A Royal Recipe For Revival

2 Chronicles 7:1 - 16 A Royal Recipe For Revival 2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 1. THE PREPARATION FOR REVIVAL: Notice the words "if my people". The solution lay in the hands of God's people. In calling them to repentance notice there needed to be a putting away:- a) Of Their Corruption: v14 “If my people..... seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways”. I. PRIDE IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL shall humble themselves A. The word translated “pride” in the Old Testament means “to rise or to swell up.” It refers to the rising of the waves of the sea. It speaks of men thinking more of themselves and their abilities than of God. God hates pride! Ill. Pro. 6:16-19. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Here are the evidences of pride in a life: 1. Pride refuses to listen. 2. Pride likes to talk about itself. 3. Pride likes to be noticed. 4. Pride believes that it deserves everything it gets. 5. Pride is not thankful. 6. Pride cannot be corrected. 7. Pride criticizes others 8. Pride puts itself first. "Mr. Ali, you'll have to take a seat and fasten your seat belt because the plane is about to take off." Well, Mohammed Ali looked at her with a snarl, and said, "Honey, superman don't need no seat belt." She looked at him and said, "Yeah, and superman don't need no airplane either. Now sit down and buckle up.") B. God's Way is to “humble themselves”. The word “humble” means “to bend the knee; to bring down; to place self under another.” Pride will not allow the prideful person to bow their knee to the Lord! b ) Of Their Coldness: v14 and pray II. PRAYERLESSNESS IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL and pray A. The people of God are challenged to “pray”. Prayerlessness is the first cousin to pride. Prayerlessness says, “I do not need to call on the Lord,

B. It is a fact that we can pray and not have revival; but we will never have a revival apart from prayer! Prayer is the ultimate statement of inability. Prayer looks to God and says, “I can’t, but you can!” Finney, “Prayer is the essential link in the chain of events that leads to revival! (Ill. Dwight L. Moody, in England. "Come back. Revival has broken out." So Moody got back on the train, went back to that church and preached 10 straight nights. And 400 responded to the invitation. Mary Ann Adelard had read one of his sermons in the newspaper and had started praying every day that God would bring D. L. Moody to her church. Ravenhill, “The church is dying on its feet because it is not living on its knees c) Of Their Conceit: and seek my face III. PRIORITIES ARE THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL and seek my face A. The word “seek” means “to search out by any method; especially by worship and prayer.” The word “face” refers to “the countenance; to turn toward His direction.” This little phrase is a call for God’s people to stop looking for help and purpose in every other thing in life. They are called upon to make God their primary focus and their first priority. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Revival does not come to people who seek revival; but to those who seek God B. When God is our first priority, He wants us to love what He loves, hate what He hates and do what He does. John 5:19-20. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 1.) On what activity do you spend most of your time? 2.) On what do you spend the bulk of your money? 3.) On what do you focus your thoughts? d) Of Their Concealment: and turn from their wicked ways IV. PRESUMPTION IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL and turn from their wicked ways A.That is, they are to forsake their sins and embrace holiness. Isa. 59:2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. B. James 5:16b says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The key word in that verse is “righteous”. The word refers to a person who is “holy, upright and keeps the commandments of the Lord.” “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart,” Jer. 29:13.