Results of Revival

A group of American Indians gathered together to pray for a revival. After many weeks a stranger asked the chief, "Have you had a revival?" "Big wind," he answered, "much dust; but no rain."

Revival is always marked by an overwhelming sense of Christ’s presence in the church. For example, if Jesus were to physically make His presence known, Sunday after Sunday there would be:

Increased and renewed participation in Worship.

An outpouring of Love among God’s people.

A heightened awareness of Holiness with confession, repentance, and restitution.

An eagerness for Christian Service.

Anointed preaching of and individual interest in the Holy Word of God.

A growing boldness in Prayer.

A remarkable ease in witnessing to and Evangelism of the non-churched community.

All-out involvement in Spiritual Warfare.

An unusual Sense of Well Being or wholeness.

A Renewed Emphasis to Spiritual Discipline

Acts 2:42 KJV 1900

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

This last week we heard Some sermons on Prayer, Anger, Commitment. Many of us made decisions regarding these and other areas.

In order to keep these decisions. Some changes are required. Changes in attitude, Changes in habits.

Change is not easy, old habits die hard.

Here is what I would recommend that you do...

If you haven’t already, take a piece of paper and write down what decisions you made last week.

Maybe it is a decision to spend more time in prayer - Write that Down

Maybe it is a decision to spend more time reading the bible - Write that Down

Maybe it is a decision to allow God to use your gifts in His Service - Write that Down

Then under each item - write one way you can put that into practice

Maybe it is to take a specific time of day and set it aside for prayer or bible reading

A ministry that you would could use your gifts in

Whatever it is make it concrete.

Make it Specific

God may have spoken to you during a message about spending more time in prayer. Great! What does that look like in your life? How can I make this a Specific Goal in my life?

Make it Measurable

To keep a new commitment a change will have to take place. You are adding something new to your routine. This will take time and discipline before it ever becomes the norm for you. To do this - turn your specific commitment into a measurable action.

One of my decisions is to quit limiting God in my prayer life. Specifically I have developed the habit not asking God to do things that I think are too much.

To Make this measurable I have added a column to my prayer list called Stretch. Under that heading i have two bible verses that i read a meditate on....

Jeremiah 32:27 KJV 1900

27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Luke 18:27 KJV 1900

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

these serve as reminders of God’s power and ability before I pray for the items under that heading.

Then I only include things that would Stretch my faith that I have been hesitant to pray for in the past. When God answers those prayer

Keep it Accountable

share your commitments with someone who will help hold you accountable to keeping them.

A Renewed Love For God’s People

Acts 2:42–46 KJV 1900

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

:42-

Acts 4:32–37 KJV 1900

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:32-

A Renewed Desire For The Gospel

Acts 2:47 KJV 1900

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

A Renewed Need To Prepare for Battle

From Within The Church

Acts 5:1–11 KJV 1900

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 5:1-

A young girl became a Christian in an exciting revival at her church and was baptized the closing Sunday morning. That afternoon she ran through the house singing and dancing. Her sour grandfather rebuked her with these words, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You just joined the church and you’re singing and dancing on the Lord’s Day! Crushed by her grandfather’s attitude, the little girl went out to the barn, climbed up on the corral fence, and observed an old mule standing there with a sad, droopy face and bleary eyes. As she reached over and patted the mule sympathetically, she said, “Don’t cry, ole mule. I guess you’ve got the same kind of religion that Grandpa has!”

From Without the Church

Acts 5:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.