The Great Need In Our Land!

The Greatest Need in our Land today is a Heaven-sent Revival! Not a Man-made, or a program-generated revival, but a Revival straight from the throne-room of God on High! Man can’t produce it. Never has there been a preacher who could preach it up. Never has there been a choir, or a quartet that could sing it up. If it is a real revival, it will be because sovereign God has intervened in people’s lives. Church services will take on a new face. It will not

be services as usual. It will not be as Dr. Vance Havner has said, “Start church at 10:00 sharp and end 12:00 dull.” A real revival is not built on emotions and sentimental thoughts of yesteryear. It is not eyes full of tears. That can be done by the flesh. It is not shouting. That can be done by the flesh, too. It is not large crowds. A circus can attract crowds. It is not folks getting saved. God graciously saves by grace, even when churches are not in a state of revival. The word “revival” literally means to “live again”. It is God’s people coming alive again to

their responsibilities toward God. It is returning to a life of obedience.

Let’s look at a Bible passage that is used often in reference to a spiritual

awakening. It has been called the recipe for revival. It is 2Chronicles 7:14. I want us to look at that verse, but also look at it in the context of the surrounding passages of which it is written. It is important to remember that Solomon had dedicated the new temple, Solomon’s temple. King Solomon gave a prayer of dedication in 2Chronicles 6:12-42. The prayer had nothing to do with the temple, as it had everything to do with the people of God who would come to pray and worship in the temple. Solomon knew that the God of Israel could not be contained within the confines of the temple. (See 6:18) Solomon also knew that God was interested in residing in the hearts of His people. (See 6:30, 31)

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (ICor.6:9,20) “What? know ye not that your

body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your

body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I. HOW WILL WE KNOW WHEN REVIVAL COMES TO A CHURCH?

1. You will see the FIRE FALL. (2Chronicles 7:1)

When Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven. The sacrifices were consumed. It is Holy fire. God’s Fire falling upon us. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices,holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) When God, through the Holy Spirit

descends upon us with an outpouring of God’s grace. On the day of Pentecost fire was seen not on animal sacrifices in the temple, but upon the believers.

(tongues of fire) It is something only God can do. Isn’t that what we need?

Aren’t we tired of dead religion? Dead praying? Dead preaching and dead teaching and dead singing? Aren’t we tired of trying to make an impression? Aren’t we tired of trying to be religious? Aren’t we tired of trying to be good Baptist folks? Aren’t we tired of cold church services? Where’s the Fire?

When you walk for miles in the snow and ice, and you come to the house, and all you have is a fictitious fireplace. There’s no fire. All you can see is an artist’s rendering of a fireplace. It’s not real. We need real Holy Ghost Fire! We can’t survive on cheap substitutes. When Revival comes there’s the Fire of God. It consumes the sacrifices and burnt offerings. We are the sacrifice. We are being consumed by God’s fire, God’s anointing. We are the light of the world pointing others to Jesus Christ. Jesus said we are to let our light shine. Without God’s fire we won’t do much shining for Jesus.

You will know that Revival has come to church when you see the Fire Fall,and...

2. You will witness the GLORY OF THE LORD. (2Chronicles 7:1,2)

“...and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priest could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.”

God’s glory was so manifested that the priest could not do their priestly services in the temple. When revival truly breaks out, and God’s glory is manifested the focus will not be on men and women in the ministry. The center of attention will be Jesus. Eyes will not be on the preacher. Folks won’t be concerned about the color of your shirt, blouse, the color of your tie, or even the color of your skin. It is truly amazing to me how much attention we have on one another. A man last week came to the prison (where I work) he came with a black shoe and a brown