Do You Want Revival?

The Cost of Revival

Do We Truly Want Revival?

Many a church that is praying for revival does not really want revival. They think they do, for to their minds a revival means an increase of membership, an increase of income, an increase of reputation among the churches; but if they knew what a real revival meant, what a searching of hearts on the part of professed Christians would be involved, what a radical transformation of individual, domestic, and social life would be brought about, and many other things that would come to pass if the Spirit of God was poured out in reality and power; if this were known, the real cry of the church would be: “O God, keep us from having a revival.” (RA Torrey)

Why should we pray for a revival? For the glory of God, because we cannot endure it that God should continue to be dishonored by the worldliness of the church, by the sins of unbelievers, by the proud unbelief of the day; because God’s Word is being made void; in order that God may be glorified by the outpouring of His Spirit on the church of Christ. For these reasons first of all and above all, we should pray for a revival. (RA Torrey)

How does church revival begin?

Revival is always birthed by God’s Spirit through prayer.

Acts 4:23-31

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

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.

The church itself was born by prayer and dies without it. The church’s prayer life will be the womb through which it grows or the tomb which it dies.

Not only is prayer the womb through which it was born, it is also what kept it on track in the midst of trials.

There are seven total ‘crises’ experienced by the church in Acts, and each one represented a crisis that threatened to derail the church from God’s agenda:!

• Peter and John are threatened to stop preaching Jesus (4:17-18, 33)!

• Ananias and Sapphira violate the holiness of the church (5:9, 14)! • The apostles are arrested and beaten (5:40, 42)! • The widow conflict poses a potential church split (6:1, 7)!

• Persecution breaks out after Stephen’s stoning (8:1, 4)!

Herod kills James and imprisons Peter (12:1-11)!

Jews and Gentiles at odds over circumcision (15)!

When the enemy could not dismantle the church by external circumstances, he tried to destroy the church through internal strife. And each time, corporate prayer was an integral part of resolving the crisis and keeping the church focused on her main objective! It was the anchor by which they made it through persecution, division, strife, imprisionment.

Over and over again..the people pray, and pray, and pray, and pray…together. Not just personally and individually, but corporately...thier response to crisis is to seek God.

And we see something important, corporate prayer is not an extension of what the church does. It is embedded in the very DNA. It goes to the heartbeat.

There is evidence in Acts as well as in church history that the Holy Spirit wills to use such prayer meetings to pour out his power again and again on local churches:

Here is the pattern, prayers go up, power comes down, and people go out!

Prayer is the environment by which the Holy Spirit desires to move in an through.

You see we often plan revival meetings every year, but revival is something you plan. God doesn’t come on our schedule. What we can do, is create the environment of prayer and desperation which God moves and works through. But We pray and we pray and we pray and wait for God to move.

Revival begins with prayer! Period.

Prayerless churches…and powerless churches!

A church that wants revival, but doesn’t want to pray is fooling itself!

RA Torrey Says again: THE DEVIL LAUGHS AS HE LOOKS AT THE CHURCH TODAY AND SAYS TO HIMSELF, “YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE’S SOCIETIES, YOUR YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS AND YOUR WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNIONS, YOUR INSTITUTIONAL CHURCHES AND YOUR INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, AND YOUR BOYS’ BRIGADES, YOUR GRAND CHOIRS AND YOUR FINE ORGANS, YOUR BRILLIANT PREACHERS AND YOUR REVIVAL EFFORTS TOO, IF YOU DON’T BRING THE POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD INTO THEM BY EARNEST, PERSISTENT, BELIEVING MIGHTY PRAYER.”

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

How to we approach his through..through prayer!

Do we really want revival? Heres how you find out, plan a prayer meeting and see who comes.

“You can tell by how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to your prayer meeting.” And he just walked off the stage. -Louis Cymbala in his book Fresh Fire

What sort of revival do we expect with 5 minutes of prayer a day?

What does church revival look like?

Acts 4:32–36 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

Revival will drastically reshape all areas of your life.

Notice what happens when the Spirit of God is poured out on the people? The lost are saved, and the saved are transformed and empowered by grace. Thier perspective on thier possesions changes.

They begin to sell houses, property to meet the need of those in need within their church.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Revival brings drastic social, economic, community change. Revival affects our money, time, and priorities.

RA Torrey writes again

The results of a revival on Christians generally are as marked as its results upon the ministry.

(a) In times of revival Christians come out from the world and live separated lives. Christians who have been dallying with the world, who have been playing cards and dancing and going to the theater and indulging in similar follies, give them up. These things are found to be incompatible with increasing life and light.

(b) In times of revival Christians get a new spirit of prayer. Prayer meetings are no longer a duty but become the necessity of a hungry, importunate heart. Private prayer is followed with new zest. The voice of earnest prayer to God is heard day and night. People no longer ask, “Does God answer prayer?” They know He does, and besiege the throne of grace day and night.

(c) In times of revival Christians go to work for lost souls. They do not go to meeting simply to enjoy themselves and get blessed. They go to meeting to watch for souls and to bring them to Christ. They talk to men on the street and in the stores and in their homes. The cross of Christ, salvation, heaven, and hell become the subjects of constant conversation. Politics and the weather and new bonnets and the latest novels are forgotten.

(d) In times of revival Christians have new joy in Christ. Life is joy, and new life is new joy. Revival days are glad days, days of heaven on earth.

Revival is radical. It will cause members to sell cars, get a cheaper one, so that they can give more.

Revival will cause people to change jobs to better serve those in need.

Revival will change your relationships with your spouse and children.

It will create in you a radical love that the world can see. The question is do we want this?

I want revival but I don’t want to do all that?

Isaiah saw Jesus and said, “Here I am, send me.” Revival never comes when we put conditions on what we will do or not do for God. People who tell me, I would never go out of the country, I would never give that much money, I would never pray that much, I could never leave my job…will never find revival.

The heart of revival is “Here I am send me!” The heart of revival stops asking how far is too far, but rather, how far has Jesus gone for me?

So Again I ask, do we want revival. The woman with the issue of blood was too desperate to be told no…or to say what she would not do. She wanted Jesus, so she fought to get into the presence of God.

We have to stop complaining about the lack of revival in our families and homes when we don’t really want it.

And let me say again, revival costs…and there is not only blessings, but a danger to revival.

What will revival cost?

Acts 5:1–11 ESV

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Revival will kill that which does not bring God glory in your life. Revival will destroy what is fake, to reveal what it true.

What was their sin?

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira seems to come down to lying to the Holy Spirit. They were testing the Lord (vrs. 8). The implication is that they had said that they sold their property for the needs of the poor, and they confessed that they were giving the full amount to the church. What we see is that they held some back for themselves. So the problem with holding back the money had to do more so with the fact that they said they were giving all and didn’t. It was the lack of honesty about what they gave, more so than what they gave which was the problem. We see intentional deceptionThey were attempting to see how much they could get away with while maintaining the look of spirituality. They wanted the benefits of looking like they were sacrificial without the cost of actually being sacrificial. This is hypocrisy. They were testing God and dishonoring the church. Though the church could not see it, God could. They wanted to appear more spiritually mature than they were. They were confessing one thing, but their hearts were believing and living another. Now when it comes to hypocrisy, there are some important truths we see here. Hypocrisy may deceive man, but it can not deceive God.

They were playing church! They wanted to look spiritual like everyone else, but their heart was not right. They wanted to look holy without being holy!

WE CAN NOT BE SERIOUS ABOUT REVIVAL UNTILL WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HOLINESS.

Why Was Their Punishment So Severe?

This was the church’s first sin. There were divisions on the outside, but this was the first division that was coming from the inside. God was making a point. He was teaching them an important lesson. This does not happen to all Christians who lie, but it is a sobering truth.

Context

Acts 5:5 ESV5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Acts 5:10 ESV10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Ananias and Sapphira appear to be believers, here. Chapter 5 mentions the full number of those who believed, and they are included. The severity of God’s judgement to them isn’t about their unbelief, but how even believers can hinder and hurt the church by their sin. Being under grace was not meant to inspire less holiness, but more than the law!Deuteronomy 21:18-21Even if no one knows your sin…it still hurts the church! As a matter of fact, it is precisely because it is in the dark that makes it worse. A lot of times, the coverup is worse than the mess up. If we would just be honest!

God has never played about the holiness of His people. So Why did God kill them..because the Holiness of the church is that important!God wanted the church’s first breach of faith to be a warning for the future. God called them and us to a reverence and fear. The sudden, dramatic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira served to purify and warn the church. “Great fear seized the whole church” (Acts 5:11). Right away, in the church’s infancy, God made it plain that hypocrisy and dissimulation were not going to be tolerated, and His judgment of Ananias and Sapphira helped guard the church against future pretense. God laid the bodies of Ananias and Sapphira in the path of every hypocrite who would seek to enter the church-

“They drop dead is not because this happens to all hypocrites. For example, it doesn't happen to Simon the Magician in Acts 8:20–24. The reason they drop dead is to give a stunning warning to the whole church that phony Christians will all end up this way, sooner or later. God means for his people to fear hypocrisy. He means for us to be afraid of treating the Holy Spirit with contempt. Notice at the end of verse 5, after Ananias had died: "And great fear came upon all who heard of it." Then again in verse 11 after Sapphira died, "And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." This is the lesson Luke wants us to get: faking faith in the presence of God is a fearful thing.”We say one thing and do another because we don’t fear God.

What am I saying Revival will kill that which does not bring God glory. Revival will destroy what is fake, to make way for what is real!

God didn’t need thier money, he needed thier holiness! We don’t see revival ultimately beause we don’t take holiness seriously. Because we play with sin.

What Does This Teach The Church Today?

Being under grace should inspire us to more holiness, not less. Hebrews 3:1-3

Hebrews 3:1–3 ESV1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.

Church health is not about numbers or budgets, but holiness!In proportion as a church is holy, in that proportion will its testimony for Christ be powerful.We must close the gap between who we are publically and who we are privately. Sin thrives in the space between who we say we are and who we really are. Satan thrives in the dark and areas we are afraid to show.We must start to bring to God all of us, expose all the mess.

What if God were to confront each of us who are followers of Jesus with that which we have help back? Have you given your life to Jesus, confessed that you love and will follow Him? Well, let us give Him what we have said. And if we are unwilling, admit it. Face it! Does what we say church match the condition of our heart?C

Check your heart

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I’d rather have Jesus than riches untold. But we don’t tithe or give. If were honest, our job is much more important to us than God is.“Where you go I’ll go, where you stay I’ll stay , where you’ll move I’ll move, I will follow you” Is this true? Be honest with yourself. I had somebody tell me, when I was going to Colombia, that they could never do that. What the lyrics should be, “Lord I will follow you if you don’t ask me to go that far.”Have we told Jesus that we will take up our cross…but we can’t even pick up our bible to read it? Do we say this is the best news that has ever been told..Jesus dying for us giving us life, but we haven’t told anybody all week about it. If it good it must not be that good. Do we sing of Amazing Grace on Sunday, but yell in somebody’s face on MondayA.W. Tozer- Christians don’t tell lies, they just sing them.Church, God doesn’t ask for perfection, but confession. As long as we pretend to be more spiritually mature than we are, As long as we hide..Satan will thrive in the darkness. You think in keeping your sin hidden, from keeping your weakness disguised, that you are saving yourself and others from pain. You are really, slowly inviting Satan in to kill, steal and destroy. Man’s covering kills…God’s covering saves! Let God cover it! Trust in His provision…and you will find in Him is life!