The Pattern for Revival: Part I

Introduction

In order for us to gain a clearer perspective on this particular portion of scripture we must gain some context. What exactly was going on in the nation of Israel at this time?

In chapters 1 & 2 we are introduced to Eli and his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. Eli and his sons were priests in Israel but they had begun to pervert the worship of God, especially Hophni and Phinehas whom the scripture terms “sons of Belial” for their behavior.

I Samuel 2:17- the actions of Hophni and Phinehas had brought the people to the point of abhorring the offering of the Lord.

God was raising up Samuel to one day take the leading role in the priesthood in Israel. Throughout chapter 3 we begin to see God speaking to and through Samuel.

In chapter 4 the children of Israel find themselves at war with the Philistines and they were smitten before the Philistines. Instead of seeking the Lord and calling out to him they take the ark of the covenant of the Lord and attempt to use it as a good luck charm in hopes that its presence would help them to defeat the Philistines.

Israel is once again smitten by the Philistines, Hophni and Phinehas are killed as God’s judgment for their behavior, and worse yet the ark of the Lord was taken by the Philistines. When Eli heard the news he was startled to the point that he fell and brake his neck and died.

This marked a spiritual low point in the nation of Israel as evidenced by the naming of the child of Phinehas. As his wife died in child birth she instructed that the child she had delivered be named Ichabod- which is literally translated “Where is the glory?” as she professed that the glory of God had departed from Israel with the ark of God.

In chapter seven we pick up the narrative just as the ark has been returned to Israel by the Philistines because of the severe judgment they had endured at the hands of God because the ark did not belong among them.

The ark, the symbol of the presence of God, had been returned but it had not yet been restored to its rightful place. This is much like the condition of our hearts when we are in need of revival, God is not in His rightful place.

Israel would ultimately experience spiritual renewal and revival and in this passage we can see a pattern of behavior that brought about revival.

Revival begins with

A Desire(Vs. 2b)

In order to experience real revival we must be willing to take a sincere look at our spiritual condition and make an honest assessment.

The people of Israel after a period of 20 years finally began to “lament after the Lord.” The ark was symbolic of the presence of God and the children of Israel began to long for God’s presence among them once again.

“When is a revival needed? When carelessness and unconcern keep the people asleep.” -Billy Sunday

We will never experience revival if we are content for things to remain as they are, if there is no hungering and thirsting after God’s presence.

So often we grow complacent and we hardly recognize the low spiritual state in which we find ourselves. There are many reasons that we may find ourselves in such a low state spiritually.

The current circumstance with many believers being away from the church and some not even consistently watching the live-streaming services, many now find themselves growing cold and in somewhat of a backslidden state.

Revival will only happen when we are dissatisfied with our current situation to the point that we are yearning for the presence of God.

The people of Israel could have remained in their state of spiritual decline but instead they began to lament after the Lord desiring to draw close to Him once again.

Each of us could probably look back upon our lives and remember times when our relationship with the Lord was stronger and we felt his presence more definitely.

If there has ever been a time in our life when we were closer to the Lord than we are today, then we are in need of REVIVAL.

Next we see a basic:

Definition- (Vs. 3a)

Samuel begins to instruct the people of Israel and his first comment to them provides a simple definition of what revival truly is.

Revival is not a series of meetings that we have every year. Revival is when Christians return to the Lord with all their hearts.

This is the greatest need of our day, that each of us would return unto the Lord with all of our hearts.

“A revival is the church falling in love with Jesus Christ all over again.” -Vance Havner

“Revival is when God's people return to God and God returns to them, and everyone sees the difference.” - Henry Blackaby

Revival is when you and I return to where we really should have been all along, near to the heart of God.

Revival happens in an individual when he/she sets their thoughts upon God and allows Him to occupy His rightful place on the throne of their heart.

Revival happens in a home when each family member has their heart in tune with the heart of God.

Revival happens in a church when each member has a heart for God and His will.

So often we do not see revival because so many other things have taken our attention and our affections away from God.

Samuel then presents a list of:

Demands- (Vs. 3b)

He asks them first to put away the strange Gods that they have been worshipping. It is not that they had ceased to worship God but they were also worshipping idols and false Gods as well.

If we are to experience revival we must also put away anything that is in competition with God in our lives. God will not be satisfied to occupy a place alongside other things in our lives. He must be preeminent, above every other relationship or possession in our lives.

God desires to occupy an exclusive place in our lives so that there is nothing that is more important or of higher value to you and I than our relationship with Him.

He also asks them to prepare their hearts. This is vitally important, if we are to experience revival, we must prepare our hearts to seek and respond to God.

This means that we must strive to make certain that our heart is right with God and that there is nothing occupying space in our hearts that would hinder our relationship with Him.

A prepared heart is one that is tender and ready to receive the Words of God and is willing to respond to what is heard.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks we ought to ask the Lord to search our hearts and to reveal to us anything that resides there that would hinder His work amongst us.

He also instructed them to serve God only. This was a call to get engaged in the work of God. Over the next couple of weeks would you determine to serve the Lord?

You can serve the Lord by praying for God’s presence and power in the revival services.

You can serve the Lord by inviting friends, neighbors, and co-workers to the revival services.

You can serve the Lord by committing to faithfully attend the services each night.

Will you get engaged in the work of God and be a part of what He desires to do in this special meeting?

Finally Samuel promises that if they will do as God has instructed they will experience:

Deliverance (Vs. 3c)

The opposing forces of the Philistines had robbed Israel of the presence of God and for them to experience revival they would have to be delivered from the Philistines influence.

Revival will ultimately bring about deliverance in our lives as well.

Revival will deliver us from the bondage of sin, it will deliver us from the enemies of the gospel.

Revival will bring deliverance on a personal level. Those who experience real revival will find deliverance from sinful habits, from carnal attitudes and fleshly desires. Revival will help us to live the life of victory that God has called us to live.

Revival can bring deliverance to a church. Revival will deliver us from dead dry religion and from cold and apathetic ministry.

Revival can bring deliverance to a community. Communities once consumed with sin, wickedness, and immorality can be transformed into communities of life, honor, and godliness.

Revival can bring national deliverance. Only a sweeping move of God could deliver America from the wickedness and worldliness that is consuming our land. Only a real heaven sent revival could cause our nation to turn from its wicked ways and return unto the Lord.

Revival has throughout history changed the course and destiny of individual, churches, communities, and sometimes entire nations.

Nineveh- Jonah