God spoke to me

Almost 18 years ago in 1984 in a season of intercessory prayer, God led me to intercede for East Texas. In the spirit I heard the groaning of the people in East Texas crying out, “We are so dry and thirsty! Lord, there must be more!” The Lord spoke to me and said, “I am going to bring revival to East Texas!” Although I was thrilled, the Lord began to show me that He wanted me to come to East Texas. I believe that God is bringing revival to East Texas.

I. The need for revival

A. The condition of our world and nation

B. The condition of Christians

C. The condition of the church

1. We have disregarded His lordship in our lives and lived according to the selfish desires of our own heart (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46)

2. We no longer walk in the fear of the Lord or strive to be holy as He is holy (I Peter 1:16-17)

3. We no longer esteem the Word of God as the final standard for determining right and wrong. We have substituted the philosophies and reasoning of this age for the eternal wisdom of God (Isaiah 5:20)

4. We worship God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:1-9)

5. We have a form of godliness but deny His right and power to operate in and through their lives (2 Timothy 3:5)

6. We are unfamiliar with our God and are unable to discern His voice and activities (Luke 19:41-46)

7. The church, the bride of Christ, has prostituted herself with the world's system of values, priorities, and methods instead of preparing herself for the wedding feast at Christ's second coming (Ephesians 5:25-27)

8. God's house is not known as a "House of prayer for all nations," but has become a center for man's activities and corruptions (Matthew 21:13)

9. Many leaders remain in personal sin and willful disobedience (Jeremiah 23)

10. Many leaders are promoting and walking after visions of their own heart and not speaking a true word from God (Jer. 23)

11. Many leaders still seek the honor and approval of their associates and congregations rather than the honor and approval of Almighty God (John 5:44)

12. Many leaders still whitewash sin and speak a message of "Peace, peace" to a generation which must repent before a holy God (Jeremiah 6:14)

13. We have allowed our love for others and the lost turn cold (Matthew 24:12)

14. We have taken the Lord's name in vain through using His name in profanity and also by claiming His name while living a life that discredits His name (Exodus 20:7)

15. We have left our first love (Revelation 2:4)

16. We have made the Lord a stranger in His own house (Revelation 3:20)

17. We have not come out from among the world to be a separate people unto the Lord. We are guilty of the same sins and perversions as the world. We "worship" the same idols as the world. Our hands are defiled from touching the unclean thing (2 Corinthians 6:17)

18. We have neglected the assembling of ourselves together in the Lord's house (Hebrews 10:25)

19. We have allowed racial and denominational prejudice to divide the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6; I John 2:9-11; 3:10-15; 4:7-11, 17-21)

20. We have allowed foolish and ignorant disputes among ourselves to mar the witness of Jesus to the world and to give Satan access to destroy Christian fellowship and unity (John 13:34-35; 2 Timothy 23-26)

21. Because of our sin and impurities, God is bringing judgment on America and on His church by removing His hedge of protection and giving us over to the consequences of our sin (Isaiah 5)

22. Unless we repent, the severity of God's judgment will intensify with each passing day as He has already begun to pour out His wrath in turning us over to the curse (Deuteronomy 28:15ff; Ezekiel 7:1-14; Joel 1)

II. The promise of revival

A. Isaiah 59:19 "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy (Satan) comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him"

B. Isaiah 60:1-3 "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

C. 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

III. What is “revival”?

A. Pat Robertson: “In revival, God first refines and purifies His people, then He fills them with His power. Then He places in their heart His love and compassion for those who are lost without God and without hope in this world. In revival, Christian people are not trying to work up the courage to testify about a historical figure they learned from a book---they radiate the knowledge of the One whose power is continually filling their lives. Revival normally begins among God’s people, but soon affects society. The power of God is so strong that prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, and those addicted to gambling, pornography, and lust are set free and gloriously converted. In past revivals, saloons were closed for lack of customers, jails were empty for lack of criminals, courts were empty for lack of disputes, dance halls and theaters were empty for lack of customers. Men and women are drawn to prayer meetings like iron filings to a magnet. Dealing with eternity becomes the uppermost concern in people’s lives.”

IV. God sends revival when His people meet His conditions

A. Revival begins with God’s people

B. Revival is a return to humility

C. Revival is a return to prayer

D. Revival is seeking God’s face

E. Revival is repentance

F. Revival is God hearing our prayers

G. Revival is God forgiving our sins

H. Revival is God healing our land

V. What must we do?

A. Acknowledge our need

B. Meet God’s conditions

C. Allow God to breath new life into your soul

D. Become a vessel in revival