The Laws Of Revival

THE LAWS OF REVIVAL

2 Chron. 7:14

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Dear Abby, a newspaper columnist, once printed the story of a man who went to a psychiatrist complaining that he was always hearing radio broadcasts.

2. Thinking to humor him, the psychiatrist asked him what he was hearing right then. He named the radio show, and to the psychiatrist’s amazement, the actual show was on and the show’s host was indeed saying what he said!

3. It was discovered that the man worked in a glass bottle factory and had gotten silica crystals in his dental cavities. The combination of silica, saliva and some bridgework had literally transformed him into a walking crystal radio receiver!

4. He was referred to a dentist who cleaned his teeth, filled his cavities, and redid the bridgework. As a result, the patient "went off the air," and no longer heard the broadcasts.

5. How many believers were once "tuned in" to the Spirit, but after getting cold and indifferent, no longer hear the Spirit's voice speaking to them? Do you still hear the Spirit speaking to you?

6. God help us to get back our first love again, to get the real Jesus in our lives, and begin to hear that still small voice of God speaking to us!

B. TEXT

1. “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 will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” 2 Chron. 7:14.

C. THESIS

1. We’re going to look at “The Laws of Revival” that God established for all time. This Law assures us that God is always ready to send revival; He’s just waiting for us to fulfill the requirements.

2. Lastly, we’re going to pray for God to produce revival in our hearts today and receive from Him!

I. THE UNALTERABLE NATURE OF A LAW

A. DEFINITION OF A LAW

1. A Law is a “statement, a principle, or a maxim which has no exceptions.”

2. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. There has never been an exception to this rule. The law of gravity states that a free-falling object, if not hindered by wind, will fall at 32 feet per second.

3. There are Laws of Physics, biological Laws, genetic Laws, Laws which govern social behavior and human interaction.

4. “What you sow you will reap.” This is a Law. You may sow and seem to see no harvest, but it WILL come. If you’re faithful to sow, all the powers in Hell can’t stop the reaping time! It’s inevitable!

B. LAWS OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

1. Some think that revival can’t happen as a result of human means – that only once in a while, when God has to, He sends a revival to keep things going.

2. NO! Charles Finney preached and proved that God is always ready to have a revival – He’s just waiting on us to fulfill the right conditions. Revival doesn’t come through training programs, etc., but the way it’s always come.

3. THE REAL QUESTION IS: Do we WANT revival? Finney wrote that revival may be expected when:

a. When the wickedness of the wicked grieves and humbles and distresses Christians.

b. When Christians have a “spirit of prayer” for a revival.

c. When the attention of ministers is directed toward revival.

d. When revival is needed.

C. ATTITUDE DETERMINES RECEPTION

1. Fred Rogers of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood told about going to a church service while he was in seminary studying preaching methods;

2. “My wife and I were worshiping in a little church. I was in the middle of a homiletics course at the time. During the sermon I kept ticking off every mistake I thought the preacher – who must have been 80 years old – was making.

3. “When it was finally over I turned to one of my friends, intending to say something critical. I stopped myself when I saw the tears running down her face.

4. She whispered to me, “He said exactly what I needed to hear!” That was a [revelatory] experience for me; I was judging and she was needing. The Holy Spirit responded to need, not judgment.” [750 Engaging Illus., Larson, p. 322]

II. GOD’S LAWS OF REVIVAL

In 2 Chron. 7:14, God states His inevitable Law of Revival. He begins by noting who this Law applies to: “If MY PEOPLE.” So God is not waiting on the lost people of a nation to do something, but He’s waiting on the CHURCH to do something.

A. “HUMBLE YOURSELF”

1. Pride caused the downfall of Lucifer, a mighty guardian cherub. So we should think pride has no place in us!

2. Humble is defined as “to make humble in spirit; absence of vanity (pride of appearance) and arrogance (feelings of superiority).”