REVIVAL MUST COME!
The Church in America is losing influence and members faster than any other major institution in the nation. If a massive spiritual revival doesn’t come within the next few years America will experience total moral anarchy.
(From George Barna’s book The Second Coming of the Church)
America loses 72 churches each week – or 10 a day – and gains only 24 weekly, or 3 ½ per day. (American Society for Church Growth)
Most true Christians would like to experience a massive spiritual revival in America and the world. This would explain why so many thousands of people have flocked to the Brownsville Assembly of God Church in Pensacola Florida these past few years.
But how about here in the Pacific Northwest – the most unchurched part of America?
Can we have a massive spiritual revival in our area?
Can it start here at our Church?
(Show of hands) How many of you believe revival fire can fall here?
In the first chapter of Acts we find Jesus had given instructions to the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism with the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples went back to Jerusalem to the upper room.
Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer…”
Acts 2:1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
All this Holy Ghost commotion attracted a large crowd. The revival had begun, in fact it had spilled into the street and Jews from all over the Roman Empire (who were there for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost) gathered around to see what was happening. They heard these revived believers declaring “the wonders of God” in various languages representing the countries where they lived. And they exclaimed, “What does this mean?” Some began to make fun of them and accused them of being drunk.
2:41 Peter responded that they were not drunk because it was only 9:00 in the morning – then he preached a powerful sermon and, “those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44. All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
So we see a pattern of revival emerge º Obedience to Christ Þ Group Prayer Þ Unity Þ Personal Revival Þ Empowerment Þ Evangelism Þ Conversions Þ Discipleship Þ Church Growth.
If we want to see revival here we would do well to follow this New Testament model.
Let’s examine this pattern of revival more closely by looking at each point individually:
1. Obedience to Christ: While Jesus was eating with his disciples he gave them a command, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.”
We know that the disciples were obedient men, they learned early on to obey Jesus even when they didn’t understand why. Jesus told them to give the crowd of 5000 something to eat and they responded that they didn’t have enough. Jesus asked them what was on hand and they came up with 5 loaves and 2 fish. That was enough, Jesus blessed it and told them to start distributing it. They did and a great miracle happened. They collected 12 baskets full of leftovers after everyone was done eating. Jesus sent them out 2 by 2 to preach the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons. A scary proposition, but they obeyed and had great results. This time was no different, Jesus said to wait in Jerusalem, so wait they would. 120 men and women waiting for God’s Holy Spirit to fall.
The question for us today is are we being obedient to Christ? Are we earnestly waiting and seeking the gifts he has for us? Are we following his command in Luke 18:1 that we should always pray and not give up?
2. Group Prayer: Acts 1:14 tells us, “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” The word together means with one mind or passion – in other words, they were unanimous about what they were praying about. They were waiting and praying for the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit.
The word constantly means “to be resolute, obstinate, persistent.” They were praying a “prevailing prayer” without giving up until the answer came.
Let me illustrate this with a story:
A duck walks into a store and asks the guy behind the counter for duck food.
"Don’t have any duck food. Just dog food and cat food."
"Okay, thanks," the duck says, and leaves.
The next day the duck shows up again, asking for duck food.
Now the man behind the counter is annoyed. "I’ve told you, we don’t carry duck food."
"Okay, thanks."
The next day, here comes the duck. "I’m looking for the duck food section."
The counterman blows his stack. "You come in here one more time and ask for duck food, and I’ll nail your webbed feet to the floor. You got that?"
Next day the duck shows up again.
"What do you want?" the counterman asks threateningly.
"Um, got any nails?" the duck says.
"No, no nails."
"Okay, got any duck food?"
That was one persistent duck! So the kind of prayer these disciples engaged in was persistent, prevailing prayer.
A key way people prepare for the coming of the Spirit of God in revival is through prayer. The spiritual history of a church is written in its prayer life.
Revival historian J Edwin Orr observes, “No great spiritual awakening has begun anywhere in the world apart from united prayer – Christians persistently praying for revival.”
And so the disciples waited and the Word tells us in Acts 2:1. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”
3. Unity: When we pray for revival to come, it is important that we be in agreement. It is also important that we be specific about what we are praying about. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” So, when we pray for revival in Klamath Falls and in the Pacific Northwest, we will establish beforehand exactly what we will be praying for and about so that we may all be in agreement.
4. Personal Revival: Before we see a revival in our community, state and nation, we must first experience a personal revival. Revival must first start with me. Let me hear you say it – “Revival must first start with me.”
The words of Peter in Acts 3:19 should ring loud in our ears, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
We Christians are good at asking forgiveness for the big sins in our lives, but we are often lousy about rooting out sinful attitudes, and sins we have rationalized away as insignificant. Satan has set many traps for us in our culture; frequently we get caught in one and don’t even know it. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a Christian accountability and prayer partner to help you stay on track.
5. Empowerment: Our church will never be an effective witness for Christ without Holy Ghost power. Oh, we can maintain our buildings, our programs and huddle together for comfort in the storm, but without the Holy Ghost anointing, without the fire of God burning in our bellies, without the supernatural moving of the Spirit upon us – we will just be a hollow shell.
Oh, God, we pray that Your revival fire would fall upon us here and now!
We pray the words of Isaiah 64:1 “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,”
6. Evangelism: Immediately after the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit, they spilled into the streets speaking in tongues, full of joy and exuberance. The effect was that the hearers understood these various languages as the disciples proclaimed the wonders of God. The result was that they were drawn to a Divine Appointment. Peter preached the gospel that day and called them to make a decision to follow Christ, to repent of their sins and be baptized in water and to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Keep this in mind, history reveals that evangelism alone seldom results in revival, but revival always produces evangelism!
7. Conversions: The people wanted what the disciples had. They could see the joy that comes with being free in Christ. They could plainly see the power of God at work in their lives. They were, “cut to the heart” and responded to the preaching and were saved.
What was the result? “3,000 were added to their number that day.”
I want you to be aware that when people see the power of God at work in our church body, how we love each other, operate in the spiritual gifts, our joy, our enthusiasm, it is almost irresistible.
An atheist newspaper reporter covering the Second Great Awakening reported that while observing a service he saw approximately 500 people fall down at once as though they had been shot by a battery of guns. He wrote that he himself began to feel a strange sensation and he fled into the woods to get away from the presence of God.
Where the presence of God is, there will be many conversions.
8. Discipleship: George Barna a famous Christian cultural research analyst says in his book The Second Coming of the Church that, “People are desperate for spiritual truth – but they can’t find the answers they need in Christian churches. Studies we have conducted over the past year (1998) indicate that a majority of the people who make a first-time “decision” for Christ were no longer connected to a Christian church within just eight weeks of having made such a decision!”
This is unacceptable! As a pastor I know that we will loose a few, but over 50% is completely unacceptable.
Be assured of this, God is sending revival to the Pacific Northwest.
We need to pray and think about ways to conserve the increase God is going to give us. He is not going to entrust us with a revival unless and until we were prepared to conserve the results.
What that means for us is that we have to put a strategic and aggressive discipleship program into place. Some elements are in place already, but like fishermen, we need to mend our nets so that less fish will get away.
Acts 2:42-47 is a good model of follow-through care and we should consider emulating it.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44. All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-46 outlines a 10 step process of discipleship:
1. They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching. Our equivalent is studying scripture with a mentor/teacher.
2. Fellowship (koinonia) cordial, frequent associating with one another, developing friendships and kinship. Fellowship starts at church. People are anxious to make and maintain friendships, and the church has emerged as one of the few places left where they can do so.
If you recall from last weeks message “Love to Grow – Grow to Love” I gave you three concrete ways to promote love and fellowship towards visitors: Who can remember what they are?
- Use the 3 minute rule
- Use a pocket profile
- Intentional hospitality
- When you bring an unchurched friend to church, organize a fellowship meal with another friend or family at church. It can be at your home, at a restraunt or even a picnic. The primary objective is to get them linked up with other friends in the church. Here’s the clincher, have the new chirch friends call them during the week and invite them back the next Sunday.
- Plan on inviting someone over for lunch after church. Intentionally put a larger roast in the crock-pot and be ready. If you cant bag any new visitors, then invite someone over who you don’t know very well.
3. Breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper). Communion is an opportunity to examine ourselves and get right with God. New converts must learn to grow in grace by walking in faith and victory. The Blood of Christ represented by the cup gives us the opportunity to confess our sins and receive forgiveness on a regular basis.
4. Prayer – they were in constant conversation with God. There is a war going on for our souls. Prayer is our most potent weapon against our enemy the devil. We must teach new converts how to pray effectively.
5. They were filled with awe (they maintained a deep reverence for the presence of God). Today few Christians possess a sense of awe, fear, or trembling related to God. Oh Lord, renew our sense of reverence for You, our God and King.
6. They experienced the miraculous (v. 43) Oh Lord, may we also experience the full range of the gifts of Your Spirit at work among us.
7. They experienced unity by having everything in common (v. 44)
The early church had the attitude “what’s mine is yours.” They were not stingy with their wealth or property, and as needs arose within the community they sold their property and gave the money to the Apostles to be distributed appropriately.
How does this unity principle apply to us today? We need to teach new disciples that we care for each other and that we are responsible for the health and welfare of each other. Here is an example: Klamath Assembly of God has this church building and grounds in common. We all have ownership in it. So, if you see trash on the church grounds, don’t say to yourself “someone should clean up around here.” Instead, pick up the trash and put it in a trash-can. If the restroom needs to be tidied up, just do it. If you see work that needs to be done, volunteer to do it. If you feel a program needs to be started to minister to the needs of God’s people, then by all means, volunteer to do it. Take responsibility in the property and programs we have in common.
8. They practiced benevolence (v. 45) They made sure the basic needs of the people and families of the congregation were met. We also need to teach new converts the discipline of regular giving to the work of God. If they are not tithing, they are missing out on the blessings of God.
9. They worshiped together publicly (v. 46) Whenever public worship was happening, they showed up. New disciples need to learn to develop the habit of being in church. And we as mature believers should provide the example. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
10. They ate together (v. 46) Eating together as a church family is good. Amen? Some churches have the motto “Till we eat again.” Jesus frequently fellowshipped and ministered around the table, and so should we.
9. The final pattern of revival is actually a result – Church Growth: As the early church practiced this way of living and relating to one another Acts 2:47 tells us, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
We will grow here at Klamath Assembly of God. God wants to pour out His Holy Spirit on us. But first we need to prepare ourselves spiritually for what God has for us. We need to begin to do business with God today.
Altar Call: Please bow your heads while I give the invitation.
Are you one of the people who attends church but are not a true Christian?
If you were to die today are you sure you would you go to Heaven?
If you hesitated to answer yes, then you are probably not absolutely sure of your salvation, and you need to make a real commitment to Jesus today.
Listen, the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart right now – answer His call.
You say, “Pastor, how can I know for sure I’ll go to heaven?”
You can know for sure because Jesus himself said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
Today is the day, now is the time,
If you want to know for sure that you are born again, then hold up your hand so I can see it.
(Wait)…………. Anyone else
I want you to pray this prayer along with me.
O God, I recognize that I am a sinner,
that I stand in peril of suffering eternity in hell.
Please forgive me of my sins.
Jesus, come into my heart and be Lord of my life.
I renounce my old way of life and now confess you as my Lord and savior.
Thank you for loving me and dying on the cross for me.
Holy Spirit, please lead and direct my life from now on. Amen
Altar call:
Read Joel 2:12-17
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
Bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Save your people, O Lord”
Prayer for revelation:
Holy Spirit of God, we plead with you to make us hungry for you. Bring us to a place where we can have a Holy Ghost refreshing. Hear our prayers and heal our iniquity. Now reveal to us our hidden sins so we can confess them and plead for Your forgiveness.
The Lord is calling us to Repent, to fall on our faces before Him, to let go of our sin and give it to Him, and He will bury it in the deepest sea and remember it no more.
God dos not delight in empty religious ceremony, rather He delights in a broken spirit, a contrite heart, an attitude of genuine sorrow and repentance.
Come to His altar and weep and wail, cry out to Him for forgiveness while it is not too late, for He loves you, he sacrificed His Son for you, He wants you to draw close to him. He wants to take you to new levels of spiritual growth. He want to bless you and pour out His blessings on you – so come now confess, repent and be clean! Come, now is the time to make things right with God.
