God's Requirements For Revival: Humility Series

Pastor Rick Flowers

First Baptist Church of Flushing

(First in a Four-Part Series on Revival)

“God’s Requirements For Genuine Revival: Humility"

2 Chronicles 7:11-15

I felt led of the Lord to begin a four-part series entitled “God’s Requirements For Genuine Revival.” In about 6 weeks we will be holding an evangelistic crusade. We are praying that scores of unsaved people will come to Christ.

However, the salvation of lost souls in a meeting is not revival. Revival is for the Believer… but the salvation of the lost should be the result of revival, because only then will Christians become the powerful witnesses God desires for us to be!

Illustration: Newspapermen from London went to see firsthand the marvelous happenings of the great Welsh revival at the turn-of-the-century. On their arrival in Wales one of them asked a policeman where the Welsh revival was. Drawing himself to his full height he laid his hand over his heart and proudly proclaimed: “Gentlemen, the Welsh revival is inside this uniform!” He had caught the holy fire.

Charles G. Finney defined Revival as:

“Nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the case of a converted sinner, the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and a forsaking of sin.”

Evangelist Gypsy Smith was once asked how to start a revival.

He answered: “Go home, lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of your floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start the revival inside that chalk mark. When He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on.”

R.A. Torrey gave a prescription for revival:

“I can give a prescription that will bring a revival to any church or community or any city on earth.

“First, let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God themselves. This is the prime essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing.

“Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down.

“Third, let them put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all!

“This is sure to bring a revival to any church or community. I have given this prescription around the world. It has been taken by many churches and many communities, and in no instance has it ever failed; and it cannot fail!”

Revival must begin with me… it must begin with you!

(Read 2 Chronicles 7:10-15 & Pray)

10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house.

12Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

13When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,

14if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

· Solomon had just completed the heart’s desire of his father David: He had built the Temple in Jerusalem!

· Finally a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the Presence and Power of God among men!

· God goes on to instruct Solomon as to what should be done if there is a drought, or pestilence or even a swarm of locusts to devour the crops:

“My people who are called by My name…”

(God’s people - Israel in the passage – the Church in application today)

1. Humble Themselves

2. Pray

3. Seek My Face

4. Turn From Their Wicked Ways (Implies judgment would be the reason for these things to happen).

These are physical judgments brought upon the people due to their spiritual condition.

God’s Promise:

· Hear from Heaven

· Forgive Their Sin

· Heal Their Land

The physical will not be taken care of until the spiritual needs are first addressed!

“…Shall Humble Themselves,”

I. Pride Hinders Genuine Revival (Brings God’s Judgment)