The Birth of a Revival

I want to set the tone for my ministry here . Of course I want to do all a pastor is called to do:

Provide comfort to those that are hurting

Provide council to those that need help

Preach and teach the word

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Overall, I want to lead Hopewell to be a church known for carrying out the great commission. Do you want to be a church known for carrying out the great commission?

We are all on the same page then, this should be a piece of cake shouldn’t it? Well, we know it isn’t easy. Our sinfulness gets in the way.

Characteristics of growing churches

Spiritual maturity: People know how to walk with God and seek accountability to do so.

Hospitality: We expect guests to come and are prepared to make them feel welcome.

Evangelism: Intentionally sharing the gospel with people we meet every day.

Missions: Intentionally taking the gospel where it is not currently known.

Disciple Making: Investing in other believers so that they are prepared to invest in others.

If I were to compare a dynamic, great commission church to a roaring fire, these five characteristics would be the wood, the fuel. You need fuel to have a fire. BUT, how many of you know that fuel alone is not enough. Something has the light the fire. Something has to start it.

That something is revival

How do you define it?

Vance Havner: “Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.”

Stephen Olford "the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith and obedience."

Richard Owen Roberts "an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results."

Martin Lloyd Jones: “And in movements of the Spirit the first thing that happens and which eventually leads to a great revival is that one man or a group of men suddenly begin to feel this burden and they feel the burden so much that they are led to do something about it.”

Verses 1,2

Hezekiah become king at a young age. Would you have felt prepared at 25? Is that your age now, or younger.

Age should never be an excuse to say no to God.

Children are used of God in Scripture (lad with the loves and fish)

Teenagers are used by God (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego)

Senior Adults (Abraham, Sarah, Caleb)

By Rev. Oliver W. Price

In 1856 a Methodist names William Arthur published a book of fiery sermons which closed with a prayer pleading with God to "Crown this nineteenth century with a revival of pure and undefiled religion...greater than any demonstration of the Spirit ever vouchsafed to man." His prayer was answered when the greatest revival in American history began the next year.

In 1857 churches were sliding down hill. Thousands of Americans were disillusioned with Christianity. William Miller, a new England farmer, had captured nationwide attention with his prediction that Christ would return on October 22, 1844. When nothing happened, many abandoned their faith.

America's moral recovery began when Jeremiah Lanphier, a concerned layman, started a noon prayer meeting for New York businessmen. Only six people came to the first prayer meeting on September 23, 1857 on the third floor of the "Consistory" of the Old Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street. By spring daily prayer meetings sprang up in many locations and daily attendance grew to 10,000. America's greatest Spiritual awakening was under way. It was called the Layman's Prayer Revival because laymen led it.

During the Layman's Prayer Revival the owner of a hardware store in New York urged businessmen at the Fulton Street prayer meeting to always set a holy example. A well-known manufacturer followed him to his store and confessed that he had cheated him for years and wanted to pay it back.

When the news spread that there were daily prayer meetings where sinners were welcomed, prayed for, and encouraged to turn to Christ, some hardened criminals were saved. A notorious criminal nicknamed "Awful Gardiner" surprised everyone when he found christ through the prayer meetings. He was not alone.

"Do you have to stop business at noon and go to a prayer meeting?" A customer from Albany asked a New York City merchant. "Yes, I must. Why don't you go with me?" The customer went with him and received Christ. He returned to Albany and started prayer meetings there.

In March of 1858 a religious journal reported that "The large cities and towns from Maine to California are sharing in this great and glorious work. There is hardly a village or town to be found where 'a special divine power' does not appear displayed."

In Chicago 2,000 men met at noon for prayer in Metropolitan Hall. In Jayne's Hall in Philadelphia 4,000 were meeting. An elderly philanthropist named John Crozer wrote in his diary, "I have never, I think, been present at a more stirring and edifying prayer meeting, the room quite full, and a divine influence seemed manifest. Many hearts melted, many souls devoutly engaged."

One night when Dr. John L. Giradeaux dismissed the prayer meeting for spiritual awakening at Anson Street Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina, no one left. The congregation stayed until midnight while the Lord powerfully worked. Eight weeks of nightly meetings followed reaching crowds numbering from 1,500 to 2,000. Many turned to the Lord.

The New York Observer published a report from Waco, Texas of a mighty moving of God. "Day and night the church has been crowded during the meeting...Never before in Texas have we seen a whole community so effectually under a religious influence...thoroughly regenerated."

At least three thousand came to Christ in Newark, New Jersey. In many smaller towns scarcely any unconverted people remained. In Haverhill, Mass., the Spirit deeply moved the crowded daily prayer meeting. Sometimes half of the assembly silently wept. One pastor found at least one person in every home in his congregation deeply concerned about their relationship with God.

In March of 1858 the voice of prayer and praise to God was heard beginning at 8:30 every morning in the halls of the New York state capitol. Six people began a prayer meeting for the Legislature. By the fifth day tow rooms were filled and interest was growing.

In 1858 in Louisville, Kentucky 1,000 attended the daily union prayer. One writer exclaimed, "The spirit of God seems to be brooding over our city, and to have produced an unusual degree of tenderness and solemnity in all classes." An amazing work of grace was changing the city.

Some of the leading businessmen of Boston were attending prayer meetings. An unusual number of people who had lived wicked lives also came. One write said, "Publicans and sinners' are awakened, and are entering the prayer meetings of their own accord. Some of them manifest signs of sincere repentance."

Hezekiah came from a dysfunctional family

His Father was a wicked King

He simply did what was right

God can and will use anyone who is obedient

The Layman's Prayer Revival of 1857-1858