2 Chronicles 7:12-22 If My People
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
1. THE PEOPLE IN REVIVAL - 14 If my people, - Holocaust
His Investment in them, His Interest in them, His Intention for them.
2. THE PROBLEM FOR REVIVAL
(a) PRIDE IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL - “Shall humble themselves”
2 Chronicles 6:26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; 27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
Deut 11:13 it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
i. The failure to Hear God -
"If ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments "
ii. failure to Love God-- "to love the LORD your God"
Failure to hear God leads to failure to love God, -
the Ephesian church was sound in doctrine, in duty, & in discipline; yet the risen Lord said, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Rev. 2:4).
iii. failure to Serve God - and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
(b) PRAYERLESSNESS IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL - and pray
James 4:2 ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Charles Finney said, “Prayer is the essential link in the chain of events that leads to revival!”
(c) PREOCCUPATION IS THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL - and seek my face
we are called upon to make God our primary focus and first priority.
Revival does not come to people who seek revival; but to people who seek God!
(d) PRESUMPTION IS THE ENEMY - and turn from their wicked ways
3. THE PROCESS OF REVIVAL
(a) Brokenness - PRIDE must be ELIMINATED - humble themselves
Judges 8:28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
1904, Evan Roberts heard a sermon by Seth Joshua "Lord, bend us!
17 young people "You must put away all unconfessed sin; you must put away any doubtful habit; you must obey the Spirit promptly; and you must confess Christ publicly."
One hundred thousand were converted within six months.
(b) Prayerfulness - PRAYER must be ESTABLISHED "and pray"
(c) Earnestness - PURITY must be EXHIBITED - "and seek My face"
I Thess 4:7 God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness
(d) Holiness - PARDON must be EXPERIENCED -
"turn from their wicked ways"
4. THE PROMISE WITH REVIVAL
(a) The promise of Divine Visitation - then - "I will hear from heaven"
Divine visitation can mean one of two things, judgment or revival.
(b) The promise of Divine Absolution-- "I will...forgive their sin"
(c) The promise of Divine Restoration-- "I will...heal their land"
