Revive Us Again

November 25, 2007

Morning Worship

Text: Psalm 85:1-6

Subject: Revival

Title: Will You Not Revive Us Again?

When I get together with other Pentecostal pastors one of the favorite topics of discussion is “Revival”. I hear stories about revivals of the past. I hear the tales of what God has done before. I listen to them talk about what revival is supposed to look like. And as I listen I am taken to a place inside of me where I start to ask questions. You see, since I am relatively new to Pentecostal circles – especially compared to many of you – I have never experienced the revivals of the past like you have. Most of you can look to your personal past and tell me stories of how God moved in mighty power during this or that revival. You can tell me about what God did in a tent-meeting out on the lawn or how The Holy Spirit moved in an awesome way in the log sanctuary that used to sit here. As you hold those memories near to your heart you wait for God to return and do it all over again.

I don’t know what revival looks like. I don’t have any preconceived notion about what has to happen for true revival to take place. I’m not waiting for God to do again what He did 50 years ago.

One of my friends insists that true revival is a revival of repentance. That when revival comes people inside and outside the church will be brought to a place of repentance, sorrow and weeping.

Others think that revival must include emotional, soul stirring activities and the visible manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s power. The emphasis then becomes one of excitement and edification.

Others in the past have brought healing revivals.

We can look back throughout church history and see the revivals that began back in the 1700’s in England and in the US and see how God was moving by His Spirit to bring revival. We see during the Great Awakening how preachers like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were bringing revival through the Word. E.M. Bounds of Shelby County, MO. brought a prayer revival to this part of the country as he ministered before, during and after the Civil War. There was the great Pentecostal revival that began in Los Angeles in 1906 at a little missions church that was an old stable. The Holy Spirit began to move at Azusa Street and the church world has never been the same. There were the healing revivals of the 50’s and 60’s, the Charismatic movement of the 70’s and 80’s. Revivals in Pensacola, Toronto, Smithton, MO, and Seattle in the 90’s– everywhere God was doing something special.

And now God wants to bring full - blown revival to Palmyra. What is it going to look like? I don’t know but I do know this, that when it comes we will know that it is God and not us who is bringing it.

Psalm 85:1-6

1 You showed favor to your land, O LORD;

you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people

and covered all their sins.

Selah

3 You set aside all your wrath

and turned from your fierce anger.

4 Restore us again, O God our Savior,

and put away your displeasure toward us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

6 Will you not revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you

I do want you to understand this – if revival is not Holy Ghost revival – then it’s not real revival.

1) THE REVIVAL OF GOD’S WORD IN YOUR LIFE. Turn over to Joshua 1:8. As Joshua prepared to take Israel into the Promised land God encouraged him by saying, 6“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” When revival comes God’s children won’t walk around saying, “well I think the Bible says this and that.” They will be saying, “Thus saith the Lord!” The Bible promises me salvation – I’m going to accept it. The Bible promises me healing – I’ll take that. The Bible gives me authority over the enemy- I’ll take it. The Word of God says that He will restore the wasted time of my past. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… the Bible says that I am supposed to have power through the baptism in the Holy Spirit – I want that. When revival comes you will begin to receive the promises, carry out the commandments, and rejoice in every utterance from the Word of God.