerusalem. When we see Christ and the cross upon which He died, we too will weep. A great spiritual revival doesn't begin with laughter. Rather, it begins with weeping.

Our nation and the world is in a terrible mess. My greatest fear of such manifestations that seem to take hold of so many Christians is the direction that it ultimately leads. The Bible says that, "Godly sorrow leads to repentance." And repentance leads to the cross. The cross leads to forgiveness and restoration and they lead to unspeakable joy.

Revival doesn't begin with joy. It ends there, and there's no shortcut to genuine joy. You'll discover that there is only one path to such great joy, and that's the way of the cross. When you go to the cross, there will be many tears and very little laughter. It's impossible to experience the joy of the resurrection without submitting to the light of the cross. And that can be painful.

No. A mighty sweeping revival won't begin with laughter. It will begin with weeping.