February 12, 2012
Morning Worship
Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Subject: Revival
Title: By My Spirit
I have heard about it since I have been a Christian. I keep expecting to see it full blown. I don’t know what it is going to look like but when it happens I will know it. I’m talking about revival in the church. I have attended revival meetings. I have experienced times of revival. I have preached about revival. I’ve read the history books of the Great Awakening of the 1700’s, and the Welsh revival led by Evan Roberts in the early 1900’s. I know all about the Azusa Street revival beginning in 1906. Revival continued throughout the 1900’s with the healing revivals of the 50’s and 60’s and the charismatic renewal of the 70’s and 80’s on into the revivals in Seattle, Toronto, and Pensacola of the 90’s.
Let me read some records of some to the revival events mentioned.
1739 Monday 1 January - London (George Whitefield, John Wesley) 1739 saw astonishing expansion of revival in England. On 1st January the Wesleys and Whitefield (now returned from America) and four others from their former Holy Club at Oxford in their students days, along with 60 others, met in London for prayer and a love feast. The Spirit of God moved powerfully on them all. Many fell down, overwhelmed. The meeting went all night and they realized they had been empowered in a fresh visitation from God.
1801 August - Cane Ridge, Kentucky (Barton Stone) Impressed by the revivals in 1800, Barton Stone, a Presbyterian minister, organized similar meetings in 1801 in his area at Cane Ridge northeast of Lexington. A huge crowd of around 12,500 attended in over 125 wagons including people from Ohio and Tennessee. At that time Lexington, the largest town in Kentucky, had less than 1,800 citizens. Now Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist preachers and circuit riders formed preaching teams, speaking simultaneously in different parts of the campgrounds, all aiming for conversions of sinners. James Finley, later a Methodist circuit rider, described it:’ The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast sea of human being seemed to be agitated as if by a storm. I counted seven ministers, all preaching at one time, some on stumps, others in wagons and one standing on a tree, which had, in falling, lodged against another. ... 'I stepped up on a log where I could have a better view of the surging sea of humanity. The scene that then presented itself to my mind was indescribable. At one time I saw at least five hundred swept down in a moment as if a battery of a thousand guns had been opened upon them, and then immediately followed shrieks and shouts that rent the very heavens' (Pratney 1994:104). The Rev. Moses Hoge wrote: 'The careless fall down, cry out, tremble, and not infrequently are affected with convulsive twitchings ...
1906 Easter Saturday 14 April - Azusa Street, Los Angeles (William Seymour) 'At Azusa, services were long, and on the whole they were spontaneous. In its early days music was a cappella, although one or two instruments were included at times. There were songs, testimonies given by visitors or read from those who wrote in, prayer, altar calls for salvation or sanctification or for baptism in the Holy Spirit. And there was preaching. Sermons were generally not prepared in advance but were typically spontaneous. W. J. Seymour was clearly in charge, but much freedom was given to visiting preachers. There was also prayer for the sick. Many shouted. Others were "slain in the Spirit" or "fell under the power." There were periods of extended silence and of singing in tongues. No offerings were collected, but there was a receptacle near the door for gifts. ... 'Thus the significance of Azusa was centrifugal as those who were touched by it took their experiences elsewhere and touched the lives of others. Coupled with the theological threads of personal salvation, holiness, divine healing, baptism in the Spirit with power for ministry, and an anticipation of the imminent return of Jesus Christ, ample motivation was provided to assure the revival a long term impact' (Burgess & McGee 1988:31 36).
I’ve heard stories of the revivals in the Assemblies of God churches in my hometown and here in Palmyra. Every one of you may have a story of your own to tell. As for me, I’m still waiting on something that is even bigger and more explosive than anything that has ever happened before.
Yeah, but pastor, those days are gone. We’ll never see revival like that again.
Read Ezekiel 37:1-14.
I believe this is God’s word…
I believe it is for me…
I accept it as mine…
I appropriate it to my life today…
I. THE QUESTION IS RAISED… The first thing I want you to notice is that God has taken Ezekiel out “by the Spirit” to the valley. I want you to understand something about Ezekiel. He had the Holy Ghost. I looked in the NIV and found that about 127 times Ezekiel said, “the word of the Sovereign Lord came to me…” 49 times it says, “the word of the LORD came to me…” The Holy Spirit is mentioned continuously throughout the book. At least 7 times we see that the Spirit of God physically picked Ezekiel up and stood him on his feet.. Wouldn’t you agree with me that Ezekiel was a man of the Spirit? Here is the point I’m trying to make. God took a man of the spirit and set him down right in the middle of a valley of dry bones. 1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. Here is the significance. Ezekiel, the man who God speaks to and moves him by the Spirit is the only Israelites who were in captivity at this time who would even know that the bones were dry. Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Last week when I shared with you about fanning the flame of revival in your own life I talked to you about the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. How did that happen? Complacency isn’t something that happens overnight. The fire burns brightly for a while and then slowly wanes until there is nothing left but a spark. That is what happened to Israel and that is why the bones are scattered across the whole valley. These bones aren’t just dry – they are very dry. That have been dry for so long that there isn’t any resemblance to what they were when they lived. The word translated “dry” from the Hebrew comes from the same word that means, “to be ashamed, confused, or disappointed”. I wondered about that. Is that where many of our Pentecostals are today? Are you ashamed to be people of the Spirit who worship with exuberance, who stand on God’s word like it is the truth, who expect Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit, who desire to operate in the gifts of the Spirit? Are you confused about the meaning of it all? Or are we disappointed because the Pentecostal faith hasn’t worked out the way you expected? The God we worship is the same Father, who never changes like the shifting shadows. This is the same Jesus who is the same yesterday today and forever. It is the same Holy Spirit who has come to be our advocate, our counselor, and our power source for life in the world today. Now look at the question that the Lord asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” For those of you who are fanning your flames to receive more from God, perhaps that question strikes a chord in your heart. Will we, can we ever see Holy Ghost revival again in the church? Ezekiel answers that question by putting back on God. I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
II. AN ACTION IS DEMANDED… those of you who are seeking God with all your heart for revival, don’t think you are off the hook. God demands something from you. 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Look at some of the words in verse 4. 1) Prophesy – “to speak under inspiration”. Inspiration from who? It must be from God considering the command given, hear the word of the LORD! I can tell you this, the enemy doesn’t want dry bones hearing the word proclaimed. He knows that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God… 2) word… The Hebrew word dabar. As a noun it refers to a word or something spoken of or a matter. Dabar is also a verb that means to arrange. Isn’t it interesting that God gave this in the Hebrew language where it plainly connects hearing (a word) with an action?
Matthew 13:19, When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. #James 1:22-24, 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. The valley of dry bones must have a continual diet of the word of God. If you are praying for revival that is good. But God says that there is more to be done. Prayer comes first. John Bunyon says it this way, “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Let’s see if we can get this straight. God is going to put the bones together, attach the tendons and muscles and apparently put everything back together the way it was meant to be, and then cover it all with skin… Sounds to me like God wants to create a body… Ephesians 1:22-23, 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. DRY BONES… HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD! But listen to me, just being the body isn’t enough. And that is where the institutionalized church has failed and I hate to say it but even some of our Pentecostal churches and people have become just a form of religion- denying its power. But it is only when the breath of God blows over the body that life come. …Then you will know that I am the LORD… a body that works without the breath of God is destined to fail. Oh, I know, there are mega churches springing up everywhere. They have great music, great programs, are family oriented, and preach a nice little gospel that tells you how blessed you are to be a child of God. But what about the breath? Matthew 11:12, 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. Why was the kingdom advancing then? Because Jesus was advancing it under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and was leading others, giving them authority to preach, teach, cast out demons and heal… everything that Jesus did. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
III. AN ANOINTING IS REQUIRED… 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. Ezekiel prophesied… spoke forth God’s word, the body came together, the breath of God entered them, and then they came to life. Do any of you think that I preach about the Holy Spirit too much? Not enough? Here is the bottom line. I preach it because that is why God sent me here. I asked, and that’s what He told me. Also, I will continue to preach it until I see evidence of life in the church. I’m not a prophet in the sense that Ezekiel was a prophet. But I do have a prophetic message to the church today. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”… 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them… 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly… 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit… 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God… 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied… 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Is that enough? Do you get the importance of a spirit filled church doing the work of God? So what do you expect to happen when you come to church? Do you expect lively worship? It won’t happen without the Holy Ghost. Do you expect anointed preaching? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2, 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. What are you expecting? Do you expect miracles? Only under the anointing will they happen. Or do you expect to come and sing hear the preaching and get out before the church crowd hits El Nopal? Not going to happen in this church, because we are walking in the expectation of Holy Ghost revival.
I want to close with this. 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’” This is a specific promise to the nation of Israel that God would restore them to their homeland. But the spiritual principle that is in these verses is for the church today. This church is growing in numbers and in expectation of signs and wonders. There is a spiritual boldness that is about to erupt and when it does the whole town of Palmyra will be covered with its holy residue. But this message is for those who just aren’t sure if they want to get on board with God has for us in the realm of the Spirit.
The church is going through a transformation under the anointing of the Spirit of the Living God.
There was a church that spent years praying for revival. They wanted to see God move in a spectacular way. They sang “Revive us with Your Fire…” and when someone stood and prophesied to the church that God would only move in the church if the church would move when He told them, the song changed from “Revive us” to “I Shall Not be Moved.”
O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…
God wants to open graves today. Maybe you are here and you don’t know Jesus Christ in a personal way. He wants to open your grave and bring you out to everlasting life.
Perhaps you just need the opportunity to come and rededicate your life to Jesus. You aren’t in the grave yet and you don’t want to go there.
Some of you are hesitant about the Holy Spirit. You say you don’t believe in all that stuff. Don’t believe me. Believe the word of God that I read to you earlier. You will never be the man or woman of God that He wants without the Holy Spirit.
John 11:40-44, 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Don’t hesitate today. Come and receive from the Lord. He is giving times of refreshing today…
