An Introduction to Revival.

There has been a great deal of Preaching and Teaching on the subject of revival today. This is a good sign and we thank God for this.
The truth is that the only way to avoid Spiritual decay in the Church today is progress or action.
It’s evangelize or fossilize.

Psalm 24:3-4
From this we learn that a revival will affect us in three ways.

                         To return to a consciousness.
                         To vigour from a state of neglect.
There is a difference between evangelism and revival.

The unchurched needs evangelism to bring him or her to the Lord.
You can’t revive a dead person, they need new birth.

But the born again Christian, that is backslider, grown cold or fallen into sin needs to be revived.
A revival is the return of Christians from backsliding.
It invariably includes a deep conviction of sin.
Revival is a new beginning of obedience to Almighty God.
It produces a great effect on all that the revived person meets,
People, places and things.
Revival brings a deep sense of the presence, glory and the wonder of God.

2. When is a revival needed?

You will not purchase an umbrella, a coat or a hat unless you need it.  .
You will not be revived unless you feel or desire a need for it.
When you hunger and thirst for revival, then God will give it to you. The river of God is flowing but you will not drink of it until you are thirsty.
Isaiah 55:1 come, all you who are thirsty come to the water.
Are you thirsty then drink of the best that God has, be filled to over flowing, so that you can give life to those around you.
Why is it some don’t receive revival when they need it?
First revival is need when there is a want of brotherly love.
Dissension’s, jealousies, evil speaking, bitterness or hatred etc, are sure signs that revival is needed.
Worldliness is a sure sign or interested in being popular than in humbly serving the Lord.
Gross sin is an open sign that revival is need.
Revived Christians are more concerned for the lost.
Backsliders or cold Christians don’t care if sinners go to hell or not.


3.How to get revival.
2 Chronicles 7:14 Lays down four simple step to revival.
If my people, who 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 heal their land.

This text first tells us who may be revived: - (My People)
Which are called by my name.
Christians are called after Christ.
Christ: - Christians or Christ ones.

Only Gods true children can be revived.
Sinner or unchurched need to be converted.

Ask God to give you a bitter hatred for sin.
Sin crucified my Savior, it was my sin and I hate it.

The Lord God will direct you.

4 Why do we need Revival?
1 Peter 4:17 For the time as come that judgement must begin at the house of God.
We need to be revived because of sin.
The battle is terrific and many have fallen by the wayside.
We need to love God more than anything else.

We need to love and read God’s word every day.
The cold heart reads in a cold mechanical way.
But the revived heart or person rejoices in the message.

We need to pray, the backslider’s prayers are cold, long, uninteresting, formal and dead.
But the revived Christian will stir others to touch the throne of grace.

We need to walk the talk.
Discreet, cautious, watchful and guarded.
The cold Christian is half a sleep spiritually and an easy target for the devil.

We need to be disciple, this is emphasized in Luke 14:25-33.

If I love father, mother children, brethren, and my own life more than I love the Lord Jesus.

2) Can’t be my disciple.
If I refuse to bear my cross.

3) Can’t be my disciple.
If I refuse to forsake my Luxuries, comforts, anything to save soul for the Lord Jesus
Matthew 6:33. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We need to be delivered from sin, Big, little, secret sin.

5 Results of a Revival

The Revival in Wales.
Vested interests aroused to opposition.
Groups of people went preaching everywhere.
Debts were paid.
Confessions were made.
Theatre going dropped.
Dance halls were deserted.
Open air Gospel service were helped everywhere.
Miners treated their horses much better, no cursing.
There was a great emphasis on singing.

The Hebrides Revival.
People lost in the glory and wonder of God, a deep sense of the presence of God. Family worship there was the main force. Social events swept away in a night as by a flood.
Very few backsliders.

The revival in east central Africa.
Great emphasis on a daily walk with God.
A brokenness of spirit, sin was out.
Moment by moment communion with the spirit.
Was instant confession.
Much emphasis on the blood of Christ.
A constant growth of Christians in the country, spreading and deepening of the revival.

The Revival in China.
Confessions, revivals, conversions, demons cast out, divisions in Churches healed.

CONCLUSION.
Do you hunger and thirst for Revival?
We can have it if we pay the price for it.

John 7:38 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,
“ If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
V38 whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.