Sermon Central
-
Revival Part I Series
Contributed by Rodney Fry on Apr 6, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Dr A. T. Pierson once said, ’There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.’ Let me recount what God has done through concerted, united, sustained prayer. “They tell me a revival is temporary;
Disclaimer Please note that all my sermons come from the Lord. But I get my info from many sources from my library and other sources. I do not claim all material as my originality. I don’t quote all sources but I give credit to the Lord who is the author of all sermons. “All originality and no plagiarism makes for dull preaching" Charles Spurgeon
Revival
Revival - A misunderstood word
Used often but often used wrongly
More than a series of meetings
What is a Revival?
Revival is specifically the business of Christians
It has to do with bring back life
Walter Boldt is quoted saying “Revival is God at work, restoring His church to
health.”
That is an acceptable definition if we understand that a healthy church is a soul-
winning church.
Revival must result in reaping
Revival can be the experience of the whole body of Christ, a local church, or of one Christian.
“They tell me a revival is temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good.” Billy Sunday
Dr A. T. Pierson once said, ’There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.’ Let me recount what God has done through concerted, united, sustained prayer.
I. It is Right to PRAY for REVIVAL
a. “Wilt thou not revive us again?”
i. The psalmist is praying for revival
ii. All revival begin in prayer
b. D.L. Moody said “Every great work of God can be traced to a kneeling figure”
c. There is, I believe, no greater issue facing the church at this time than the subject of Holy Sprit revival. And there is no greater passage in the whole scripture that shows the way to revival than “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray (2 Chron. 7:14)
d. What are you doing about prayer for revival?
i. Extra time in prayer?
ii. Extra prayer meetings?
iii. Prayer cottage meetings
II. It is Right to EXPECT Revival
a. “Wilt thou not revive us again?”
b. Most believe revival has taken place in the past
i. They believe wicked Nineveh repented
ii. They believe the early church turned the world upside down
iii. They believe John and Charles Wesley brought revival to England
iv. They believe Jonathan Edwards saw revival in colonial American
v. They believe Charles Finney were brought to bring the revival of 1857
vi. They thrill to stories of the Welsh revival
c. But they don’t believe God will bring revival today
d. Sometimes this is a result of misunderstanding of prophecy
e. Sometimes it is an unwillingness to pay the price of revival
f. There will always be defeatist voices
g. But God is unchanged!
h. We can have revival now!!
III. It is right to Expect rejoicing to result from Revival
a. Revival may being in tears, but it proceeds to joy
b. The Christian who is continually grieving on our past sins does not understand the grace of God and needs revival.
c. Revival and rejoicing go hand in hand.
i. The coal mines in Wales were filled with singing
ii. The taverns were empty, the courts without cases some days
iii. Revival finds God’s people focusing on JESUS, resulting in JOY
How Revivals start: With a few concerned people
Are you willing to Let Revival Begin in You?
