Why Does Revival Terry? Series #2
Dale Carter Sr
Harvest Fellowship Community Church
July 4, 2021
John 8:31-36
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. KJV
Intro: On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence which formally proclaimed the 13 colonies as independent. The war, however, continued as Britain was not willing to give up its North American colonies.
Freedom doesn’t come cheap. Many sacrifices were made to gain our independence from the stronghold that Great Britain had on the newly formed America. Many small and great battles were fought by men who had left their farms and businesses, family and love ones to proclaim freedom. Some sustain life long injuries and a great number freely paid the ultimate price.
Throughout the course of the war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war.
1. How does this Scripture relate to revival? Because revival makes men free or restores freedom to them. Though freedom, captivity and bondage are opposing factors, they rely heavily on each other. Simply stated, a man will not know the value of freedom until he experiences captivity or bondage.
I have heard many folks declare that they have been set free. True as it is. Sad to say, many of those are satisfied with being so called set free, only those that continue to be victorious in the battles that Satan will involve you in to regain your captivity, will remain free. We were once known as, “America, home of the brave and land of the free,” someone else said, “we are the land of the free because of the brave.” Jesus said if we continue in His word then we are His disciples indeed. Disciples are men and women of war and it’s by the actions, leadership and constant commitment to God, family and country that we can escape the captivity of hell and remain free by the Blood of the Lamb.
2. What was the ultimate cause? We all know the story of Israel being set free from the bondage of slavery in Egypt after 400 years of captivity. God heard their cry and sent a man, a man of not too good of a reputation to lead them out and restore them to the land promised to them through another man who also had a few issues of life.
There was a price to pay. Several hundred lambs that had to be perfect in appearance, had to give their lives to assure the freedom of the nation of Israel. They did nothing to be set free except obey the instructions of the leader God had sent them, but they had to continue to be obedient and trust his leadership. There were battles to be fought but when they obeyed and followed their leader they were victories to win and land to regain.
The wars and victories combined brought great revival to the nation. Great miracles and wonder were wrought by God and the people prospered and they became independent. So prosperous and independent that they soon forgot their history and the God that delivered them.
3. A different Leader and Revival. Years past and God once again saw the need of Freedom. But this time things would be different. As many lambs sacrificed their lives many years ago for freedom, this time He would sent only one Lamb. This Lamb would be call Emanuel, (God be with us), His name, Jesus, the Son of the Living God. He would sacrifice His life so that God’s plan of residing in each of His Children was possible. This leader’s sacrifice would ignite a revival like the world has never seen and would be carried throughout the world.
4. Revival. Just a few day after this renowned sacrifice the flames of revival struck a room in the town of Jerusalem. When the day of Pentecost had fully come there came a sound from Heaven, and it filled the whole house and tongues of fire sat upon each of them and they all began to speak with tongues and the flames of revival spread throughout the world. Prayer with the firing heat of desperation, fire with signs following, the great power of God being manifested would produced many Days of Pentecost as God prepares His People for the greatest revival ever.
I hope we will enjoy the freedoms that have been given us through the blessings of citizenship in the United States. But even more, I hope we will enjoy the freedom given us through Christ, for that is the more important freedom. It is a freedom that is a radical submission to the Will of God and to our sisters and brothers.
Martin Luther said, “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.” On this Independence Day, I pray that we may strive to make Christian freedom the ideal for which we strive.
