Seven Steps to Real Revival

In the coming weeks we will be talking “revival.” With the approaching of the Ken Freeman Crusade scheduled to begin on April 21, our church is beginning today to prepare for real revival. And my, how we need revival! But not just any revival, but real revival!

First Baptist Icard has known revival. In fact, I’m convinced God has sent the kind of revival fires to this church which few churches have ever experienced. When I began pastoring, one of my desires was to see God work in my ministry and my churches real revival! I’m not talking about a flimsy series of religious meetings held twice a year in most of our churches. No, I’m talking about the kind of revival that takes place when God makes bare His arm and intervenes in the affairs of men. I’m talking about the kind of revival that occurs when God steps on the scene and men and human instrumentality get out of the way.

God surprised many of us when in the fall of 1990 God brought a young fireball from a preacher’s family, Rodney Gage, son of Freddie Gage, to our church. Rodney was already scheduled to come as a youth revival before I came as pastor. I remember our youth minister asking me if we should cancel the revival. I said “no,” let him come. I recall how upset we were that we could not get Rodney Gage in to speak at E.B.H.S. I also know that we did not prepare as we should have. But God stepped down the very first few services. So many people began to flood the altars with confession of sin, and repentance that we force to scrambled to prepare additional counselors to help deal with the people making decisions. On Youth Night, several hundred youth from the middle school came. Nearly 70 first time decisions for Christ we made that first night. What a revival!

God did it again almost two years later. This time God sent to us another man from Texas. A not so young man, but a man with a youthful energy and spirit. This time we anticipated God’s blessings. We prayed and we prepared. God opened the door for Ken to speak at both the Middle school and the East Burke High. We believed God for at least 100 decisions for Christ. And God did even more. More than 150 were saved and over 200 total decisions were made. That was revival!

But all that is history. It’s all in the past. And only plateaued and dying churches live in the past.

Today we begin preparation for what I believe could be our greatest revival ever. But whether or not we once again experience revival will depend upon the sovereignty of God and the faithfulness of His people. According to history, when God’s people humble themselves before God, confess their sins, and begin to obey His commandments, God always responds with what is known as revival.

2 Chronicles 7:14 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

Listen to me dear church. We need revival! But if revival is to come to FBI once again, it will not be because of Ken Freeman. Real revival becomes a reality when God’s people take the necessary steps toward experiencing revival.

Isaiah 6 records for us one of the most amazing descriptions for personal and national revival ever written. Within the first 9 verses we discover the seven steps to real revival!

I. THE FIRST STEP IS CONTEMPLATION, 1-4

A. God Before the Prophet

1. When did God appear to Isaiah? At a time of great emotional distress. The throne of Israel was empty. Uzziah was not only a good king, but he was also a relative and close friend of the prophet’s.

2. Where was Isaiah when God appeared to him? Isaiah was in the temple. So it is that we most often contemplate the need for God in our lives.

II. THE SECOND STEP IS CONVICTION, 5 “woe is me”

A. The Prophet Before God

1. When Isaiah saw God, he saw himself. He saw himself as a sinner. For the first time Isaiah saw himself as a sinner in the presence of an awesome and holy God. Some believe this to be Isaiah’s real salvation experience. Isaiah was a lost preacher.

2. He also saw those around him as sinners as well. Real revival brings a recognition of one’s personal sins, but it also opens our eyes to the sins of others around us.

III. THE THIRD STEP IS CONFESSION, 5 “I am undone” (ruined, NIV)

A. Confession is Personal, “woe is me”

B. Confession is Specific, “I am a man of unclean lips”

When real revival comes it is no longer “boy, you really told them today, preacher!” But it becomes “the Lord really spoke to me today.” In real revival, people are no longer interested in confession everyone else’s sins. They care only about their own sins.

In real revival, it is never “him or her, or them or they.” But it is always me, and my and I. Like the old negro spiritual, we sing “it’s not my brother, it’s not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”

Have you heard about the revival that is touching the heart of Texas? It began on January 22 last year when a Howard Payne student came forward during the invitation at Coggins Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas. This young college student, with tears streaming down his face, read from Joel about God’s judgement. The student shared his burden for his classmates’ spiritual lives. An older lady from the church joined him at the altar, and she expressed sorrow over hers and the congregation’s lack of prayer for the community.

The pastor described what happened as unexplainable. “People flooded the altar to pray, and that continued through the Sunday School hour.” The church continued to witness three-and-half-hour worship services with 45-minute invitations.

The results included a deep level of confession, repentance and forgiveness of sins, along with the restoration of many broken relationships had spread into the Brownwood community and beyond, including Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Seminary. Frequent conversions and baptisms of young people were also reported.

IV. THE FOURTH STEP IS CLEANSING, 6-7

A. God doesn’t leave Isaiah in his sinful state and aren’t you glad.

Complete cleansing always follows sincere confession.

Fire is symbolic of cleansing. And notice it is the very part of Isaiah’s sinfulness that God cleanses. God knows our deepest, darkest sins. Even though He knows our sins, He loves us. He loves you, and regardless of what you’ve done, where you’ve been, God will forgive you and cleanse you if you confess your sins. He will give you a brand new start.

V. THE FIFTH STEP IS CHALLENGE, 8 “Whom shall I send, …who will go?”

Immediately there is an opportunity for service. When real revival comes, God’s people will be willing to respond to God’s challenges.

Illustration of new-born Christians and the “Cold-Water Committee.” I prefer the errors of enthusiasm over the complacency of wisdom.

VI. THE SIXTH STEP IS CONSECRATION, 8 “Here am I, send me”

Isaiah dedicated himself to God. A former alcoholic and drug abuser who gave his life to Christ called himself “an old garbage can.” But now he’s “God’s old garbage can.”

Isaiah dedicated himself to the Lord’s service. God is more concerned about your availability than He is your ability. God never asks us to do anything that He does not equip us to do. God will never send you to do a job without your tools.

VII. THE SEVENTH STEP IS COMMISSION, 9

A. “Go and tell”

B. Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)

C. John 20:21

John 20:21 21 Then said Jesus: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (KJV)

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