Revive Us Again
2 Chronicles 29:1-36
Two weeks ago we began a series talking about bringing America back to God. We vowed here that day that we want God in America again. We said we want REVIVAL to sweep our land. Once a man asked an evangelist “how can we have revival?” The evangelist answered by asking “Do you have a place where you can pray?” Yes the man replied. Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle around you and pray for God to send revival on everything inside that circle. Stay there until He answers, and you will have your revival.
To have National Revival it has to start with individual or personal revival.
2CH 29:1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
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.
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…
Sometimes it is painful to be completely obedient. Why, because we are so use to doing it our way, that any change brings pain. God is not like Burger King, we cannot have it our way. God has told us what we need to do to have our lives revived. He has given us his Word. We need to read and heed. Then we can have personal revival. Some of us don’t like to read because it may make us uncomfortable, we may see the sin that we are in and don’t really want to change. One co-worker of mine who claimed to be a Christian was carrying on an affair. When we confronted him he admitted to it, but instead of being repentant he said, “But I am having so much fun.” He was then asked if it would be fun if his wife found out. You see we have this idea, as long as I keep it to myself no one will know. Let me tell, sometimes we already know. But always God already knows. And God will do whatever He has to do to bring repentance. NU 32:23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
National Revival requires a cleansing:
2CH 29:3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the LORD and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side 5 and said: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6 Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the LORD’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. 10 Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense."12 Then these Levites set to work:
Hezekiah and these Levites dedicated themselves to clean up the Temple. If there is to be a national revival we need to clean our personal lives and then we need to clean the church. Jesus said “Take the plank out of your own eye first.” So first we clean our own lives then we work on the church. In the days of Hezekiah, the Temple was the sole place one could go to hear the Word of God. Today it is the church. What is the condition of the church today?
1. Confusion. So many different denominations how does one choose where to go? How does one choose which one is telling the TRUTH? Again it goes back to what helps bring personal revival and that is the application of God’s Word in our personal lives. If we measure what others say by what God says, then we will know who is telling the truth.
2. Reinterpretation. Last week we discussed how men are taking the Bible and reinterpreting it to suit their purposes. We read how one said we cannot take the Bible literally. Again, the church needs to tell the truth and show that it takes God’s Word literally. Or God will demand on our heads, the blood of the lost.
3. The church acts like Jesus is not coming back any time soon.
It is time for the Church to get serious about the business of God. We must remember
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The World is waiting for us to get our act together so that they can follow. True worship as a whole has ceased in America, just as it has ceased in Jerusalem before Hezekiah. Now is the time to restore true worship.
How can we restore true worship? Now mind you I am not talking about style I am talking about attitude.
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…
Then the doors to Revival can open.
In the days of Hezekiah he called them to dedication and consecration. That is to obedience and commitment.
Commitment to the local congregation that we attend.
1. With our service; give of ourselves to the needs of our congregation. To often 90% of the work is done by 10% of the people. If revival is going to happen we need all of us.
2. Commitment to the financial support of the work here. All of the tithes belong to God, and if we are doing God’s work then it belongs here. Maybe you don’t give because you don’t like how or where the money is being spent. Well that is not your call per se. The money is given here for the work for GOD. Now if you have objections on how it is spent then come to the meetings. If you hold back you tithes then God holds back his blessing on you. (Malachi 4).
3. Commitment to growth: both personal and corporate growth. By attending Bible study, regular attendance at services. Maybe we need to revamp some of the things we do. Too many of our adults who are teaching are missing out and need to be fed. Your comments on how we can change that are welcomed.
4. Commitment to God, dedicate this place to the work of the Gospel and service to God, and then jump in. A commitment to worship.
HEB 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
2 Chronicles 29:35 “So the service of the temple of the LORD was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.”
I do not say this lightly nor do I say this with hesitation. If Revival is to happen, it is up to us. If Revival is to sweep our land it begins with us. We need to have the attitude that it begins with me, each of us individually. We need to humble ourselves in repentance, commit ourselves to obedience, dedicate ourselves to HIS service. If it is to be it is up to me.
I have taken the time to draw a circle around this room. I ask you to join me in prayer, that God will send REVIVAL to everything in that circle, then I am asking you to join me in that circle. And we wait for God to revive everything in that circle, and we use that to revive America.
