Addressing The Opposition To Revival

Acts 3:19

Refreshing = a??a´?????, anapsuxis, an-aps'-ook-sis

From G404; properly a recovery of breath, that is, (figuratively) revival: - revival.

I. Acts 3:1-10 – Expound on the Lame Beggar Healed at the Gate called “Beautiful.”

II. Acts 4:1-22 – The opposition (after God started moving). Peter and John were taken by:

• The Priests

• The Captain of the Temple

• The Sadducees

III. Address the Asbury Revival (Show clips)

1. I am not attacking any individual. I’m addressing an ideology. (I’ve read many warnings about this revival…) There are many posts like the following:

Don't you feel sad for believers who are looking for a revival, who want to be part of a revival, who are always talking about revival, who have to drive to a revival when revival is available to them since they were saved. I was saved at 19 years old and have been in revival ever since because revival is not a service, is not at a church, is not worship, is not excitement and is not where miracles and healings occur. Revival is a personal quickening of our spirit by the Holy Spirit that is sustained and remains by spending time with Jesus every day.

-Quit driving to revivals when you can have one every day

-Quit looking for revivals because you are a revival

-Quit talking about revival. Be one.

Have a personal revival every day....stay in revival.....Be a revival.... Don't look for a move of God. Be a move of God.....

I don’t think the person who wrote this post is a bad person. I don’t think they are against revival. In fact, I know them and feel that they are a very good person. I’m speaking to an ideology, not a person because I’m seeing different versions of this pop-up, and as your Pastor, I want to warn you to be careful with this thought process…

I DO want to be part of revival! I DO want to be around others who are always talking about revival! Revival can happen anywhere. In a church, your place of employment, your backyard…

True revival is marked by worship, spiritual excitement, salvations, miracles, healings, and deliverance.

Yes! It is a quickening of the Holy Spirit that is sustained by spending time with Jesus every day, but if we are going to live revival, we must fan the flames of revival!

-Keep traveling to places where God is pouring out His Spirit!

-Keep looking for places where wells of revival are breaking forth!

-Keep talking about revival and the current moves of God!

2. In the Old Testament they traveled to meet with God. (Altar’s, Tent of Meeting, etc.)

3. In the New Testament people traveled to see Jesus. (They came from the countryside to see Him)

4. In the New Testament Church, they traveled between cities to worship together.

5. People today will travel across the country to satisfy their flesh at Disney, a Super Bowl, Yosemite, etc. Why not travel to sit in an atmosphere where God is moving?

6. Why dampen what is going on at Asbury? Religion will always fight what it can’t control.

7. I wonder how many traveled to be a part of the “Jesus Movement.” How is this any different?

8. What’s wrong with these kids falling in love with Jesus together?

9. Revivals, Spiritual Awakenings, and Refreshing (who cares what you call it) mark moments in time for reference later. It does us good to remember…

10. The people fighting this outpouring would have probably fought the Welsh Revival as well.

Evan Robert’s and the Welsh Revival (Quote)

“The revival seems to work especially among young people. Its form, which is that of prayer, praise, and personal testimony, and its absence of method make it the most methodical expression of the emotions of young hearts aflame with the love of God.”

Evan Roberts, 1904, spoke of the Welsh Revival in which 100,000 people were converted in five months throughout Wales. The revival in Wales started with a group of young people thirsty for a deeper walk with the Lord and a more in-depth knowledge of Him.

CLOSING:

II Chronicles 7:13-14

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

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.

• I pray God is raising up some George Whitefield’s, Frank Bartleman’s, Charles Finney’s, John Wesley’s, Evan Roberts, and Dwight L. Moody’s. I pray He is raising up some Aimee Semple McPherson's, Kathryn Kuhlman’s, and Mildred Wicks.