The Key To Survival Is Revival Series

Some portions of this message have been gleaned or borrowed from materials and lessons found on the Internet.

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Lesson Subject: “THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IS REVIVAL”

My brothers and sisters ... there’s a new fashion accessory in the 21st century, but it’s more about safety than it is about style.

Practically every where you look these days you see someone wearing a mask — and rightly so. Masks are a symbol of the pandemic era – a visual metaphor for the tiny, unseen viral foe that could be lurking around any corner.

But for years I’ve been reminding people that regardless to how well we cover our face, God sees us and knows who we really are. There is no hiding from him.

Some folks have opted for a scarf wrapped around their face, others make do with a towel folded and tied or secured somehow behind their head.

But whether it’s fancy or plain, the thought behind the mask is SURVIVAL. In fact, many health experts say “a mask is one of the keys to survival”. And while I won’t argue or debate that opinion, I’d like to add another thought. It’s taken from the Bible.

The Chronicler declares: “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.”

My brothers and sisters ... the text tells us that “THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IS REVIVAL”.

We need a revival in our land! If ever there was a time we need a revival, it’s now! We need to petition God like never before and ask the same question David asks him in Psalm 85, at verse 6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in You?”

There is so much going on in our world. From the coronavirus, to crime, to disasters, to signs in the heavens, to racism, to political chaos, we need God to revive and heal our land!

And While God can certainly use these situations to position us for revival, the key is the response of God’s people.

As a matter of fact, in 2nd Chronicles 7:14, God gave the Israelites a pattern for revival in overwhelming circumstances and I believe His instructions can still lead to revival today, but four (4) things need to happen. I want to share those four things with you. I hope you have a pen and paper ready.

First, there has to be a realization that we’re incapable of solving the problem on our own.

People tend to come to the end of themselves when faced with enormous difficulty. That fits a pattern throughout history and certainly fits the pattern in God’s Word.

The devastating circumstances God mentions in 2 Chronicles 7 are listed in verse 13. Look at that, if you will.

God speaks to Israel and says: “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people ...”

My God!! ... that sounds like the daily news doesn’t it? All of those things are happening someplace on this planet all the time these days.

But I want you to know that — today ... God’s people still have to recognize that only He has the power to heal and deliver.

Point #1: There has to be a realization that we’re incapable of solving the problem on our own.

Secondly ... We also need to realize what’s most important.

Crisis has a way of refocusing our attention. During this time of quarantine, many people are rediscovering simple joys and reassessing their priorities.

You see, our greatest need is not getting back to a normal American lifestyle, but getting back to lives that glorify God!

Let me say that’s again: our greatest need is not getting back to a normal American lifestyle, but getting back to lives that glorify God!

We do this by focusing on Jesus, obeying the Holy Spirit, and walking by faith – daily.

The pressing need is not even getting back to church as usual. Do you realize where the American Church was prior to this pandemic? It was very busy, but not very fruitful.

We’re much like the church at Ephesus, who hated evil and were busy in ministry but had left their first love (That's in Revelation 2:1-7, if you want to read it later).

WATCH THIS: It wasn’t that they didn’t love Jesus at all but that they didn’t love Him supremely.

I believe revival will come when believers love Jesus above all else.

#1: There has to be a realization that we’re incapable of solving the problem on our own.