Introduction
If you had a chance to read the Pentecostal Evangel last week you read the powerful testimonies of multiple dozens of churches experiencing the fanning of revival's fire. From Maryville, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA, from Pensacola, FL to Salt Lake City, UT, millions of souls have been saved, delivered, and transformed. Revival is the desire of the soul. Even with numerous reports of Sovereign moves of God reviving churches and bringing people to repentance, the cry for it will not go away.
The cry continues and the need is evident. If you are close to a person bound to alcohol, whether neighbor or relative, you have seen the need. Do you know of one trapped in the sin of homosexuality? Mormonism? The Occult? Have you witnessed the break-up of a family? Do you know of a husband who beats his wife without mercy? Does your very soul demand to be renewed? If you do, then you know the need…
In the province of Wales in 1904, 27 year old Evan Roberts was burdened to pray fervently for 100,000 souls to come to Christ. Soon, the flame of revival burned in the hearts of hundreds of tough minded coal miners, who threw down their picks and came to Christ. Roberts was soon tagged as the revivalist as the unprecedented evangelistic success spread into the whole of the nation of Great Britain. It became known as the Welsh Revival, a heaven born, Sovereign move of God, sweeping by best calculations, 100,000 souls into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Interestingly, seventy years later in 1974, an average of 85 churches closes in Great Britain each year. It is reported that an abundance of church furnishings are made available to commercial enterprises. Christening fonts are being used as bird baths, carved screens are in service as restaurant decorations, pews are being made into garden seats, and stained glass windows are serving as business and household ornaments. It is a sad commentary...
Still, revival's cry refuses to be silenced. It declines invitation to go away. It aches for the delay of God's hand of judgement & the release of His favor and grace.
King Hezekiah was a man who cried for national revival in the southern kingdom of Judah. He was intent to restore the devotion of his people to God that the Lord's judgement would cease and His favor rest. For this reason he turned the attention of his people to the sealed doors of the forsaken temple of Jerusalem. His account is given for our instruction and remembrance. It is preserved in the Scriptures, serving as an example for us to learn from and follow in similar times. His legacy is given in v. 2-3 with a link to David. We do well to learn from the passage. It is a stunning analogy to the keys that unlock personal and corporate revival.
The temple of Jerusalem was long linked to the nation's relationship with God. It was the sole place where they could meet with Him to hear His word and to worship Him. The temple is key to understand their relationship with God - 2 Chronicles 2:4-7. The condition of the temple reflected the condition of their hearts. Like a gauge, it measured them woefully short in true devotion. It was time for renewed devotion. It was time to open the doors of revival!
Theme: The door to true revival is opened with renewed devotion to the Lord.
1 The Door of Revival opens because of Preparation - Repentance (4-14)
Hezekiah knowing the condition of his nation turned to the Levites of the nation - those in charge of temple worship and functions. Performing the temple duties, they were pivotal figures in the nations' participation in true worship, yet a closed temple rendered their influence and ministry insignificant and powerless. They had abandoned their position, which led the nation into sacred devotion to the Lord. The Levitical priests are an OT representation of true believers.
The NT role of the believer is priestly. 1 Peter 2:5, 7 - you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. NT priests declare His praises - a testimony leading others to Christ.
Hezekiah's charge to the priests and Levites is found in v.5: Now sanctify yourselves… It was a call to action in the temple, but it first required internal cleansing. The sanctifying of the priest involved ritual washings, which purified them to serve.
Cleansing is necessary in true repentance. It begins with the confession of sin leading to the Father's forgiveness and turning from judgement. James 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Confession is the acknowledging of our sin. It results from a heart that longs to remove the barriers of sin and draw near to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation… Hezekiah gathered the priests to let them know that revival could only begin with their cleansing. The same is true of us. Have we failed in our responsibility? We must get clean.
The cause for urgency is provided in vv. 6-7 as true worship ceased… They turned from true worship in the Temple to the worship of false gods. When you turn from true worship, you turn from the true God. Idolatry begins with devotion… Where your treasure is, your heart will be also. 2 Chronicles 28:22-25 cites the idolatry. Ahaz sacrificed to the god's of Damascus, marred the articles of the worship, shut the doors of the temple, and made high places (altars) for other Gods. But they were the ruin of him and all Israel. 2 Chronicles 29:8-9…
Lost devotion to Christ is the pathway to ruin for our families, our church, and our communities. Yet even in the season of judgement, the hope for revival does not die. God wants to move. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14... Humility is the posture of true repentance. James 4:7-10… As long as we remain unbent and unbowed to the Lord, His favor will resist us. We languish in spiritual thirst. 10 verbs are used in the passage. They define true humility, which receives favor, forgiveness, and saving grace.
1) Submit to God. Declares allegiance. Fall in rank.
2) Resist the Devil. Take your stand against him and you will find him powerless.
3) Draw near to God. Pursue and intimate love relationship with the Lord.
4) Cleanse your hands. Outward display
5) Purify your hearts. Inward desires and motives
6) Lament. Be broken over a sinful condition.
7) Mourn. The inward response reflecting contrition.
8) Weep. The outward display of sorrow.
9) Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Radical shift from flippancy to genuine sorrow for sin. We've smiled too long. We've chuckled too long at the very thing that breaks the heart of God.
10) Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Holy awareness leads to humble contrition. For humility to remain a constant in our lives, we must continue to draw near the Father. It cause contrition in our hearts. Isaiah did… John the Apostle did… Peter did…
Humility leads to submission… 2 Chronicles 30:7-9… Don't remain stiff-necked and hardened, rather yield to the Lord… Enter His sanctuary. Enter His presence with true, spiritual worship. 2 Chronicles 29:10-11 - do not be negligent, but diligent…
During fervent intercession for the souls of England, Evan Roberts was reported to have fallen prostrate under the power of the Holy Spirit. His body heaved with sobbing prayer and through the tears, he plead, Lord, bend us. That is the personal breakthrough of revival, inner brokenness, yielded to the Holy Spirit...
2 The Door of Revival opens because of Consecration - Obedience. (15-19)
King Hezekiah gave instruction to the priests in v. 15… The Word of God was followed and great care was taken to cleanse the temple. Much of the rubbish of neglect had piled up in the closed temple. The articles of worship were badly damaged and needed repair. The Scriptures provided instruction for the cleansing of the temple. Because the priests were obedient, the temple was prepared for people to worship again.
The temple could open again because the Word of God was opened. Revival would come because counsel from the Word of God was received. Sometimes our greatest obstacle is not the trial we're going through or the temptation taunting us, but a Bible, which remains closed.
The most important word in the language of Christian living is obedience. Andrew Murray says, The secret of true obedience is the close personal relationship to God. All our attempts after full obedience will be failures until we get access to His abiding fellowship. It is God's Word continuously abiding in us that keeps us from disobeying Him. We must consciously include His Word in every thought, activity, and conversation until an obedient lifestyle takes form. The Word of God will keep us holy. Open it. Read it. Study it. Live it. Obedience to the Word of God leads us…
1) …into His mercy. Psalms 103:17-18 - But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.
2) …into personal revival. Psalms 119:24-25 - Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. (25) My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
3) …into answered prayer. 1 John 3:22… John 15:7…
4) …into right relationship with people. 1 John 5:2...
5) …into eternal life. Revelation 22:14…
God will honor those who honor His Word with diligent obedience. The priests obeyed and were instrumental in revival coming to Jerusalem. When we are obedient to His Word, He will honor us.
3 The Door of Revival opens because of Dedication - The Cross. (20-24)
Once the temple had been cleansed, the priests began to receive animals for sin offerings. The sacrifices of the bulls, lambs, and goats give insight to help us understand their significance.
1) The animal was perfect, having no blemish. It was the best of the flock or herd. It symbolized the devotion of the offerer as he presented his gift of life to God. It reminded him of his own impurities as he sacrificed a spotless substitute.
2) The second step involved the laying of hands upon the animal prior to sacrifice. This represented the transmission of a person's sin to the animal. Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
3) The actual slaughter constituted the most climactic scene of the sacrifice. It symbolized that the sinner deserved death, but that God was gracious to provide a substitute. 1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,
Each priest who would offer the animal was keenly aware of what was taking place. The idolatry and abandonment of the Lord was being atoned for in the sacrifice. As they sought forgiveness in the sacrifice for sin, we must turn our attention to the cross, our hope.
A woman wrote J. Vernon McGee about her minister: "Our preacher said that on Easter Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed him back to health. What do you think?" McGee replied, "Dear Sister, beat your preacher with a leather whip for thirty-nine heavy strokes. Nail him to a cross. Hang him in the sun for six hours. Run a spear through his heart. Embalm him. Put him in an airless tomb for three days. Then see what happens."
Galatians 6:14 - God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. We must guard the trivialization of the precious cross of the Lord. The prideful, the unbowed, and the carnal are content with religion that satisfies the token interest of their lives. The call to live for Jesus is a call to cling to the cross. It is our only hope for salvation. The more we consider the sufferings of the Redeemer, the less likely shall we be to love the world. Revival comes when we fall in love with Jesus again and put our complete hope in the work of Calvary. We must cling to the cross as our hope, as though our very lives depended upon it. It is our pattern, consuming our lives. Matthew 16:24 - If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Harold Morris is featured in the book and film, Twice Pardoned; the account of his conversion to Christ after time spent in prison. Several years ago, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and the swelling was so severe that even drinking water was a suffering ordeal. Twice daily he had to insert a medical tube down his esophagus to inhibit the closure of his throat. When asked about the obvious pain, he replied, "This is my survival. It's what keeps me alive."
The believer who longs for personal revival clings to what can be personally painful and difficult in the cross of Christ. Carrying a cross confronts ungodly attitudes, carnal living, and selfish motives. It keeps us in line following Jesus.
Matthew 16:25 - For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. It is a key to daily renewal and once embraced with earnest devotion, long standing revival will follow. Embrace the cross with complete surrender!
4 The Door of Revival Opens because of Presentation - True Worship (25-36)
Once the sin offering was made, King Hezekiah instructed worship after the pattern of King David. It involved cymbals, stringed instruments, trumpets, and harps. As burnt offerings were made on the altar, skillful music played and the song of the Lord rang out. Verses 29-30… After the years of idolatry, true worship was restored to the kingdom. Revival was underway. There was so much participation in thank offerings to the Lord that the priests could not keep up with those coming to offer sacrifices. It was worship patterned after David, after God's heart.
True worship awaits us as we enter in. Hebrews 13:15 - Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Our thank offerings are the fruit of our lips, the outflow of a heart bursting with gratitude. Once sin has been dealt with and forgiveness for sin has come, true joy will arise.
Psalms 116:16-19 - O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord's house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! It is the liberated sinner drawing near the Lord's dwelling place in expressive gratitude
Our priorities are out of line when worship is not doesn't reflect the joy of a grateful heart. Ask yourself, can a true worshipper drag into the house of God on a Sunday morning with less than a thunderous, heartfelt response to Christ? We cannot keep silent. We must give voice to our thanksgiving and praise, our joyful demonstration to our hopeful expectation. Faith must be accompanied by the exuberant anticipation of revival.
True worship extends high the sails of faith in expectation of the mighty breezes of the Holy Spirit to blow. Enter into the joy of thankful worship and I guarantee that you will experience the potential for Holy Ghost revival.
What resulted for Hezekiah and his nation? 2 Chronicles 30:26-27… Chapter 29 begins with the darkness of a closed temple. Two chapters later, it is filled with blessed people who had returned to the Lord in true devotion.
Conclusion
I do not say this lightly this morning. The imminence for revival at Christian Life Center will mirror our willingness to humble ourselves in repentance, commit ourselves in obedience, embrace the cross with dedication, and devote ourselves to true worship.
Revival begins with what resides in the heart. In 1905, newspapermen went from London to report on the marvelous happenings of the Welsh Revival. On their arrival, one inquired of a policeman as to where the Welsh Revival could be found. Standing to his full height, the policeman placed his hand over his heart and proudly announced, Gentlemen, the Welsh Revival is inside this uniform. Is it inside you? If not, do you want it?
