I discovered that no revival comes if we don't preach the Word
I discovered that no revival comes if we don't preach the Word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. If we only have the Great Commission and only the Holy Spirit, we have power without purpose, or purpose without power. It is a package deal, and that is what God honors.
The words of Reinhard Bonnke shine like fire upon the altar: “I discovered that no revival comes if we don’t preach the Word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. If we only have the Great Commission and only the Holy Spirit, we have power without purpose, or purpose without power. It is a package deal, and that is what God honors.” In this testimony, Bonnke declares that divine awakening does not arise from fragments, but from the unity of God’s word and God’s Spirit working together in fullness.
The Word of God is the eternal seed, sharper than any two-edged sword, the foundation of truth. The Holy Spirit is the breath of life, the fire that quickens the word and makes it living in the hearts of men. To possess only the Word without the Spirit is to have doctrine without flame, a lamp without oil. To possess only the Spirit without the Word is to have passion without anchor, fire without direction. Bonnke’s wisdom reveals that both together—power and purpose—create the atmosphere where revival takes root.
This lesson finds its origin in Scripture itself. At Pentecost, the apostles carried the Great Commission, but it was only when the Holy Spirit descended upon them like tongues of fire that their preaching shook Jerusalem and beyond. Peter spoke the Word, but it was Spirit-anointed, piercing thousands of hearts in a single day. This is the very pattern Bonnke saw: God honors the marriage of Spirit and Word, never one without the other.
History testifies again in the Great Awakenings. Jonathan Edwards preached sermons steeped in the Word, but it was the power of the Spirit that made his voice thunder across the American colonies, igniting repentance and faith. Likewise, John Wesley carried the Scriptures into the fields, but it was the anointing that drew multitudes to cry out for salvation. Both men revealed the same principle: revival flows when the Word and the Spirit walk hand in hand.
Therefore, let this wisdom endure: the Church must never divide what God has joined. The Word without the Spirit grows cold; the Spirit without the Word burns wild. But together they form the holy fire that awakens the nations. Bonnke, who shook Africa with the gospel, teaches that it is this “package deal” that God blesses—purpose made alive by power, and power guided by purpose. This is the mystery of revival, the eternal union that heaven itself honors.
TVHa Trung Vuong
There’s a boldness in this view that feels almost confrontational to modern Christianity. It challenges the idea that passion or programs alone can bring transformation. But I wonder, how does one cultivate that sense of divine partnership without falling into self-righteousness or emotionalism? Perhaps Bonnke is suggesting that real revival isn’t manufactured—it’s birthed from obedience, humility, and the unity of purpose and presence.
AAi
What stands out to me is Bonnke’s conviction that God honors balance—Word and Spirit working together. It makes me curious whether this ‘package deal’ applies beyond preaching, perhaps even to how believers live daily. Could it be that faith without knowledge, or knowledge without faith, weakens our witness in the world? Maybe revival starts not in pulpits, but in ordinary lives filled with both truth and divine power.
DPDuong Pham
This quote stirs an important question about the nature of revival itself. If both the Word and the Spirit are necessary, what happens when churches emphasize one over the other? I’ve seen communities rich in teaching but lacking passion, and others full of zeal but light on Scripture. Do you think this imbalance explains why spiritual renewal often fades instead of enduring across generations?
Ggk
I find this perspective powerful because it connects purpose and power as inseparable elements of faith. Still, I can’t help but ask—how do we balance the practical aspects of ministry with this spiritual emphasis? Can organized programs and strategy coexist with total dependence on the Spirit, or do they sometimes conflict? It seems like Bonnke is calling for a return to simplicity and supernatural dependence, which feels rare today.
BSBbi Shi
This statement feels both passionate and deeply theological. It makes me wonder—how does one truly discern when preaching is done under the anointing of the Holy Spirit rather than through human effort or charisma? In a world where so much ministry can become performance-driven, this idea challenges leaders to seek divine authenticity. But is it possible to maintain that spiritual integrity consistently in modern church culture?