THE LAWS OF REVIVAL
2 Chron. 7:14
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Dear Abby, a newspaper columnist, once printed the story of a man who went to a psychiatrist complaining that he was always hearing radio broadcasts.
2. Thinking to humor him, the psychiatrist asked him what he was hearing right then. He named the radio show, and to the psychiatrist’s amazement, the actual show was on and the show’s host was indeed saying what he said!
3. It was discovered that the man worked in a glass bottle factory and had gotten silica crystals in his dental cavities. The combination of silica, saliva and some bridgework had literally transformed him into a walking crystal radio receiver!
4. He was referred to a dentist who cleaned his teeth, filled his cavities, and redid the bridgework. As a result, the patient "went off the air," and no longer heard the broadcasts.
5. How many believers were once "tuned in" to the Spirit, but after getting cold and indifferent, no longer hear the Spirit's voice speaking to them? Do you still hear the Spirit speaking to you?
6. God help us to get back our first love again, to get the real Jesus in our lives, and begin to hear that still small voice of God speaking to us!
B. TEXT
1. “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” 2 Chron. 7:14.
C. THESIS
1. We’re going to look at “The Laws of Revival” that God established for all time. This Law assures us that God is always ready to send revival; He’s just waiting for us to fulfill the requirements.
2. Lastly, we’re going to pray for God to produce revival in our hearts today and receive from Him!
I. THE UNALTERABLE NATURE OF A LAW
A. DEFINITION OF A LAW
1. A Law is a “statement, a principle, or a maxim which has no exceptions.”
2. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. There has never been an exception to this rule. The law of gravity states that a free-falling object, if not hindered by wind, will fall at 32 feet per second.
3. There are Laws of Physics, biological Laws, genetic Laws, Laws which govern social behavior and human interaction.
4. “What you sow you will reap.” This is a Law. You may sow and seem to see no harvest, but it WILL come. If you’re faithful to sow, all the powers in Hell can’t stop the reaping time! It’s inevitable!
B. LAWS OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
1. Some think that revival can’t happen as a result of human means – that only once in a while, when God has to, He sends a revival to keep things going.
2. NO! Charles Finney preached and proved that God is always ready to have a revival – He’s just waiting on us to fulfill the right conditions. Revival doesn’t come through training programs, etc., but the way it’s always come.
3. THE REAL QUESTION IS: Do we WANT revival? Finney wrote that revival may be expected when:
a. When the wickedness of the wicked grieves and humbles and distresses Christians.
b. When Christians have a “spirit of prayer” for a revival.
c. When the attention of ministers is directed toward revival.
d. When revival is needed.
C. ATTITUDE DETERMINES RECEPTION
1. Fred Rogers of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood told about going to a church service while he was in seminary studying preaching methods;
2. “My wife and I were worshiping in a little church. I was in the middle of a homiletics course at the time. During the sermon I kept ticking off every mistake I thought the preacher – who must have been 80 years old – was making.
3. “When it was finally over I turned to one of my friends, intending to say something critical. I stopped myself when I saw the tears running down her face.
4. She whispered to me, “He said exactly what I needed to hear!” That was a [revelatory] experience for me; I was judging and she was needing. The Holy Spirit responded to need, not judgment.” [750 Engaging Illus., Larson, p. 322]
II. GOD’S LAWS OF REVIVAL
In 2 Chron. 7:14, God states His inevitable Law of Revival. He begins by noting who this Law applies to: “If MY PEOPLE.” So God is not waiting on the lost people of a nation to do something, but He’s waiting on the CHURCH to do something.
A. “HUMBLE YOURSELF”
1. Pride caused the downfall of Lucifer, a mighty guardian cherub. So we should think pride has no place in us!
2. Humble is defined as “to make humble in spirit; absence of vanity (pride of appearance) and arrogance (feelings of superiority).”
3. 1 Pet. 5:5-6; “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
4. WAYS TO HUMBLE YOURSELF:
a. Do things that will humble you (wash dishes, serve),
b. Fast food for a time,
c. Reverence God physically – bow, kneel, get prostrate),
d. Put God’s will ahead of yours.
5. I believe it was Smith Wigglesworth who said, “I used to think the gifts of the Spirit were on a high shelf; the more I grew, the more I could reach. Now I know they are on a low shelf, and the more humble I get, the more I can reach.”
B. “PRAY” – set times of daily prayer; stay in prayer until the preset time expires. Wait on God.
C. “SEEK MY FACE”
1. This is not a superficial seeking. The word “face” here denotes God’s personal presence, His whole being.
2. In the presence of Kings & Queens, the permission or invitation to approach denotes favor or acceptance.
3. In 1 Cor. 13:12, to see Him “face to face” is to enjoy a direct, clear sight of Him and not a reflection in a mirror. [M.F. Unger]
4. We should seek His “face” and not His “hand;” that is, we should want to know Him for who He is, NOT just call on Him when we need something.
D. TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS
1. Most people think they’re not wicked because they don’t rob banks or kill people, but if we saw ourselves in God’s holy light, our bad thoughts & motives, our negative emotions, and our spiteful, unkind words would shock us. God is waiting for us to repent.
2. In addition, we live in a polluted society and no longer even notice when the Lord’s name is cursed in movies. Such watched movies as Forrest Gump which used the Lord’s name in vain 30 times!
3. God says, “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you… and you will be My sons & daughters.” 2 Cor. 6: 17-18
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: THE FIREWEED PLANT
1. There is in N. America, especially in Canada, the fireweed plant. Fireweed is classified as a restorative plant.
2. It shows up in previously-burned areas, sprouting up through the ashes where fires have devastated the landscape.
3. Once the forest grown thick with trees & brush, the plants disappear. The fireweed seeds lie dormant for years in the soil until a new blaze clears the land.
4. As the sunlight hits the fire-ravaged soil, the dormant fireweed seeds rise anew to greet the sun and begin their restorative work once more.
5. I like several things about this plant:
a. It’s activated by Fire!
b. It brings restoration of life to the burned out area.
c. Like the Holy Spirit, it bides its time until the time is right to reappear, till we’re ready.
d. It turns the ashes of life into something beautiful. [Lynne Phipps]
B. THE CALL
1. It’s time for revival! Let’s humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways!
2. Like the Fire Weed, let’s let the Holy Spirit fire activate a new surge of spiritual life in us.
3. Let’s repent of our sins and expect a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit to occur as we fulfill the conditions of God’s Law of Revival! Come to the front and let’s seek God.
