JJ Hairston Shares Powerful Message on Repentance and Revival
Gospel artist and worship leader, JJ Hairston recently shared a deeply moving experience from a message he felt led to preach, emphasizing the importance of repentance in the journey toward true revival. Reflecting on a quote by Frank Bartleman, Hairston reminded his audience, “The depth of our repentance will determine the depth of our revival.”
Hairston opened up about the challenge he faced leading up to the sermon. “A few weeks ago, the Lord convicted me to teach a hard message, and the message was simply entitled ‘TURN!’,” he shared. He confessed to struggling with the decision, as he had initially wanted to bring an encouraging, motivating message to his congregation. “As a people, we need as much encouragement as possible,” he acknowledged. However, during a prayer shut-in on Friday night with Prophetess Barbara Calloway, God confirmed the word. Hairston recalled that throughout the night, Prophetess Calloway kept repeating, “TURN, TURN, TURN!”
With a heart full of reverence, Hairston obeyed the call. “So with fear and trembling, I shared what God gave me,” he recounted. The result was nothing short of miraculous. “Three souls were saved for the first time, over 30 people came to the altar praying for the strength to turn from their ways, and 12 people joined the church,” Hairston joyfully shared. “And then this happened….”
Hairston’s message is a call to action for pastors, teachers, and leaders in the church. While motivational messages and revival services are important, he believes the gospel must also confront and convict. “I totally agree that motivational and ‘revival messages’ are necessary, but we also have the responsibility to share messages that prick the hearts of God’s people and inspire them to change,” he emphasized.
In his closing remarks, Hairston offered a powerful reminder: “As much as we want to see revival, there is no true revival without repentance.” His message resonates as a call for both spiritual leaders and believers to embrace the harder truths of the gospel, knowing that genuine transformation and revival come through turning away from sin and seeking God’s heart in humility.
Hairston’s powerful message serves as an inspiration for anyone seeking deeper spiritual renewal, calling us to remember that true change begins with repentance.