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 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
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| From https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Chronicles-7-14_Inspirational_Image/ |
Note: On March 12, 2017, I was blessed to lead worship at my church—the title of my sermon was Revive Us Again!
This is the first post in a short series sharing a heavily edited version of my sermon by the same title. In the future, there may be an audio or video of this sermon which will enhance what I will be sharing in writing.
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| Personal photo |
What is revival? As expected
there are a variety of definitions. For
the purposes of this post, I am sharing only two: Pastor Greg Laurie, who was saved during one
of the more recent revivals—the Charismatic/Jesus People Movement defines
revival in this way: “…revival is
nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God. It’s a church word… It is not for the nonbeliever. Revival starts with the church and then
affects the world. The world does not
need revival; the church does. The world needs evangelism.”[1]
As C. H. Spurgeon stated: “To be
revived is a blessing which can only be enjoyed by those who have some degree
of life. Those who have no spiritual
life are not, and cannot be, in the strictest sense of the term, subjects of
revival.”[2]
With these definitions and understanding in mind let us consider
revival more fully from the Word of God and from history. This is a sizable undertaking and cannot be
covered in great depth in one short sermon.
However, I believe, it is important to learn about it and to pray for
it, if we feel God placing it on our heart.
Beloved, we are not alone in seeing the need for an awakening, a
revival from God. Not only do we see
this in our country’s history; we can also see it throughout the whole of
history. In reading through the Bible,
particularly the Old Testament, we read about the following revivals: there were revivals under the leadership of
King Jehoash (2 Kings 11-12), King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18), King Asa (2Chronicles 15), King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), Zerubbabel (Ezra 5-6), Nehemiah
(Nehemiah 8-9, 13). In the New Testament
we read about the revival of Pentecost in Acts 2-3.[3]
One of the greatest revivals in human history occurred when Jonah,
God’s “prodigal” and reluctant prophet ultimately obeyed God and went to
Nineveh proclaiming God’s message of destruction if they did not repent. This was a nation-wide revival from the king
down to the lowest—repenting and turning to God happened and the society was
changed, if for a time.[4]
God’s faithful people throughout the ages have cried out for mercy, for
revival. Sometimes these prayer warriors
lived to see their prayers answered, other times their prayers came to fruition
only after their death. Therefore, it is
proper for us to seek it, to pray for it.
However, we do need to be aware of what we are getting ourselves into
when we pray for revival.
Revival is a completely God-given time of refreshing and renewing—a
sovereign act of God. IT IS NOT something we can work up in
our flesh. Revivals are not manufactured
or generated through human efforts. All
the programming, the special services—sometimes termed “revival services” are
not the true revivals that are God-sent from Heaven. Revival gives life to dry, dead spiritual bones—through
the breath of the Holy Spirit—like Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 37. It is all God and God alone!
Revival starts with God’s people—being convicted of their sins and of the sin around
them—causing them to fall on their faces—literally and metaphorically before
God, repenting of their sins. In revival
our lukewarmness is revealed for what it is—lukewarm faith is revived, becoming
hot once again.
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| Personal photo |
And unto the angel
of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou
art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest,
I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to
buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at
the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come
in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
(Revelation 3:14-20 KJV)
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| Personal photo |
Like the church in Laodicea, we have left our first love—the result is
a weakening faith—a faith where we are rather content to go through the
motions, instead of being willing to risk the cost and the change necessary
when God shows up. We would be wise to
heed Jesus’ warning to this church.
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 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
What would happen IF we follow 2 Chronicles 7:14? If my people… Notice the if …then
construction: if this happens; then this
will happen. If my people (that is us!)
humble themselves (rend hearts and not our garments, see themselves as they
really are—crying out for a clean heart), pray, seek God’s face (desiring God
above all else), and turn from their sins (confess sins with a contrite or
repentant heart). Then God will hear His
people’s (that is us!); He will forgive their sins (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9); and He will heal their
land.
There is a diligence, a
dedication for God’s people in what they need to do, turning the focus back to
God and His righteous standards. It is
important for us to be genuine in our behavior—we may be able to fool others or
even ourselves, however, we cannot fool God.
This Scripture is one of many revival oriented Scriptures we can pray. I encourage you to search the whole of God’s
Word for other Scriptures to pray regarding revival.
I invite you to return next
week for the second part of this series.
Until then consider the thoughts and Scriptures on revival shared
above. Remember, above all else, revival
is a sovereign act of God—God alone brings about revival—it is not something that
He is obligated to do. Nevertheless, we
can pray for and seek it with every fiber of our being.
Please join with me in
prayer:
Dear Lord, Enhance our spiritual
vision to see our own sin and need for personal revival. Move us to cry out to You and to seek You for
the renewal our spirits need. We see how
we have grown lukewarm in our worship and service to You. Please send refreshment through the winds and
fire of the Holy Spirit. Many of us have
grown tired and perhaps even bored with the emptiness of our worship services
and have started to simply go through the motions. Remind us that worship really is all about
You and not about anyone else. Rekindle
our faith, so we can once again be hot, on fire for You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
From My Heart to Yours,
Kim
