Revive In 2005 Pt 3 Series

Revive in 2005 – Part 3

Thesis: For the church of Jesus Christ to be revived in 2005 we must get back to the old-fashioned way of attaining revival by praying.

Opening Illustration: From the Quickening

Our clip illustrates from history and current day stories the power of revival to transform individual people and who in turn then help transform an entire nation from ungodly nations to godly nations.

Clip is 35 minutes long covers the history of Revival and reveals some principles of Revival in the past and in the present.

The one key ingredient of revival that I observed from our clip was is breakthrough prayers on the part of the people of God. Prayer is a required action for revival to emerge where sin is rampant. Sin always causes devastation and bondage and the answer to sins destruction is revival. Revival comes from breakthrough prayers not by human wisdom, human strength, human money, or even human resources. It comes by God’s divine presence and manifestation of His power to transform that area through individuals one by one. The other important truth is revival comes by us asking inviting God to come! It takes communication between us and God and that is called prayer. Prayer must happen for revival to come! No prayer no revival!

Scripture Text:

2 Chronicles 7:11-16: The promise from the Lord about His presence dwelling among us and revival in the land.

11When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 13“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14if 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 will heal their land. 15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there…19“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”

Out text reveals to Israel and to the church of Jesus Christ how to attain a revival in a place that has abandoned God and suffered the consequences of turning their backs on God. Result is captivity and devastation to a nation and to individuals. In 2 Chronicles 30 we discover the nation of Judah in that godless, lifeless, and hopeless state. We are told from Scripture that God has been deserted and the temple vacated. The Temple was a mess and in need of repair and cleansing. But Hezekiah becomes king and makes a new covenant with the lord and a miraculous turn around of the nation and its people occurs.

2 Chronicles 30:1-27: Promise fulfilled in King Hezekiah’s reign.

1Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.