Over and over, the Lord spoke to Israel through Jeremiah the prophet saying, "Return to Me." Practically to the very end, He called unto them to return and repent. He admonished them as a loving and faithful Husband would his unfaithful wife. As a Shepherd, He called to His wayward sheep. And as a Potter with the clay, He patiently and persistently applied pressure on Judah, in order to make them a vessel of honor. But they refused God’s call, and judgment was rendered through a seventy-year Babylonian captivity.
In chapters 6 and 7 of 2 Chronicles, upon the dedication of King Solomon’s temple, the LORD reminded Israel that if because of their sin He brought judgment upon them, or if they had been carried into captivity because of their wickedness.
"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, And pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
While the primary interpretation is for the nation of Israel, its application is certainly for the Church today. Israel was to be unto the Lord a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:6). They were to declare His glory to the nations. But how could Israel impact and influence the nations, if they themselves needed to repent and return to the Lord? So it is with the church in America. If the Church wants America to repent and return to God, then the Church must first repent and return to God.
So we find in this one verse, the 7 Keys to Revival - certain conditions we must meet in order to experience genuine revival, personally and collectively.
Key #1 "If" - The CONDITION. It is such a little word, but everything hinges on this little word. If we truly desire to see revival individually and collectively, it must be on God’s terms, not ours; God’s way, not our way. In the context, there is obviously a sense of urgency - a desperation (v. 13). But what about in our context? Are we content with spiritual drought? Has indifference paralyzed us? Just how badly do we want revival? It was Vance Havner who said, "The situation is desperate, but the saints are not." We need to be desperate for revival.
Key # 2 "My people" - The COMPANY. Revival begins with God’s people- PERIOD! Not the unsaved. Not America as a whole. Not in Congress or the Senate. But with God’s people. So we cannot blame society, our country, our government, our laws, or any individuals when we don’t have revival. But the truth of the matter is, revival really needs to start somewhere, other than in the church. What about our homes? Perhaps you have some unresolved issues at home. Perhaps relationships at home are strained, between husband or wife, parents and children, or maybe even among siblings. There may be anger, jealousy, hatred, bitterness, or unforgiveness. Please remember, all things that come between us and others (including our family), come between us and God and spoil our fellowship with Him. The home is to be a miniature or microcosm of the Church.
Key #3 "Who are called by my name" - The COMPANIONS.
At least 17 times in chapters 6 and 7, God referred to His name.
His name reveals all He is and all He has done. In Ezekiel 39:25 God said He is jealous for His holy name. He desired for His name to be declared to the nations.
Israel bore God’s name. Israel means, "He who strives with God and prevails," OR "A prince of God."
As the Church, we too bear God’s name. We are "Called-out ones." We have been called-out by God, unto God, and for God. we bear Christ’s name. Christians. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Originally it was a term of scorn or ridicule, but it soon became a badge of honor. What a privilege of grace to bear Christ’s name.
1. We are to identify with all Christ’s name means
2. We are to reflect and radiate all His name means
3. We are to proclaim that name
2 Chron. 6:32-33
Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; 33Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
Key #4 "Will humble themselves" - The CONTRITION.
Contrition is a deep and intense sorrow for sin. Broken before God. As David wrote in Psalm 51:17:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
I like how Roy Hession describes such brokenness, in his book, The Calvary Road:
This simply means that the hard unyielding self, which justifies itself, wants its own way, stands up for its rights, and seeks its own glory, at last bows its head to God¡¦s will, admits its wrong, gives up its own way to Jesus, surrenders its rights and discards its own glory - that the Lord Jesus might have all and be all.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
Key #5 "And pray" - The COMMUNICATION.
Every aspect of prayer: confession, praise, petition, intercession, adoration.
Key #6 "And seek My face" - The CONTEMPLATION. A deliberate focus on God. Search Him out in prayer. Strive after Him. Just as David did, when he was in the wilderness of Judah, fleeing from King Saul, or from his own son Absalom.
Psalm 63:1
"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
Key #7 "And turn from their wicked ways" - The CONFESSION
Daniel 9:1-19 is Daniel’s deliberate and detailed confession, and is a response to 2 Chronicles 6 & 7. But sensitivity to sin, within and without, characterizes the one who walks with God. the Apostle Paul was certainly aware of the residual sin still within him, and said so in Romans 7. in 1 John, John wrote that one of the characteristics of a true believer, is a deep awareness of sin, and realization of the continual need of confession, cleansing, and forgiveness.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8-10
To confess means:
1. To say the same thing about sin that God says.
2. To agree with God as to all the implications of sin.
3. A genuine sense of guilt because of it.
4. A contrition because of it.
5. A determination to put it out of one¡¦s life once and for all.
Solomon wrote:
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy."
It is interesting that when Jesus gave the seven churches of Asia one final call to revival, He didn’t say to have an all-night prayer meeting (while that’s fine), or invite a guest speaker in (that’s all right too), but He simply said to "repent." Six times to five churches, Jesus said "REPENT."
It is true, "If a revival doesn’t touch morality, then it isn’t revival.
If we set these 7 Keys to Revival in motion, what will the result be? Then the Lord will hear from heaven
And will forgive our sin
And will heal our land
This is a promise from God Himself. The Lord of heaven.
Today, may there be healing and restoration if any or all relationships at home.
May there be healing and restoration of relationships and fellowship in the church.
May there be healing and restoration of proper fellowship with the Lord.
May there be spiritual healing in our community.
And may such healing, restoration and revival impact our community.
Prayer & Invitation
