Prerequisites for Revival

Last Saturday, my AT&T U-verse modem went out, which meant I have no TV, no internet, no home phone.

It's been that way now for almost a week.

Well, when it first went out, I called AT&T and I spoke with a technician.

It took a while, but I finally got a live person on.

And he walked me through several steps trying to fix it from wherever he was.

Well, he was very patient.

He was very positive as we went through this.

And by the grace of God, so was I.

But he finally came to the conclusion that my modem was dead.

It could not be repaired.

And so he said he would have to order a new one.

Now, as this technician went through his process, there were times when he had to pause because he was running a test.

He was sort of a personable person.

And so he made some small talk.

But he really, during these pauses, he really wanted to talk about the coronavirus.

He asked me about what it was like here.

I asked him about what it was like where he was.

He said in one of our little conversations, he said, I made a mistake last night.

I watched too much news about this.

And he said, I'm going to be honest with you.

I'm afraid.

I am afraid right now.

And so that was some of the things that we talked about over this nearly 30-minute time together.

When we came to the end, he was obviously bothered, concerned about life because of this coronavirus crisis.

And so I asked him, would you like for me to pray for you?

I'd like to pray for you.

He said, you'd like to pray for me?

And I said, yes, I would.

What's your name?

Well, he told me his name.

But before he said anything else, he told me his name.

And he said, would you also pray for my little girl?

Because I am very concerned about her.

I said, I would.

I said, could we pray right now?

He said, let me close my eyes.

So I prayed for him.

I prayed for his little girl.

When I got through with the prayer, I told him.

I called him by name.

I said, I don't know what your religious background is.

But I want to encourage you to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

He is God's son.

And he's promised to take care of all who trust him now, our lives today, and forever.

I then asked him if he had a Bible.

He said, I don't, but my wife does.

My wife goes to church, but I know that I need to as well.

I said, well, I want to encourage you to get your wife's Bible and read the Gospel of John.

I told him where it was located in the New Testament.

And he said that he would.

Well, we were winding it up, and he said, I want to tell you something.

He said, I really didn't want to come to work today.

After all that that I listened to last night, I was just almost panicked.

I was very down.

He said, but you have helped me.

He said, I thank you so much for praying for me and talking with me because it has made a difference.

You have encouraged me.

Now, I was blown away by that.

But, you know, it tells me that God is using the coronavirus crisis to get people's attention all over the world.

This man that I was talking to is in a country in Central America.

And he's concerned.

And he was very open to me talking to him about Jesus, praying for him, even talking to him about reading the Gospel of John.

As I said in my newsletter column this week, and in the email that came out from me,

I don't know what God's purpose is for the coronavirus.

I do not know.

I'm not making any kind of pronouncements.

But, what if God is working through this?

It's his plan to get a lot of people's attention.

And to ultimately lead to a real spiritual awakening.

I think we ought to pray to that end.

I'll share more about that at the end of this service.

But this morning, I want us to think about, before a spiritual awakening can ever take place,

a revival's got to happen in the lives of God's people.

Some people use the phrase spiritual awakening and the word revival basically interchangeably.

They're talking about the same thing.

But most people who write on this subject, they make a distinction between the two.

They would call revival, say revival describes God's work of restoration and renewal among his people.

A revival is for Christians.

A revival is what Christians experience when God moves this way.

Spiritual awakening follows revival, but it touches the lives of many people in a community or a whole area.

In a spiritual awakening, many people will be saved.

But even those who don't become believers, they will know that a revival has taken place in the lives of God's people.

People that they see and know and interact with.

I have no doubt that this present crisis has caused many people to think about their relationship with God.

To do some self-examination.

Probably even to read the Bible when they haven't read it for a long time.

I am confident that it has caused many Christians to wake up.

And to realize that we have fallen far from being the holy people God has called us to be.

And to influence our community.

This morning, I want us to do more than just realize and talk about our spiritual poverty.

This morning, I want us to come back to God on his terms with the prayer that he will do a work of spiritual renewal and revival in us.

You know, one of the best descriptions of God's terms for revival is found in 2 Chronicles 7, verse 14.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Many of you are familiar with that verse.

I want us to study it this morning with the goal, with the prayer that God will work in us individually.

He will give us a true heartfelt desire and spiritual power to do exactly what he says in order to experience revival.

Let's read now 2 Chronicles 7, verse 14.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The first thing we need to understand is that this verse is addressed to God's people.

Look at it.

Let's look at the people who can experience revival.

He says, if my people who are called by my name.

It's very clear, isn't it, that this verse is addressed to God's people.

He actually calls them my people.

He emphasizes in the next phrase that they are my people who are called by my name.

Who are those people?

Who are God's people called by his name?

Well, in this verse, it refers to Jews living under King Solomon's reign.

In the Old Testament in general, Jews are the only people who are called,

and I quote from Deuteronomy 28, are called by the name of the Lord.

In the New Testament, only Christians are called this in Acts chapter 15,

Acts 15 · chapter mention

a people for his name.

Here in 2 Chronicles 7, 14, this phrase, my people who are called by my name,

it includes all true believers.

It's addressed to you and me.

Let me be clear.

This verse is not addressed to the United States of America as a nation.

A lot of people have talked about it this way, but that's not correct.

Americans are not God's chosen people.

This verse is describing how God's people must respond to him in order to experience revival.

Now, if enough Christians and churches throughout our country do experience revival,

it will have a powerful effect on our entire country.

It will affect every community.

But this verse is not addressed to our country.

It's addressed to churches.

It's addressed to individual Christians like us.

Let's look now at the prerequisites for experiencing revival.

When you were in high school or college, I'm sure you discovered prerequisites.

There are probably some classes or at least one or two that you wanted to take,

but you found out you couldn't register for them.

You couldn't get in the class until you had the prerequisite.

Maybe you had to be a junior or a senior to get in the class.

Or maybe you had to have a certain GPA.

Maybe you had to take a certain number of courses before you could get in.

Well, if we want to experience revival, God says there are some requirements that we must fulfill first.

Let's look at it.

First, we must humble ourselves.

He says, if my people are called by my name, humble themselves.

That word translated humble originally means or refers to the bending of the knee

or the bending of the neck in subjection to another person.

God calls us, His people, to voluntarily subject ourselves to Him because He is God.

Because we know He is Almighty God, Holy God, and we have dishonored Him by the way that we have sinned against Him,

the way that we have ignored Him, the way that we've disobeyed or even rebelled against Him.

God calls us to be humble, to humble ourselves before Him,

which involves a brokenness, a brokenness over our sins.

It describes a heartfelt sorrow that we have genuinely because we have offended God.

If we're serious about experiencing revival or just personal spiritual renewal,

we've got to get serious about who we are before God.

He's God, we're not.

If we're going to experience revival personally in our church,

we've got to demonstrate genuine humility, brokenness, grief over our sin before God.

This will lead us to the next prerequisite for revival.

We must pray.

It says, if my people are called by my name, pray.

Now, the first way we must pray if we're going to draw close to God is to confess our sins.

God refuses to listen to you and me when we are holding on to some sin that He's convicted us of.

We cannot willfully, intentionally live in disobedience to God and expect Him to hear our prayers.

David, the man who is described as a man after God's own heart, he said this about this matter.

He said, if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

We cannot hold on to our sin and expect God to hear us when we pray.

But what the good news is, if we are willing to confess our sins, if we are willing to pray this way,

God is ready and willing to forgive us, to cleanse us, give us a fresh start.

Look at what I hope is a very familiar verse of Scripture to you.

1 John 1.9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Personal confession.

The first order of the day under this heading, we must pray.

But there's more to it here.

Old Testament scholar Walt Kaiser says that the Hebrew word for prayer here focuses on intercessory prayer.

Praying for others.

I want you to listen to how he emphasizes the importance of us praying for one another.

He says, mark it well.

Where intercession goes thin or ceases altogether,

There the saints and the churches drift into spiritual lethargy.

And the forces of evil have a field day in the culture.

It's important that we pray for one another.

It's important that we are true intercessors and not just confessors and certainly not just seekers.

What does it mean to pray like this?

Well, a pastor by the name of S.D. Gordon describes it like this.

True intercession takes the persons and places in the world where evil is assaulting the kingdom of God

and pleads that the strong hand of God might defeat evil.

It prays that the lost might see the glorious offer of grace given by our Lord Jesus

and that they might come to trust Him personally.

The intercession takes the persons and places in the world,

takes us to persons and places in the world where there's evil.

I want you to think about something.

Liberals in Washington, D.C.

who oppose God and the truth of His word

are some of the persons and places in this world

where evil is assaulting the kingdom of God.

Now, I'm not talking politics here.

Don't get excited about this being a liberal bashing time.

But here's what I want to point out.

Anyone who advocates, promotes killing babies in their mother's wombs,

they're evil people.

They're assaulting the kingdom of God,

which is another way of describing the rule of God,

even the word of God.

That replies to Republicans, Democrats, Independents, anyone else.

The killing of a sacred human life

at any time,

the murder of a sacred human life

is evil.

It's moral evil.

And we need to acknowledge that

and we need to oppose that

and we need to pray about that.

Let's think here.

What's our usual response

toward evil and evil people

who oppose God and the truth of His word?

Well,

a lot of times we just get angry, don't we?

We curse, we call names,

or we just seek political or legal solutions.

Now, how often do you really pray

that God would act to defeat evil,

to call sinners to repentance?

How often do you really pray

that God would so work

to advance His kingdom,

His rule,

His authority

in this world

as Jesus taught us to pray?

Let me be clear.

We should be angry about evil.

Wherever it's found,

we should be angry about evil

because God is.

There is nothing wrong

with seeking political and legal solutions

wherever we can.

That's one of the ways

in this country

we can fight against evil.

But,

God has given us

the weapon of prayer.

And we need to use this weapon

in this fight against evil.

And if we don't,

we're never going to defeat it.

It can't be defeated

just because we're angry,

just because we say things

that we really shouldn't say.

And it's never going to be defeated

in the courts

or in the legislature.

We need the power

of God's working through prayer

to stop evil.

That leads us to the next prerequisite.

We must seek God's face.

He says,

if my people who are called by my name

seek my face.

Now,

I hope you understand

that does not literally mean

we need to try to

conjure up

some kind of spirituality

where we actually have a vision

and see God's face.

God told Moses

that no one can see his face

and live

in Exodus chapter 33.

Exodus 33 · chapter mention

But to seek God's face,

what is being talked about here,

means to seek his presence,

his approval.

It means to

seek to be in his presence,

to enjoy him,

and to experience

the blessings that come

when we please God.

James describes how we do that.

It's in James chapter 4.

James 4 · chapter mention

He says,

draw near to God

and he'll draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands,

you sinners,

and purify your hearts,

you double-minded.

Now,

think about that.

When we draw near to God,

he draws near to us.

But James points out

that experiencing

closeness to God

has conditions

similar to what we see

here in 2 Chronicles 7, 14.

We must cleanse our hands

and purify our hearts,

he says.

Unclean hands refer to

our sinful actions

against other people.

Impure heart describes

sinful motives

and desires.

If we are serious

about drawing near to God

and enjoying fellowship

with him,

we must get serious

about confessing our sins

in attitude,

in word,

as well as in actions.

Let's not forget

that drawing near to God

or seeking him

is something we can't do

half-heartedly.

What we're talking about

this morning

is not something

you just think,

this is a good idea,

I think I'll give it a try.

We're talking about

as God speaks

through his word

this morning,

there ought to be

a sense of conviction

that this is true,

that this speaks to me,

and I want to respond.

That's the desire

of my heart

to do what God's

calling me to do,

to obey him.

But I want you to look.

God makes it clear

that he will accept

no half-hearted effort.

From Jeremiah 29,

he says,

you will seek me

and find me

when you seek me

with all your heart.

In light of what

Jeremiah is saying,

will you seek God?

Will you find God?

Will you do it

with all your heart?

What James says

about cleansing our hands

and purifying our hearts

also involves

the same response

as God's last prerequisite

for revival.

Look at this,

we must turn

from our wicked ways.

Scripture says,

if my people

are called by my name,

turn from their wicked ways.

Now the phrase there,

wicked ways,

that's just a more

graphic way

of describing sin.

All sin is evil.

All sin is wicked

in the sight of God.

The word that best

describes the way

that we turn

from our evil ways

or wicked ways

is the word repent.

A very familiar word

if you're a Christian,

if you are a student

of the Bible.

But not really

all that familiar

to most people.

I want you to look

at how Wayne Grudem,

the theologian,

defines it.

I think he includes

the basic elements

that we need to think about

when it comes to understanding

what it means to repent.

Grudem says,

repentance

is a heartfelt sorrow

for sin,

a renouncing of it,

and a sincere commitment

to forsake it

and walk in obedience

to Christ.

If we truly repent

of our sins,

we will follow through

on everything found

in this verse,

2 Chronicles 7, 14.

If we truly repent,

we will turn away

from every sin

we have confessed

in prayer.

We will hate

every sin

that has dishonored God

and broken our fellowship

with Him.

We will,

if we truly repent,

not just turn from sin,

but we'll turn to God

in love,

in humility,

and obedience.

We'll want to know God better,

love Him more,

and faithfully serve Him,

please Him

in everything that we do.

And if we will turn to God

this way,

we will for sure

enjoy close

and personal fellowship

with Him.

I want to encourage you

to do that now.

Listen to the Lord

as He calls you,

speaks to you,

encourages you,

convicts you.

Do what He's telling you to do.

God blesses obedience.

As we see in the last part

of this verse,

the promise of revival.

There are two things

that God promises to do

when we meet His prerequisites

for revival.

It says at the last part of that,

then I will hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

and heal their land.

God will forgive our sin

when we come to Him this way.

I want to encourage you.

Take God at His word.

You can be forgiven

of whatever you've done

against God.

No matter how terrible,

no matter how long ago,

no matter if it took place

30 minutes ago,

you can be forgiven

and have a fresh start

with God right now.

Look again at 1 John 1, 9.

If we confess our sins,

what does it say?

He is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

You can draw close to God

and know

that He will draw close to you

because you've come clean

before Him.

Now the reason God

forgives this way,

the reason He can just forgive,

let it go,

and give us a fresh start

is because we are united

to Jesus by faith.

This 1 John 1, 9,

in fact, this entire message

is directed to believers

only.

If you are united

to Jesus Christ in faith,

God accepts you

because during His earthly life,

Jesus fully obeyed God's law.

Jesus fulfilled

all the requirements of the law.

He pleased God.

And through faith in Him,

God credits His faithful obedience

to us.

And then Jesus died on the cross

to pay the penalty

for our sin.

And He paid it in full.

One of the last things He said

was,

it is finished.

The penalty for our sin

has been paid in full.

When we trust Him,

when we are one with Him

in faith,

God counts His death to sin

as our death to sin.

That's why we can be forgiven.

If you don't know Christ

as your Lord and Savior,

I want to encourage you

to turn to Him now.

Admit your need

of Him

to save you.

Admit your sin

and repent of it.

Turn from it.

Put your trust in Jesus

as your Savior.

Surrender control

of your life to Him

as your Lord.

Call upon Him now

to save you

and He will.

There's a final phrase here.

God will heal our land.

That was a promise

to the people of Israel

that if they ever sinned

against God

and experienced

some kind of national disaster

and that did happen.

Famine, drought,

being taken away,

captured by other countries,

taken away,

into exile.

When those kind of things

happened,

Solomon was telling them

when he wrote

2 Chronicles 7-14,

if they would fulfill

these prerequisites,

God would rescue them.

If they obey,

God will forgive them

and heal their land.

We can apply this

by saying that

whenever we suffer

the effects of sin

as individuals,

as a church,

or as God's people

in general

in this country,

if we will do

what God says

in this verse,

He will bring

spiritual healing

to us

in the form

of revival.

It may

just be personal

for you.

If you'll be

faithful

in doing

what He's saying

to do

as a faithful

Christian

trusting in Jesus,

it may be

that you

experience revival.

If your family does,

it may be

a real revival

that takes place

in your home.

It may take place

in our church

if we all

will get serious

about obeying God.

And if God

really does

a work

of bringing

revival

and spiritual

awakening,

it'll affect

us

in this country

far and wide.

But it's all

going to begin

with Christians.

Us listening

to God

and obeying Him.

Walter Kaiser

explains why

it's so important

that we listen

to God,

obey Him,

and live a

holy and pure

life.

Look at what

He says.

God wants us

to be clean

persons,

channels through

which His blessings,

witness,

and interventions

in this sinful

world can flow.

I want to ask

you,

are you

spiritually,

morally,

and ethically

clean

before God?

God,

are you

such a

clean

person

before God

as Kaiser

says that God

can work

through you

right now?

If you are,

ask God

to use you

to make a

difference

in your home,

in your circles

of friends,

in this community,

wherever He wants

to use you.

Ask God.

Tell Him

you want to be

used.

You want to be

a difference

maker.

But if you're

not,

if you're not

clean before God

right now,

what needs

to happen?

Do you need

to humble

yourself before

God?

And maybe

before others.

If you've sinned

against other people,

you need to confess

your sin to them.

You need to humble

yourself before

them as well.

Do you need

to pray

right now

and confess

your sins?

And I'm

talking about

specifically

admitting to

God

this particular

sin,

that particular

sin.

Do you need

to seek God's

face

by drawing

close to Him?

And

right now,

do you need

to turn

away from,

stop,

hate,

some specific

sins

that God

has been

convicting you

of?

It may be

something no one

else knows about.

It may be

something that's

affecting you

and your

relationships

at home

or at work

or with friends.

You know what it is.

God's made it clear.

Obey Him.

Final thought.

Jesus concluded

His teaching

on one occasion

with words

that apply

to all we learn

from God's Word.

Look at what

Jesus said.

Now that you

know these things,

you will be

blessed

if you do them.

Think about it.

Now that we know

these things

from God's Word,

we will be

blessed

if we do them.

Let's pray

together.

Father,

help us

to see

clearly

how we need

to respond

to this message.

Help us

to truly

humble ourselves.

Help us

to confess

our sins.

Help us

to pray

specifically

Lord,

help us

to seek

You,

to draw

close to You,

to experience

Your loving

presence

and fellowship.

Help us,

Father,

to hate

all sin

and turn

from it.

Help us

to run

from temptation.

We know,

Father,

that You'll give us

the power

to always

turn away

help us

to take

it.

Lord,

we thank

You

for making

it clear

how we

can

come close

to You.

We thank

You,

Father,

for putting

Your Spirit

in us

as Christians

to enable

us to do

this.

I pray,

Father,

that You'll help

all of us

now respond

in obedience

and draw

near to You

and we

trust,

Father,

that You

will draw

near to

us.

In Jesus'

name we

pray,

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.