Why Revival

; 38-41

Why Revival?

RJ has scheduled revival for the teens this week. Why? Why Revival?What will happen? What do we expect to happen? Can we schedule God’s work in the heart?

Is it possible for us to ask God to do a new work and that work actually happen when we asked for it?

What is revival still relevant to the church?

I. In his book The 10 Greatest Revivals Ever, Elmer Towns lists the revivals in an order voted on by those who read the manuscript. They read this way:

1. The 1904 Revival, Beginning in Wales

Evan Roberts, Korea, Moravian, Azusa Street

2. The First Great Awakening, 1727-1750

Zinzendorf, Wesley, Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards

3. The Second Great Awakening 1780-1810

Cane Ridge

4. The General Awakening 1830-1840

Charles Finney, Hawaii, Jamaica

5. The Layman’s Revival 1857-1861

Phoebe Palmer, Lanphier, D. L. Moody

6. The World War II Revival 1935-1950

Billy Graham, Duncan Campbell, New Zealand

7. The Baby Boomer Revival 1965-1970

The Jesus People, The Prairie Revival, Asbury

8. The Reformation, 1517

Martin Luther, John Calvin, Zwingli, Knox

9. The Pre-Reformation Revival 1300-1500

Lollards, Wycliffe, Hus, Savonarola

10. Pentecost 30 A.D.

Peter, Ephesus, Paul

II. Revival is defined simply: God pouring Himself out on His people when His people:

A. Repent of their sin

B. Renew their love for God

C. Recommit themselves to God’s purpose

D. Invest extended time in prayer and communion with God, meditate on God and experience blessings in Christian service

III. Revivals, the changing of the heart of the masses, has occured in our history time and time again. It comes unexpectedly, yet with anticipation. A heaviness weighs over the people, as the glory of God falls into a place and onto those around

You become terrorized over your sin and you repent deeply

Your schedule goes out the window. You called on God to sic’ em, and He will, but He will require your help

For a period of time, it will wreck your day, night, week. You won’t be able to leave the sanctuary and when you do, all you can think about is returning to the presence of God

When true revival breaks out it is really because of one simple truth: someone repented of their sin in a real, deep, confessional way

Elmer Towns reports: when revival came to Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church in the fall of 1973, glory flooded the church auditorium . . . it was atmospheric revival. All normal activities in our lives shut down. Students and business people didn’t want to leave the sanctuary because when they left the building, they were leaving the presence of God. They didn’t want to miss anything that God was doing.

1973, glory flooded the church auditorium . . . it was atmospheric revival. All normal activities

in our lives shut down. Students and business people didn’t want to leave the sanctuary because when they left the building, they were leaving the presence of God. They didn’t want to miss anything that God was doing.

when they left the building, they were leaving the presence of God. They didn’t want to miss

anything that God was doing.

Revival began on Wednesday evening about 10:30 p.m. an hour after prayer meeting was over. It came when students and church members were milling around the front of the sanctuary.

over. It came when students and church members were milling around the front of the sanctuary.

The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever 3

Introduction

Most of the ushers and pastors had gone home. One student went to the pulpit—weeping—to confess sins. The microphone and pulpit lights were off, but God was there. The student’s passionate repentance captured those who were still in the auditorium. Someone began singing.

confess sins. The microphone and pulpit lights were off, but God was there. The student’s

passionate repentance captured those who were still in the auditorium. Someone began singing.

A pianist ran to play the piano. People dropped to their knees beside the altar and front pews. The piano was playing softly, not interrupting the sacred sound of tears. Shortly, another broken person approached the pulpit to confess sins. After two hours, frantic phone calls went out to the pastor and deacons, “Revival’s hit the church!”

The piano was playing softly, not interrupting the sacred sound of tears. Shortly, another broken

person approached the pulpit to confess sins. After two hours, frantic phone calls went out to the pastor and deacons, “Revival’s hit the church!”

pastor and deacons,

“Revival’s hit the church!”

Church members were awakened in the middle of the night, hurriedly dressed, and drove through the dark streets of Lynchburg. All came back to the church building expecting to experience God. No ties . . . no Sunday morning dresses . . . just believers eager for the touch of God.

through the dark streets of Lynchburg. All came back to the church building expecting to

experience God. No ties . . . no Sunday morning dresses . . . just believers eager for the touch of

God.

They stayed at the church from Wednesday until Saturday morning. Classes were canceled, most didn’t leave for work, some didn’t eat. When drowsiness couldn’t be fought off, students slept in the pews in the back of the auditorium, some slept under the pews. Like the tide that comes and goes, there would be intense times when people were confessing their sins, then soft times of quiet weeping and private prayer around the altar.

canceled, most didn’t leave for work, some didn’t eat. When drowsiness couldn’t be fought off,

students slept in the pews in the back of the auditorium, some slept under the pews. Like the tide

What stopped the revival? Early Saturday morning one student rose to confess his sins, but he seemed to be bragging about what he did when he sinned; there was no shame, nor brokenness. The Holy Spirit—Who knows the heart—departed the meeting. Within one hour, all knew the revival was over. All left, went home and went back about their daily activities.

that comes and goes, there would be intense times when people were confessing their sins, then soft times of quiet weeping and private prayer around the altar. What stopped the revival? Early

soft times of quiet weeping and private prayer around the altar. What stopped the revival? Early

God is the God of brokenness

Saturday morning one student rose to confess his sins, but he seemed to be bragging about what he did when he sinned; there was no shame, nor brokenness. The Holy Spirit—Who knows the heart—departed the meeting. Within one hour, all knew the revival was over. All left, went home and went back about their daily activities.

God is the God of confession

he did when he sinned; there was no shame, nor brokenness. The Holy Spirit—Who knows the

God hates self righteousness

heart—departed the meeting. Within one hour, all knew the revival was over. All left, went

Note: when God sends true revival, it is for all flesh, and generally breaks out in several areas at one time.

home and went back about their daily activities.

IV. What are the characteristics of Revival

A. Shaking, peaking in tongues, convulsions?

Manifestations through human expressions aren’t always consistent and shouldn’t be the deciding factor if revival took place or not. God changes the heart and when the heart is changed, a persons direction, character, thoughts, ambitions, direction and will are moving in a new direction. Revival is noted though the change of a person not the manifestations of the signs.

B. No, Revival is characterized by

1. Weeping over my sin in light of Jesus Holiness

2. Prayer for me and those around me in a deeper sense than I had known I had power to pray

3. Confession of my own sin and a real sense of God’s forgiveness

4. A freedom so cleansing, I want others to experience it

C. Manifestations through human expressions aren’t always consistent and shouldn’t be the deciding factor if revival took place or not. God changes the heart and when the heart is changed, a persons direction, character, thoughts, ambitions, and will are moving in a new direction. Revival is noted though the change of a person, or people group not the manifestations of the signs.

1. and we see several of these manifestations. They aren’t always present and aren’t necessary for a changed heart.

D. Revival is indeed a global phenomenon. This is the age of Asuza Street, the Welsh Revival, the Korean Pentecost, the Manchurian Revival. It is the age of great revivals in India and East Africa, Los Angeles, California and the Islands of Scotland, East Timor, Indonesia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Asbury College and New Zealand. God is on the move seeking those who love Him and desire to know Him fully, committing themselves to Him and Him alone.

Revival, the Korean Pentecost, and Jonathan Goforth of the Manchurian Revival. But it is also the

age of great revivals in India and East Africa, Los Angeles, California and the Hebrides Islands of

Scotland, East Timor, Indonesia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Asbury College and New Zealand.

V. So what does revival look like? Well, as in the scripture today, they don’t all shake the ground and bring in tongues of fire either. Revivals accomplish a purpose. A purpose God sees, and therefore probably meets a real need in a community or nation at that time.

It could be a revival of:

1. Repentance

2. Evangelism

3. Worship Revival: emphasis on magnifying God.

4. Deeper Life Revival: experiencing God’s indwelling.

5. Spiritual Warfare Revival: battling demons and Satan.

6. Holy Spirit Revival: emphasis on the Spirit’s manifestations.

7. Reconciliation Revival: removing barriers to racial harmony.

8. Liberation revival: freeing from corporate and personal bondage to sin.

9. Prayer Revival: an enormous movement of intercession and prayer.

The quest of man on earth should be to love and experience God. The most awesome truth about the scripture, is that God put that desire in you, created in His image, with His breath in you, He sought you before you could seek Him.

He seeks you out. He knows your name. He loves you. He loves you so much He is willing to meet you where you are that you may know Him deeply He will answer your prayer for a relationship with Him.

VI. I see this in the Scripture

A. At Pentecost He sought the masses and began His church Acts 2

B. In Cornelius’s home, he saved the gentiles and welcomed them into the Kingdom of heaven Acts 10

C. On the road to Damascus, he led Paul to become the greatest of all evangelists preaching to the Jews first Acts 9

D. On the road to Gaza, Phillip preached to an Ethiopian

Vii. Revival is Characterized by:

A. The Body of Christ awakened to a New Testament task

Methodist church was born out of revival

B. Was culture impacted

When people are impacted in a winning way for Christ, culture is impacted

Don’t you know, revival broke out when they told others what they had heard, seen and experienced

Don’t seek the hand of God in miracles, seek the heart of God in intimacy!

My question for you today is simple:

Will you pray for our kids and anyone that will seek God this week through RJ’s time and leading?

Will you endeavor to seek God always?

Would you confess your sin and receive Him as Lord of your life and let revival begin with you?

This age may try to declare God dead. But He is very alive; when His people, called by His name, humble themselves and pray and seek His face, turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven and heal their land.

I know God, and

Today you can know God.

This week I touched God, and

Today you can touch God.

But more importantly, right here,

Today, God can touch you