…and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
As we prepare our hearts for revival, which begins in 2 weeks, I want to share with you a very simple 5 key formula to revival, based on this one passage of scripture
I. We need to know who we are
We are Christians, followers of Christ
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, recently offered WGN Chicago Radio sports-talk host David Kaplan $50,000 to change his name legally to "Dallas Maverick."
When Kaplan politely declined, Cuban sweetened the offer. Cuban would pay Kaplan $100,000 and donate $100,000 to Kaplan’s favorite charity if he took the name for one year.
After some soul-searching, and being bombarded by e-mails from listeners who said he was crazy to turn down the money, Kaplan held firm and told Cuban no. Kaplan explained: "I’d be saying I’d do anything for money, and that bothers me. My name is my birthright. I’d like to preserve my integrity and credibility."
"Christian" is the birthright of every follower of Jesus Christ. We have a responsibility to live every day in a way that brings honor to that name.
Citation: Gary Yates; Jamestown, Ohio; source: Skip Bayless, "Radio Host Prefers Class over Crass," Chicago Tribune (1-10-01)
II. We need to be sure of whose we are
a.We are God’s children…we belong to him!
III. We need to know what to do
a.Humble ourselves
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
b.Pray
While kayaking in southern England off the Isle of Wight, Mark Ashton-Smith, a 33-year-old lecturer at Cambridge University, capsized in treacherous waters. Clinging to his craft and reaching for his cell phone, Ashton-Smith’s first inclination was to call his father. It didn’t matter to the desperate son that his dad, Alan Pimm-Smith, was at work training British troops in Dubai 3,500 miles away. Without delay, the father relayed his son’s mayday to the Coast Guard installation nearest to his son’s location. Ironically, it was less than a mile away. Within 12 minutes, a helicopter retrieved the grateful Ashton-Smith.
Like this kayaker, when we are in peril, our first impulse should be to call our Father--the one we trust to help us.
c.Seek His face
d.Turn from our wicked ways
IV. We need to know who to turn to
a. Turn from sin, turn to God
V. We need to know what we can expect
a.God will hear us
b.God will forgive us
c.God will restore us
