Revival
The Greatest Revival in history is imminent.
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August 12, 1944 - the allies nearly surrounded the German 7th and 5th Panser armies during operation Cobra.
General Omar Bradley described the situation stating, “This is an opportunity that comes to a commander not more than once in a century. We’re about to destroy an entire hostile army and go all the way from here to the German border.”
General Patton’s 3rd Army began to close the 25 mile gap but Bradley, now second guessing himself, ordered Patton to stop at Argentan.
Bradley along with Field Marshal Montgomery (who slowed the Canadian advance) and other commanders left the Falaise Gap open for 10 days allowing 100 to 240,000 German soldiers and 30,000 vehicles to escape.
Colonel H.R McMaster described it this way - “Patton was biased always towards seeing the opportunities, other commanders were biased towards seeing the dangers.”
Finally on August 21st, the gap was closed and the remainder of the German army which hadn’t yet escaped was obliterated - 15,000 German soldiers were killed, 50,000 were captured and over 500 German tanks were lost.
This finally ended the battle of Normandy and France was freed within days.
After the war allied commanders agreed that waiting to close the gap had been a colossal mistake.
We, as the Body of Christ today, find ourselves in a similar situation - we can either win it all or lose it all in our lifetimes.
Will we be biased towards seeing the opportunities or the dangers?
Revival is imminent.
But what is revival?
Misconceptions - Revival is not a Christian carnival that comes into town and then leaves.
Christians are revived and that results in non-Christians coming to Christ.
Must be alive to be revived.
Ps.80:18 - Revive us and we will call on your name.
Ps.85:6 - Revive us and we will rejoice in you.
Revival is “a sustained and unhindered work of God resulting in true repentance transforming believers and saving the lost.”
But it starts with us!!! 1 Peter 4:17 - “...it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God...”
As we return to the Lordship of Christ the whole world can be won!
World revival is mathematically and logistically possible for 1st time ever.
Rom.10:14-15 - “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
So why isn’t revival happening?
God doesn’t withhold revival nor can He bring it any more than He already is.
Revival is not brought but catalyzed.
2 Peter 3:9 - He is not willing that any should perish.
1 Tim.2:4 - He wants every person to be saved.
Jn.12:32-33 - “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.”
Mt.9:37 - “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
Revival doesn’t happen because Christians are sitting around waiting for revival to happen!!!
God doesn’t withhold Revival, we prevent it.
If 1 leads 10 we call it neat, if a 1000 do we call it revival - only dif: 999 became obedient.
Revival is happening worldwide.
Stats on what God is doing vs. Stats on where we are at (the Church).
34,000 come to Christ every day in South America, 28-37,000 come to Christ every day in China, 23-25,000 come to Christ every day in Africa, 16,000 Muslims come to Christ every day and it has been calculated that worldwide 174,000 come to Christ every day.
Revival stories - S.Korea, Guatemala.
We’ve been called and strategically placed here for this very time.
Mt.4:19 - Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
2 Cor.5:20 - You are an ambassador for Christ.
Jesus gave us the 3rd greatest commandment in Mt.28:18-20 saying “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
1 Kings 18 - And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him.”
Do you really believe God can use you to catalyze revival? Live it.
Mr.9:24 - “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Confess not sharing as sin against God
2 Tim.2:3-4 - Soldiers obey commander, etc
I can’t say “no Lord.” His commands are not optional.
The people around you are desperately hungry for Jesus.
Moral depravity is just evidence.
The hotter the desert the thirstier people will be.
They are Spiritually thirsty - you have rivers of living water flowing out of you.
Penn of Penn and Teller interview.
Survey stats? Video?
You’re being lied to: don’t believe the 10 spies (Num.13) - your eyes, mind, heart, satan, the world or other Christians will lie to you about this battle. Believe Joshua and Caleb.
The enemy is not too powerful!
Just like there were 10 Lying spies, there are 10 cultural Christian lies about evangelism.
You must have evangelism gift (hospitality, giving, encouragement, etc).
You must be relevant.
You must be friends first - no biblical example!
You must validate the gospel.
You have to earn the right to be heard - Jesus did that 2000 years ago.
Good works are evangelism.
Words aren’t necessary (Preach always, use words if necessary).
The gospel is unattractive and repulsive - Remember Rom.1:16.
They don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care.
God doesn’t want us to offend anyone.
Jn.15:18 - The world hated Him 1st and some will hate us also.
2 Cor. 2:16 - The smell of death vs. the fragrance of life.
The Good news is good - don’t believe lies.
We’ve been disobedient to 3rd greatest commandment.
Heart for God = Heart for the lost. Mt.9:36. Not sharing = issue with God.
No heart for the lost = no heart for God.
How do you get a heart for the lost, Pray, share...
Understand reality of hell.
Main Reasons people don’t share
Pride, Fear, Doubt (Note: don’t talk yourself out of hope but out of hoplessness. Share hope), defeated by sin, fighting to survive vs. fighting to win, focused on temporary not eternal and haven’t truly died to self.
Lk.9:23-24 - I must die to myself, loose my reputation and be a fool for Christ.
Tozer writes, “In every Christians heart there is a cross and a throne and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among believers today. We want to be saved but insist Christ do all the dying...we doom ourselves to shadows, weakness and spiritual sterility.”
Don’t bury your talent or hide your light.
James 3:1 - think your a leader but not sharing...James 1:22 - don’t deceive them.
Revival starts here and now.
Acts 17:26-27 - “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him...”
Strategically placed in your sphere of influence.
Win your city as a Body by:
We must be more interested in testimonies than attendance.
We must multiply spiritual multipliers: Evangelism and discipleship focus.
Win your city as individuals by:
2 Cor.5:14 - Christ’s Love compells us.
This all has to come out of intimacy with Him.
PRAY (revival connection).
Divine order -
Prayer makes me who I need to be for God to do what He wants to do.
Pray for opportunities then expect and make the most of them (Col.4:5).
Invest time, talent and treasure in the battle.
Take steps of faith, big risks for God in the power of the Holy Spirit and trust the results to God (Rom.12:3, 2 Cor.10:15, 2 Thes.1:3, James 2:22).
If faith had a feeling it would probably be fear. - Russ Akins
Acts 1:8 - Empowered by His Spirit to witness.
2 Cor.3:4-6 - He has made you competent for this calling.
Obedience by faith, trusting rest to him (do your part and trust him to do his).
James 1:22, Faith must be grown.
Faithful with little for sake of the little. Don’t limit what God has planned for you by disobedience here.
Get yourself into situations where if God doesn’t show up, you’re dead.
Xerxes, one of the greatest warriors in history said, “Only by great risks can great results be achieved.”
Love them into the kingdom BUT also boldly share them into the kingdom.
Pr.28:1 - Righteous are as bold as a lion.
Eph.6:20, Col.4:4 - We should share the gospel boldly, fearlessly and clearly.
2 Cor.3:12 - Hope - boldness of speech.
Acts 4:18-20 - Peter and John said “we cant help speaking.”
Goal: share every day.
Jim Elliot prayed, “ Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
Mt.13 - The parable of the sower.
Sowing in rocks, thorns and on the road?
Few results = not enough seed sown - Sow more seed!!!
Anonymous quote - "We need to be seed chuckers not soil specialists."
It’s been said there are 3 types of people: those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and those who ask what happened.
If you want to make things happen, in the power of His Holy Spirit, get in the ACTION.
A specific ACTION plan for catalyzing revival here and now:
Acknowledge God’s call.
Connect with God (and be empowered by His Holy Spirit).
Train yourself and others for the battle - (you must kill the status quo).
Intercede intentionally and specifically.
Outreach throughout your sphere of influence - (every person on your block, office?).
Network with other believers doing these same things.
Ultimately, 1 Cor.3:9 - We are called to be co-laborers with God.
Judges 5:23 - “Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD. ’Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.”
Ez.3:18-20 - “When I say to a wicked man, ’You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.”
How many people will we have to apologize to as they walk to an eternity in hell?
John Wesley - “Light yourself on fire and people will come from miles away to watch you burn.”
Will you be sold out and all in or will you live a life of fear, pride, passivity, lethargy and apathy?
1 Cor.4:10 - Will you be a fool for Him.
Jn.10:10 - This is THE adventure and abundant life He promised.
1 Jn.5:3 - This command is not burdensome.
Bill Bright put it this way “There are no happy disobedient Christians and there are no unhappy obedient Christians.”
Rom.12:11 - Serving Him is the key to zeal and passion in your walk.
If you could be on the superbowl winning team this year...
This is the Superbowl, 4th qtr, 2 min warning.
Tom Landry (Cowboys) described it this way - “22 men on the field in desperate need of rest and 22,000 fans in the stands in desperate need of exercise.”
God just put you in the game - will you play?
God doesn’t withhold or bring revival, we prevent it - but we can start catalyzing it today!
How many of you want to see a worldwide sustained and unhindered work of God resulting in true repentance transforming believers and saving the lost?
Moses (Ex.3-4 - Who am I, Who sent me, What if they don’t believe me, I’m not eloquent enough, Please send someone else.
John the baptist (Mt.3:11) and the disciples’ (Acts 5:41) attitudes.
Is.6:8 - He is worthy!!!
Revival is happening worldwide and God put you here strategically.
Let’s be biased towards seeing the opportunities not the dangers.
Let’s not let the greatest opportunity in the history of the world to win this world for Christ slip away.
The greatest revival in history is not just possible, but guaranteed if we will just obey.
Gladiator - Crowe - “What’s done in this life echoes for eternity.”
Let’s turn this world upside down!!!
Eph.3:20-21 - “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
