Intro: We need revival? Bro Bill we are working we had a successful VBS, we have had some salvations and baptisms. Why on earth would we need revival?
Lets try and define what true revival is. True revival is not merely seeing a few people saved. True revival is not a great influx into the church. True revival is not necessarily what is going to happen September 23-26.
True revival can simply be defined as a greater sensitivity to God’s presence. That sensitivity causes a powerful conviction of sin and uncleaness.
What we have in 2 Chronicles 7.14 I believe is God’s blueprint for revival. It tells us where it starts and how it happens, and what the results are.
Why are we not seeing individuals and congregations sensing the presence of God in such a way as to cause people to fall face down on the ground overcome by sin? Why do church members no longer cry out to God and say Oh God make me clean, and acceptable to you?
What happened to God’s presence so taking over a worship service that the congregation prayed till the midnight hour for themselves and their community?
Well dinner would burn, I’d miss that football game, etc …
Listen to an excerpt from J. Vernon McGee’s book, “Feasting on the Word.”
“Feeling better has become more important to us than finding God.”
That is what revival really is. Finding God. Finding that he is holy, and righteous, and desires us to be holy, righteous, and pure.
"We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man."
D.L. Moody
I. Where it starts
“and (if) My people who are called by My name”
There are two items in this passage that work together. It is not only in 2 Chronicles that this works but all of the Bible. In salvation, revival, etc. There is Divine Sovereignty and Human responsibility. For revival to come they must meet.
A) Divine Sovereignty
“If” its a conditional statement what follows should be important for the hearers us. If we do things God’s way revival can come. You can almost sense the urgent tone. If only. If I could just get My people to see their need. If they would only see my desire is to revive them. If only they would listen. If only. God fulfills his responsibilities perfectly what about us?
B) Human Responsibility
The second item is your and my responsibility to God. The conditional statement is for Christ’s people. Are we willing to meet God’s conditions? Do we even realize that we need revival? Even if we are willing how on earth does revival starts.
Revival is born in the heart of God, and begins in the heart of men.
II. How it starts
“shall humble themselves”
A) Brokenness before God
Finally the unyielding heart bows. The desire to stand for you own rights, to have your own way, to seek you own glory. You bow you heart before the creator of the universe admitting the mistake you’ve made trying to simply do it yourself.
“and pray, and seek my face”
B) Burning Desire for God
Charles Haddon Spurgeon - Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.
A.W. Tozer, ?If we yearned after God even as much as a cow yearns for her calf, we would be the worshipping and effective believers God wants us to be. If we longed for God as a bride looks forward to the return of her husband, we would be a far greater force for God than we are now.?
There seems to be a lack of a hunger and thirst for righteousness in the church today. I really believed that Jesus talked about this in His sermon on the mount.
He said in Matthew 5.6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Why is divorce as high in the church as in the world? Why is premarital sex as prominent or more in the church than in the world? Why is there no dramatic difference between the world and the church?
The thirst and hunger for God has been replaced with things that do not and cannot satisify.
(Im happy with you lord)
(someone hungry for God will have a desire to turn from their wicked ways.)
“and turn from their wicked ways.”
C) Burden because of sin
If you truly humble yourself before God it will make you sensitive to sin in your life. Walking with God not only gives you sensitivity to it but strength to confess and turn from it. If you read Isaiah Chapter 6 God’s presence causes a desire to turn from old ways of living and thinking and turn to God.
It could be called a moral revolution. There is a complete renovation, a cleaning up and clearing out of things that displease God and hinder fellowship with him. A determination with God’s help to get rid of the dirty, nasty, sin.
II. What are its results
“then I will hear from heaven”
A) A renewed fellowship with God
“seek my face.” The terrible nature of sin is to hide God’s face from us. It is not what God gives that we seek but God himself.
“Nothing I desire compares to you.”
God cares! You may have thought no one really cares about my situation!!! If we are willing to turn toward God we allow Him to act on our behalf (Sinners prayer). Revival in a life and a church comes when God acts on behalf of the person or church.
David’s prayer
“and forgive their sins”
B) A reviving forgiveness of sin
Do you remember what is was like to acknowledge your sin before God, to confess that sin and be forgiven? It has been described as a weight falling off your shoulders, awakening to the great and glorius creation and the creator who made it.
There is something that enlivens us when we know we are no longer under the burden of guilt.
It is forever forgiven and forgotten by God.
When we experience this we can share that with others and they too can experience real forgiveness.
“and heal their land”
C) A release of God’s Power
God keeps His word. If you will then I will. The conditional statement is met and God acts!!
The Welch revival examples.
Conclusion: Do we need revival? Of course. A sensitivity of God’s presence. A conviction of Sin. A desire for God and a determination to turn away from the things of the world.
