What Does Revival Look Like
WHAT DOES REVIVAL LOOK LIKE?
11/9/02 and 11/10/02
-We talk about revivals as if they are meetings that we have where a visiting speaker comes for a series of meetings.
-We look at the drama as if it is a revival because people respond to the altar.
-I want to go to the heart of revival. What does it look like? What would it look like in East Central Missouri?
-The Drama is coming up next week end. How can we cooperate with God for this event and the period following?
-I feel like the time afterward is as important as the week end.
-Our expectations and our responses to God are big indicators of whether He can get to the community through us.
1. IN THE BIBLE
Acts Summary
· In Chapter 1 we see a preparation for power. Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem but to receive the Holy Spirit so they can effectively carry out His plan.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
· In Acts 2 we see the promise fulfilled. The Holy Spirit comes as Jesus promised. There are unusual signs and wonders. There are signs of revival that we must never confuse with revival. Fire came on the people. In Jonathan Edwards day people cried out in agony. Throughout history there have been signs.
-It is important to have a theology that allows for signs but not make them our theology.
-There is a balance that Paul talked about in Corinthians where unbelievers would come in and recognize God was among them. Does the sign have God’s signature on it or is it something that you could do with out God?
-The sign was at first thought to be wine but Peter stood up and clarified that it was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.
-As Peter preached, the crowd stopped him so they could respond to God.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “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 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
-How was God measuring the success of this event? By 3000 people being added to the church!!
-Sometimes people complain about numbers as if it were carnal to count. God did. They weren’t numbers to Him, they were people.
-Look at the effect that the revival had on the church.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
-Everybody wants to go to that church don’t they?
-I see:
A SPIRIT OF PRAYER
GENEROSITY-ALL THE NEEDS WERE MET
HEALINGS AND MIRACLES
SINCERE AND JOYFUL HEARTS
FAVOR WITH PEOPLE
CONTINUAL GROWTH
· In chapters 3-4 we see persecution because revival always becomes a sign spoken against.
· In chapter 5 we see judgment come against Ananias and Sapphire because the purity of the church and revival is at stake.
11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
· In chapter 6 we see people murmuring because they are in community and they begin to realize that they are around imperfect people.
-A well known pastor said about the church he pastors, “.., we expect disagreement-forceful disagreement. Unity isn’t a word we use to describe our relationships. The popular concept of unity is a fantasy land where disagreements never surface and contrary opinions are never stated with force. Instead of unity, we use the word community. … Let’s not pretend we never disagree…..Let’s face the disagreement and deal with it in a godly way.” (Bill Hybels)
-We could go on in Acts to see the city transformed. I once heard that the church in Jerusalem grew to about 100,000 people. I don’t know for sure. It was a mega-church by any standards.
-We see in Acts 8:1 that the persecution scattered the believers all except the apostles.
-Everywhere they went they preached the good news about Jesus.
-The rest of the book of Acts is a story of the gospel being spread just like Jesus said, to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world.
I WOULD DEFINE THIS AS A REVIVAL!!
2. IN HISTORY
Psalm 85
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
-Throughout history there have been seasons of revival and refreshing.
-In the 18th century John Wesley was involved in a revival that led to the transformation of England.
-It spread by Whitefield to America. Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney were involved in revivals that transformed America.
-We owe as Americans, a great deal to those who followed God and led the nation into His will.
-Around 1900 Evan Roberts led a prayer movement that shook Wales.
-Pubs closed.
-In the Scottish Hebrides God used Duncan Campbell to lead a revival that was attributed to two women praying. – 1949
-There were no youth in the church and it troubled the two ladies. So they prayed.
-People would get out of bed and meet at a place of prayer without being invited.
-There are many stories about communities being restored and revived.
-Some of us watched the videos “Transformations”.
“Revival is a moving of God in the community and suddenly the community becoming God conscious …” –Duncan Campbell
-Charles Finney gave some information about “When a revival may be expected”
· When the providence of God indicates that a revival is at hand.
· When the wickedness of the wicked grieves and humbles and distresses Christians.
· A revival may be expected when Christians have a spirit of prayer for revival.
· Another sign that a revival may be expected is when the attention of ministers is especially directed to this particular object,..
· Another sign is when Christians begin to confess their sins to one another.
There seems to be a tremendous connection between DIVINE DESIRE expressed through people in prayer and in expectation and God sending a revival.-Me
-It is a God consciousness.
3. IN THIS CHURCH
-What can we look for and expect and anticipate if God sends a revival here.
Acts 3
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
1-a repentance and turning to God.
-When there is a God consciousness, your sins show up and you desire to be rid of them.
-The presence of God convicts you.
2 Corinthians 2
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2-times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord
-You have to prepare a place where God’s presence is comfortable
-He pours water on the dry ground.
3-Jesus comes
-This is the consummation of revival, Jesus returns.
CONCLUSIONS
· A God consciousness
· A repentance and honesty before God and men
· Sincere care for the people of God
· Generosity
-There is nothing wrong with money or stuff as long as they don’t provide alternatives to God.
· People being added to the church
· The spiritual water level being raised in East Central Missouri
· A joy that comes from God