The Five C’s of Revival

Text: 2 Chron. 29:1-36…PPHC…July 2, 06 p.m.

Throughout history, there have been times when a nation/people would go through a spiritual lull and drift from God. However, in these periods, God would raise up great leaders to bring his people back to where they should be. Tonight, we’ll examine Hezekiah, his early years, a great reformist, and see the pattern he used in ushering in revival to his nation…let’s call it The Five C’s of Revival.

I. CONFLICT – vv 6-9

 A. The Key to This Conflict - v 2 

  1. The Condition of the land.

·          v 7 – The temple: Shut the doors of the porch, put out the lamps (extinguished), no longer burned incense, and no longer offered burnt offerings. 

  2. He did that which was right like David. - “…David his father…”.

·          Of several of his predecessors, it had been said that they did that which was right, but not like David, not with David’s integrity and zeal. But here was one that had as hearty affection for the ark and law of God as ever David had.

  3. Early days before his ascension to the throne.

   a. With a sorrowful heart he beheld his father’s idolatry and profaneness; (v. 7) yet, while his father lived, he had no power to open the doors.

·          | Opportunity |

His soul no doubt wept in secret for it, and he vowed that when he should receive the congregation he would redress these grievances, which made him do it with more readiness and resolution.

·          Conflict births a CRISES; a crises births contemplation; contemplation births change.

·          This pious king had the discernment to ascribe all the national calamities that had befallen the kingdom to the true cause, namely, apostasy from God. The country had been laid waste by successive wars of invasion, and its resources drained.

·          Spiritually Today - Doors = Access to God (blocked); Lamps = The opening (revelation) of the Word (no longer given); Incense & Offerings = Heartfelt Praise & Worship (absent from our churches…going though the motions); 

II. COMMITMENT – v 10

 A. It Is In My Heart - Covenant

  1. From the depths of this man’s being, rises a desire to please God in a greater way…covenant speaks of accountability…holding one another to a pledge or promise.

   a. Marriage, a contract, a vow, a business transaction….

III. COMMENCEMENT – vv 11-19

 A. A Commitment Is No Good Unless It’s Acted Upon

  1. Even James states, “Faith without works is dead, being alone.”

  2. A commitment is just empty words until it drives you to act upon it.

·          “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

 B. The First Thing He Did was to open the doors of the house of the Lord

·          Access to God HAD to be repaired!

 C. First Things First

·          But Hezekiah immediately threw the church doors open. He found Judah low and naked, yet did not make it his first business to revive the civil interests of his kingdom, but to restore religion to its good posture again.

·          Those that begin with God begin at the right end of their work, and it will prosper accordingly.

IV. COMMENDING – vv 20-31

 A. He Placed People In Their Right Places

  1. He brought the rulers to the house of God.

·          Whenever people are put into position, it shouldn’t be done in secrecy. It should be done

in the open. Hezekiah brought the “rulers” to the House of God…set it in order.

·          (Priests, Levites, singers, & musicians were all set in order)

  2. The sacrifices began.

·          Principle: Generations may pass where God is left out and utterly forsaken by humanity; but at the moment of turning away from the sins and turning unto God, God forgives and begins immediate restoration.

   a. Beginning with the outer courts—that of the priests and that of the people—the cleansing of these occupied 8 days, after which they set themselves to purify the interior; but as the Levites were not allowed to enter within the walls of the temple, the priest brought all the sweepings out to the porch, where they were received by the Levites… (8 more days) [i]

·          We all have a part to play in the building of the kingdom. Any place of authority that you have been set over, you are also responsible. As the Levite couldn’t clean the area of the priest, we are responsible only for what God has placed within our sphere of influence. When many of us learn this principle, we will be liberated. You don’t have to run the world. It’ll drive you crazy if you try. Know that you are only responsible for what God has placed you over…whether it’s big or small.

V. CONVINCING – v 34

 A. Persuading Others To Join the Ranks

·          So much was brought for this freewill gift that the Levites had to help the priests slaughter the animals because not enough priests had sanctified themselves. The people rejoiced because of the suddenness of the revival and because it produced a glimmer of hope for a better future for Judah.

·          The Levites, normally excluded in the offering of sacrifices (Aaronic family only)

·          We are kingdom of priests; not just apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors & teachers…we must unite in ushering in the presence of the Lord.

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[i]Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. 1997. A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA