The Secret of REAL Revival; Part 2
Acts 2
Last Sunday we talked about what it would take for REAL REVIVAL to happen here at FBC Runnelstown. I said that many may want the meetings but that very few want REAL REVIVAL.
I said that there were three “P’s” of REAL REVIVAL with the first being Prayer. We saw that if we wanted REAL Revival that we were going to need to pray for it. That those prayers should not be hurried up prayers but we should persevere in prayer until we get what we want. I also said that those prayers would unite us much like it did the disciples in the upper room and that it would stir our hearts as the Holy Spirit stirred us to action.
Today we are going to look at the final two “P’s” of REAL REVIVAL.
I. Preaching
A. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost day:
1. It is recorded in Acts 2:14-40.
a) Here we see preaching at its greatest.
(1) Rather long and I will not read it all.
(2) If you will read it latter you will find every element there that makes for great preaching.
2. I trust that, with the preachers coming for our revival beginning tonight, that we will hear some great preaching.
a) In the messages we hear this week we will find all the elements that make for great preaching.
b) Preaching that can help lead us to experiencing REAL REVIVAL.
B. There are many kinds of preaching but only one kind that will bring REAL REVIVAL.
1. It takes Preaching the Word of God to bring REAL REVIVAL!
a) God has so arranged it that it is the preaching of His Word that brings men to repentance.
(1) “…it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)
(a) This will cause people to turn from their wicked ways.
(2) This will, in turn, bring REAL REVIVAL to his people.
(a) “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
(b) “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
b) I am 100% convinced that if we are going to have revival that we must have great preaching!
(1) It must be the preaching of God’s Word.
c) I know these men who are coming and I can stand here this morning and tell you that WE WILL have Biblical preaching this week.
(1) I want you to know that, even if I wasn’t your pastor, I would be here every night.
(a) I want to hear these men preach God’s Word.
(b) Why?
(i) THEY ARE MEN OF GOD COMING TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
2. It takes preaching that deals with sin to bring Real Revival.
a) It is sin that is sending men’s souls to Hell.
b) It is sin that is robbing Christians of their rewards.
c) Therefore preaching that will revive souls must turn the spotlight on sin in the lives of the church members and the lost people
(1) We, as a rule, don’t like this kind of preaching.
(a) We like to think better of ourselves than we really are.
(b) Leonard Ravenhill rightly stated, “the world has lost the power to blush over its [sin] and the Church has lost her power to weep over it.’
(2) If you ever study Paul’s preaching you see that it usually ended in either a riot or in a revival.
(a) Because Paul dealt with SIN!
3. It also takes preaching that deals with the Blood of Christ to bring REAL REVIVAL!
a) We can expose sin in people’s lives and bring them to the point of repentance, but unless we preach the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus – people will not be saved from their sins.
b) Because:
(1) There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins and sinners plunged beneath that stream loose all their guilty stains.
(2) What can wash away my sins? NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!
The last “P” that will bring REAL REVIVAL is that of
II. Personal Witnessing.
A. Luke tells us, in Acts 2:5-13, that the Holy Spirit enabled them to be a personal witness.
1. The multitude that came together in Jerusalem on that day were astonished because “because everyone heard them speak in his own language.”
a) They just couldn’t figure out how these Galileans could speak in a language that each of them could understand.
(1) This is not a sermon on “speaking in tongues”.
(a) The Bible is pretty clear that God gave some the GIFT of tongues.
(b) We also know from Corinthians that some used this gift.
b) But that is not what was going on here in Acts.
(1) They all spoke different languages, yet these men were conversing with each of them AT THE SAME TIME in their own language.
2. The evidence is very clear:
a) 120 people witnessed of Christ
b) Peter preached Christ
c) 3,000 people accepted Christ.
(1) That is REAL REVIVAL!
(2) And that is the way it should be done, can be done or will be done.
3. Ask any preacher in any sized church of any denomination and you will find that around 8 out of every 10 people who walk down the isle to accept Christ comes because someone talked to them first.
a) The soul harvest we had last year and the year before was because of people being a personal witness in their daily lives.
(1) So if we are going to have a REAL REVIVAL here this coming week we need some people doing some personal witnessing.
b) Just imagine for a second if everyone here today would tell someone of Jesus the difference we could make in Runnelstown.
(1) Don’t look around at anyone else, because it begins right now with you.
(2) What Kind of Revival do you want?
We have prayed for revival, we have Godly men coming to preach God’s Word and we know of people that need Jesus. I believe that the Holy Spirit is in this place and will be here this week. However for REAL REVIVAL to take place it must begin with you. I asked you last week and I will ask you again this week HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
Will you be here to support the services, will you continue to pray as the week proceeds, and will you witness to your family, friends and neighbors? It is now up to you.
