Rule 5: The Need for Divine Intervention

The Rules of Revival  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 228 views

Revival comes when God sends it.

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
Announcements
Night of Prayer - September 28 at 6:30pm
Homecoming - October 2 at 10am
Fellowship Meal - October 5 at 6pm (NEW TIME)
Pray
The Scripture speaks of many different revivals, each with its own unique touches. It speaks of revivals ignited by the spark of humility in repentance of sins. Isaiah’s plea in 64:1: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down” comes from realization of Israel’s desperate need in Isaiah 64:6:
Isaiah 64:6 ESV
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Scripture speaks of revivals hallmarked by the priority given to hearing the Word of God. The effort of the returned exiles in Nehemiah 8 to hear God’s word: the planning of that day, the building of the platform and the arrangements of leaders and priests and people to hear and understand the laws of God demonstrate that God’s Words are not glossed over or ignored, but are treasured and heeded carefully.
Scripture speaks of revivals birthed in an atmosphere of earnest prayer. The genuine prayers of Solomon at the temple’s dedication show us a king who desires nothing but God’s presence and his blessings upon the prayers of his people in that place, and God answers those prayers with his presence and promises.
Scripture speaks of revivals spurred on by righteous obedience. Radical obedience, demonstrated by King Josiah paved the way for genuine reform amidst a wicked generation. Through the king’s willingness to obey God’s law, false worship was abolished, false idols were demolished, and false priests were executed. Josiah didn’t just purge the false: he established the true by restoring the temple, the Passover, and an attitude of submission to God’s laws.
But it seems that something is missing. We find ourselves asking, “What else do we need?” Perhaps it’s time to turn to the book of Acts. Acts is full of revival: Jewish Christians sharing the good news in Jerusalem, taking the good news as they are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, taking the good news throughout the Roman empire, including to Rome itself. God penetrates the darkness of the gentiles through Peter, begins churches throughout Galatia, Macedonia, Phyrgia, Pamphylia, and other places. The gospel goes to Corinth, Athens, Damascus, and Ephesus. If any book can show us what we’re missing, it’s the book of Acts.
And if any one revival moment - if any one story within Scripture can open our eyes to the fifth rule of revival, then it has to be the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Picture yourself there in Jerusalem. It’s the feast of Pentecost - 50 days after Passover. There are thousands of Jews packing the streets of Jerusalem, all centered around the Temple. The noise of the crowds is almost roaring as people hustle around to make sacrifices and secure accommodations. Then, out of this one house, a whole bunch of folks start to come out and speak to the crowds.
Acts 2:5–11 ESV
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
And those crowds, from all over the place, hear about God’s works. Those people who followed Jesus Christ are now talking about him - and doing so in the dialects and languages of many different people groups.
Can you imagine how strange this must have been? You’re from Egypt, and these guys are speaking like they do back home…but those are fishermen from Galilee! And the person next to you is from Asia, and he hears his own native way of speaking…at the same time! What is going on?
Some of the Jews visiting that day must have been spellbound by these events. They pondered and discussed what was happening, fascinated by this turn of events. Others simply laughed it off: “they must be drunk!”
The Bible tells us what happened next: Peter begins to preach a sermon. After quoting from Joel 2, Peter begins to trace the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He interprets Scripture through Christ’s life, just as someone reads through the lenses of their glasses. He prioritizes God’s Word, and that word cuts to the quick.
With a sermon like this, the people felt the weight of their own guilt. “Brothers, what shall we do?” they ask. This isn’t like the mechanic asking what you want done with your vehicle. They were not just looking for something to fix. These are people who are face-to-face with their sin. They know how guilty they are, and how deserving of punishment too. Then watch what happens:
Acts 2:38–41 ESV
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
This chapter seems to have all the components needed for revival, doesn’t it? It has the call to humbled repentance: “Repent and be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins...” It has the Word of God prioritized - Peter quotes from Joel 2, Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1. It has earnest prayer - immediately after Pentecost, the next verse shows God’s people praying:
Acts 2:42 ESV
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
It also has righteous obedience. Verse 4 of this chapter tells us that these disciples of Jesus were speaking exactly the words that God gave them to say. But, even with all these factors, I feel like we’re not getting the whole story. Something is missing.
What’s missing? Humbled repentance expressed in earnest prayer, resulting in careful prioritizing of God’s Word and righteous obedience to his commands. Those are all things we can accomplish. They are all vital components of revival, but none of them really cause revival.
I want to pose to you this morning a fifth rule of revival. We’ve seen the necessary parts that comprise the work of God in reviving our hearts. But there’s a fifth element that initiates the work within God’s people.
If you’ve spent any time studying the book of Acts, you’ll notice that I have skipped a major part of the story. What started all this in the first place? Well, look back at the beginning verses of Acts 2:
Acts 2:1–4 ESV
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So this whole thing started when God sent his Spirit. It wasn’t because of any other factor that the Spirit came - he came because God sent him.
It should not surprise us that God would send his Spirit. He promised just that:
John 14:26 ESV
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 15:26 ESV
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
John 16:7 ESV
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
I think now we’re ready to consider the fifth rule of revival:

Revival Comes When God Sends It

Revival does not come because we fulfill all of our obligations, so God has no choice. Revival does not come because we do enough to earn God’s favor. Revival does not come because we force God’s hand. Revival comes because God makes it happen.
But isn’t that how God always works…according to his will?
Psalm 115:3 ESV
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Proverbs 21:30 ESV
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
Ephesians 1:11 ESV
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Daniel 4:34–35 ESV
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
God does what he chooses to do, so if God wants to send his Spirit among us, then we will do just that. Our role is to be ready for the Spirit to move among us. Our role is to be in the right position spiritually for God to work within and through us. We don’t make it happen: God does.
Does copper wire produce electricity? Does the moon make its own light? Does a road reflector shine all on its own? Does a puppet wave without a puppet master controlling it? Neither can we produce revival without God sending it. If we are truly seeking revival, we must recognize we are totally dependent on God to make it so. Otherwise, as the old song says, “without the Spirit’s touch, its everything but church.”
Look back at Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 once more, but this time look closer at the actual sermon:
Acts 2:14–36 ESV
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
That same Peter, who two months earlier was too wishy-washy to even admit to knowing Jesus, is now boldly proclaiming him. When God chooses to do his work in his people, that’s when revival comes.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more