Keys To Experiencing Revival

KEYS TO EXPERIENCING REVIVAL

2CHRONICLES 29 & 30

Intro: Rabbit Resurrection

Sunday morning after church in Ramona

Brother /I were playing

Bushes thrashing/ got our attention

Dog Matt – Frantically shaking bushes

Matt didn’t care, but we knew that the rabbit belonged to Mrs. Clausen widow

We knew we didn’t have talent for fixing fences, screen doors, etc.

Told dad who never encountered a problem that he couldn’t handle

Everything is simple, don’t panic, don’t get excited. Take a second look at situations.

Don’t worry, Just hose the little fellow off real well so that he looks nice and clean, brush him down with this towel, and stick him back in his cage.

Mrs. Clausen is still in church. When she comes home, she will be upset, but just figure that he died a natural death.

We did exactly as we were told and hid in the bushes to get a good seat to see what happened.

Sure enough, she did just as dad had said. She came out of the back door and headed for the rabbit cages. All of a sudden, we heard the worst screaming you can imagine. Mrs. Clauasen went on hollering, shrieking, crying, yelling, and asking God all kind of questions.

Mom and dad finally went over to calm her and ask her to explain what had happened.

In between sniffs and sobs, she finally got it out, “I buried that rabbit three days ago…

RABBIT CAME BACK TO LIFE

THOUGHT: GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO BE FULL OF LIFE.

FACT: THERE ARE KEYS IN 2 CHRON. 29 TO EXPERIENCING REVIVAL.

I. THE CHURCH MUST UNDERSTAND REVIVAL

A. REAL REVIVAL IS NOT MANIFESTATION FOCUSED

(IF IT WERE, I WOULD JUST TURN A SQUIRREL LOOSE IN THE BUILDING)

Acts 2:17-18

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

(KJV)

B. REAL REVIVAL IS FOCUSED UPON GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE.

1. In the Old Testament, The Bible skips over thousands of years including creation

in a couple of chapters. However, it spends numerous chapters focusing upon a man named Abraham and His relationship with His God.

2. It’s not a question of what God is doing around me, but what God is doing in me.

B. REVIVAL IS A TWO FOLD EVENT

1. RENEWAL

2. RESCUE (WINNING OF THE LOST/ LIFE PRESERVER)

II. THE CHURCH MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED FOR REVIVAL VS. 6-7

2 Chr 29:6-7(KJV)

6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.

7 Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

HEZEKIAH STATED THAT ISRAEL’S FORMER GENERATION OF

SPIRITUAL LEADERS DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED FOR REVIVAL. THEY HAD …

A. UNDERESTIMATED THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP

WITH THEIR GOD - “TURNED THEIR BACKS & SHUT THE DOOR”

B. THEY HAD NOT FOSTERED GOD’S PRESENCE - “DIDN’T KEEP THE

LAMPS BURNING”

SCOTTISH VILLAGE/ELECTRICITY BEING INTRODUCED/

C. THEY HAD NOT HONORED GOD - “NOT BURNED INCENSE”

D. FAILED TO CONFESS THEIR SINFULNESS - “FAILED TO OFFER

BURNT OFFERINGS”

III. THE CHURCH MUST PREPARE FOR REVIVAL VS. 1-5

2 Chr 29:1-5(KJV)

1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy

place.

A. HE REPAIRED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD VS. 3

2 Chr 29:3(KJV)

3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

B. HE CLEANSED THE HOUSE AND THE LEADERSHIP VS. 5

2 Chr 29:4-5(KJV)