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REVIVAL–WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Introduction

“Revival is not just an emotional touch; it’s a complete takeover!”

That’s how one woman describes the revival that took place in her church several years ago.

What does such a “takeover” look like? If revival were to come in our day, what would be changed? And what about our lives would never be the same?

I believe revival in our day would contain many of the same distinguishing earmarks that we

read about when the Spirit of God was first poured out on believers on the day of Pentecost

(Acts 2:42-47).

Let’s look at this passage tonight and see what Revival in the Church would look like:

I.         REVIVAL AND THE WORD OF GOD.

            (“. . .they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. . .”--Acts 2:42)

            A.        Where There Is Genuine Revival, There Is A Tremendous Hunger For The Word Of God!

                        Do you yearn to know the ways and heart of God?

Most Christians I know of do not really have much of an appetite for the Word like they should.

                        We need to do a check-up and see how our appetite for the Word of God really is:

                        1.         Do We Spend Some Time In The Word Of God Every Day?

                                    a.         Reading It.

                                    b.         Studying It.

                                    c.         Memorizing It.

                                    d.         Meditating On It.

                        2.         Would We Rather Watch T.V. , Be Involved In Some Leisure Activity Or Come Hear Good Bible Teaching And Preaching?

I guarantee you some have already thought about what part of there life that this upcoming Revival meeting is going to interfere with.

                        3.         Do We Just Say That We Believe The Bible, Or Do We Believe It?

                                    There are too many who just want to believe the parts that are convenient.

                        4.         Are We Eager To Hear The Word Of God Because We Want To Be Obedient To It?

B.        Where There Is Genuine Revival There Is A Patterning Of Lives According To The Scripture!

                        What is your life patterned after? Be honest!

Most Christians only pattern their lives based on what is convenient or expedient for them.

Romans 12:2–“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

II.       REVIVAL AND GOD. 

            A.        Where There Is Genuine Revival There Is Also A Genuine Fear Of God In The Hearts Of Those Both Inside And Outside The Church.

                        (“. . .fear came upon every soul. . .”--Acts 2:43)

Where revival is taking place, those who profess to be Christians cannot feel comfortable just giving God a couple of hours on Sunday, and then “shelving” Him for the rest of the week. (Because of the fear of God!)

When revival takes place, a God-consciousness comes over communities, resulting in purity of words, attitudes, relationships, work ethics, values, and habits. (Because of the fear of God!)

            B.        Where There Is Genuine Revival There Are Also Supernatural Demonstrations Of The Presence And Power Of God Being Manifested.

                         (“many wonders and signs were done by the apostles”--Acts 2:43).

While we believe that the Scripture clearly shows that the “sign gifts” are no longer for today, that doesn’t mean that we believe that God no longer supernaturally manifests Himself. We still believe in wonders and miracles!

Have you ever seen something or been a part of something where it was obvious that God had visited or intervened?

I’m talking about when God supernaturally shows up and things begin to happen that can only be explained as God at work! When that happens, many times people who were previously hardened toward the gospel come under intense conviction and many times to the point of being born into the kingdom of God.

When revival takes place, those who are already believers take radical steps to gain a clear conscience and they begin to practice restitution in their home, Church, and community, coming alive in their witness and speaking out boldly for Christ.

When revival takes place, families that have been destroyed through selfishness, greed, divorce, unforgiveness, and immorality begin to be transformed, resulting in new love, tenderness, and godly priorities.

Christians who have been involved in sinful habits, such as drunkenness, sodomy, materialism, gluttony, and immorality, repent and find themselves set free from bondage.

Those involved in occultic practices repent, and demonic strongholds in people’s lives are broken. The power of God is released to heal broken lives.

                        When these things happen, then other wonderful things also begin to happen.

Folks begin to give according to Biblical principles providing an abundant provision of funds to do the work of God and with it an increased availability of volunteers to take the Gospel to “the ends of the earth.”

History provides ample testimony that most of the great missionary movements have been birthed during mighty movements of the Holy Spirit in revival.

When Revival comes, believers find that their lifestyles dramatically change. Because the cross of Christ, “through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world,” becomes central in the life of the Church.

                        When Revival comes, we will find the same thing true in our own lives.

Various forms of secular entertainment and pleasure that have consumed our time, thoughts, and money would give way to spiritual things as our perspective changes:

                                    1.         From the temporal to the eternal,

                                    2.         From the earthly to the heavenly,

                                    3.         From demanding happiness to desiring holiness,

                                    4.         From self-centered living to a God-centered lifestyle.

When Revival truly comes, I believe we will experience an invasion of interest from the surrounding community. This won’t be because preaching has been replaced with drama, nor because sin and hell are no longer mentioned, nor because the church has been re-engineered to become a place where lost people “fit in comfortably.”

Rather, the world would stop and take notice because we have become passionately in love with Jesus. God’s people would come to Church, not to be entertained, and not out of duty, but to seek the face of God, and to be nurtured in their walk with Him and with other believers.

            C.        Where There Is Genuine Revival, Christians Are Characterized By Joy And Single-Minded Devotion To Christ As The Supreme “Love Of Their Life.”

                        (“. . .with gladness and singleness of heart. . .”--Acts 2:46)

As someone has said, “Revival is nothing more than the church falling in love with Jesus all over again!”

            D.        Where There Is Genuine Revival, God Will Be Praised!

                        (“praising God”--Acts 2:47).

                        God’s people will express their devotion in both personal and corporate worship.

We will no longer just seek to “feel good” or to be emotionally “stirred,” in our worship, but rather we will seek to glorify God and magnify His holy Name.

Worship is not supposed to be a “spectator sport,” but it should involve the active participation of all the redeemed.

Where revival reigns, the methods used in worship are not sensual or worldly, but firmly rooted in Scripture. Where revival reigns, believers feel more comfortable on their faces in God’s presence than seated on cushioned pews. Where revival reigns, worship does not have to be artificially induced or jump-started with human manipulation.

            REVIVAL AND THE WORD OF GOD–Hunger For It, Patterning After It.

REVIVAL AND GOD–Genuine Fear Of God Inside And Outside, Supernatural Demonstrations Of God Presence And Power Demonstrated.

III.      REVIVAL AND OTHERS.

            A.        Where There Is Genuine Revival There Is Also An Outpouring Of Love And Giving From The Heart Of God’s People To Meet The Needs Of Others.

(“and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need”--Acts 2:45).

                        Widows and the elderly would be taken care of joyfully.

Children without parents, singles without families, strangers without homes, and single parents would find support and encouragement from the Body of Christ.

            B.        Where There Is Genuine Revival, Daily Fellowship Takes Place For The Purpose Of Learning, Accountability, Purity, And Growth.

                        (“continuing daily with one accord”--Acts 2:46).

Where revival reigns, Christians no longer go to civil courts to settle their differences; but rather, wisdom and conflict resolution come from within the Body of Christ.

Where revival reigns, the Church is restored as a house of prayer as God’s people cry out for power and provision. Believers respond to the instruction and oversight of their spiritual leaders, and spiritual leaders take seriously their responsibility to shepherd their people and to practice biblical discipline.

            C.        As The Standard Of God’s Holiness Is Raised, Believers Will Be Known In Their Communities As Men And Women Of Impeccable Character And Unquestionable Integrity.

                        (“and having favor with all the people”--Acts 2:47).

God intends for our lives to exert a positive, wholesome influence both within the Church and in the world.

            D.        Where Revival Reigns, The Lord Will Add New Believers To His Body.

                        (“the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”--Acts 2:47)

These new believers weren’t their converts, but His. We are not talking about people responding to human manipulation or dazzling programs, but to the irresistible conviction of His Spirit.

And these converts were transformed from the inside out.

Conclusion

You may think all of this is idealistic or even unrealistic in our modern, post-Christian society.

However, God never establishes His standard based on how things are, but rather, on how things ought to be and one day will be!

These are the qualities that marked that first band of believers when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

These are the qualities that have marked every group of revived believers down through the ages.

And these are the qualities that will once again mark God’s people when He decides to “rend the heavens and come down.”

So why don’t we believe Him for a Revival in our day and time and in our Church and personal lives

.

Why don’t we trust Him in this upcoming meeting to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,” that there may be “glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!”

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!