Revival That Last
2nd Chronicles 7:12-14
12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.13 If I shut up heaven that their be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
As I was preparing to wright, this sermon, I thought about what a revival really was. It’s sad but in most cases we invite an Evangelist who comes and preaches his heart out and people are moved. The Spirit of God begins to work. He convicts us, and we run to the altar and confess our sins to the Lord, and He forgives us of our sins. The problem is that it only last about two months or so, then it’s back to sinning as usual. So why is that?
As much as I hate to do this the truth is the truth. I believe the main reason that revival does’ not last is that we so-called preachers are not properly teaching our congregations how to remain in right relationship with Jesus our Lord.
I believe in most cases the people are brought in right, they are told that Jesus is the Son of God. They are told that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, and that if they will place their faith in Jesus, and his finished work on the cross, that they shall be saved. We give them a bible, baptize them, and invite them back to church. Please understand I know that we can’t sit them down, and explain the entire bible to them. However I don’t believe that we spend enough time in the pulpit teaching the four things GOD requires of us to stay in the proper relationship.
Through out the Old Testament God’s people would call on the Lord when they were in trouble, and as soon as they were safe, they would turn away from Him again. It amazes me that we read of their mistakes and yet we still make the same ones. How foolish this generation is, in the things of God.
I believe that if we would take to heart the lesson in second Chronicles chapter seven that we would truly be blessed. There are four things that God calls his people to do. Then God tells of three blessings that he will pour out onto us.
First God says if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselfs. I want you to know God is talking to all his children, Yes especially us Christians. I believe that God is calling to everyone who calls himself or herself a believer. Do you remember when you were saved, the steps you took. First you were humbled, you realized that life was not all about you it was all about God. For the first time in your life you saw yourself through God’s eyes, your holiness beside God’s Holiness.
At that moment you knew that your very best was but filthy rags. We have went from humble to proud within 6 months of salvation, and the bible is clear that God resist the proud.
Next God says to pray. It amazes me,how when we’re first saved we are constantly praying to God. No one had to tell us to humbly fall on our knees every morning in prayer unto almighty God. No one had to tell you to pray over your food at lunch, you wanted to thank God for the provisions he had made for you. Praise unto God just rolled off your lips, but now you just don’t have the time.
The third step in revival that last is to seek God’s face. Do you remember, that after you were saved you would not do anything without talking to God first. O God what is your plan for my life, How should I spend this money you gave me, or what is my function in your church? Do any of these sound familiar? Now you’ve moved up the spiritual ladder, now you seek God’s wisdom after you’ve made your decision, now that your waist deep in the mud and Myer of your so-called wisdom.
The forth step in revival that last is to turn from your wicked ways. Did you know that true repentance means to turn away from, go in the other direction. Once my favorite pastor Brother Dave Hartson said “ He and his wife were driving down the interstate and without notice the car in front of them made a hard left and went through the median and started going in the other direction. Brother Dave said Ann do you know what just happened?
Those people just repented!” As funny as that seems this is a great example of true repentance. God requires us to turn around and head in his direction.
These are the four things God commands of his people if they want to see true revival, and revival that last. I love the second part of this passage, the blessings of God. Did you know that God always blesses his people when they obey him. God promises that he will [1st] Hear from heaven. I believe that sometimes our prayers don’t even bounce off the roof because of improper relationship with God. [2nd] God says that he will forgive our sins. The greatest blessing we receive is forgiveness of sin. For without the removal of sin God could have no part with us. What a merciful God we serve! [3rd] God says that he will heal their land. Today there are so many people who are hurting, who are dying in their sins and trespasses. We will never obtain peace when we are in wrong relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Have you ever surrendered your life to God? If you have are you still in right relationship with him? I believe with all my heart that all Christians go through a time of falling away from God. I will guarantee you that 99.9 % of the time they have stopped Humbling themselfs, Praying, Seeking God’s face, And Turning from their wicked ways.
Beloved,where do you stand with God today?
Even now God is calling O sinner come home.
