Title: Marks of Revival
Theme: To show how to spark revival.
Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14
2Chronicles 7:11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house. 12 ¶ Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. double minded
I believe that this is an interesting passage of scripture that applies to Israel but equally has an application across the generations.
It is a high note in Israel God is blessing the temple is built. But God knows people. He knows their history. He knows their rebellion but God makes a promise.
Tonight I want to look at these scripture and see what application we can make.
It begins with God’s people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name,
Revival begins with those who are saved. It begins with those who are ready to be revived. It begins with God’s people. It does not begin with this world. Although souls may be saved and some be won back to the Lord the fires of revival begins with us.
We are his people. We are called by his name
By the name of Jesus. Called by his name and praying by his name. We even cast out demons by the name of Christ. We are told that two or three are gathered in his name he will be in the midst. All by the name of Jesus.
I. People who humble themselves
shall humble themselves,
Recognizing our spiritual poverty. A willingness to break the pride and recognize our weakness. What it may cost us to quit looking at the weaknesses of others. It may cost us to look more inward. It may cost us to realize our failures and our mistakes. It may cost us to repent. It may cost us guilt and life changing where we don’t feel like we need to change.
In Psalms 51 David make an revealing revelation. After all the sacrifices that Israel had been doing over the centuries David says
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalms 51:16-17 AV)
Probably the same thing that Jesus was trying to say in
¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 AV)
Humility abolishes pride. Pride is one who lifts up his voice and says, ”Oh thank you Lord that I am not like the sinners, thank you Lord that I am not like this world”. Humility says, “Forgive me father for I have sinned.” I am as an old sinner no better that anyone else but for the blood of Jesus Christ.
James 4:6 NKJV But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10 AV)
II. People who pray
and pray,
Pray is intercession. Prayer is dependence. Prayer is as we talked about this morning it is turning to God.
Prayer is patience. Patience waiting on God’s answer.
III. People who seek the face of God
and seek my face,
¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7 AV)
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
V. People who repent
and turn from their wicked ways;
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 AV)
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
God’s answer
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
A. God will turn his anger from his people, listen to their desperate cry, and be attentive to their prayers
B. God will forgive, cleanse and restore
C. God will heal His people and their land.
God will again heal the land and send the rain to the people. Not only the rain physical but the rain of the Holy Spirit. This is what is prophesied in
¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. (Joel 2:28-32 AV)
Oh if only we could meet these conditions. I am hungry for revival. I am thirsty for revival. I am as David in Psalms 42 who wrote,”
As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. (Psalms 42:1 AV)
This is my desire. A desire for God to heal this land a desire for God’s presence again to dwell with his people but there is a sacrifice.
There is a sacrifice for God to heal a relationship. There is a sacrifice for God to heal a family. There is a sacrifice for God to heal a church. The sacrifice is humility, the sacrifice is repentance the sacrifice prayer. The sacrifice is to seek the face of God and do what he commands. Oh how it is worth it in the long run.
