Rhythms of Revival Series Recap

Revival won’t come unless it is desired because it is an invasion from heaven at the request of the saints on Earth!

For the last three weeks we have been talking about revival. Does Des Moines need a revival. Do we want a revival?

 

Revive comes from the latin roots “re” meaning “again” and “vivre” meaning “to live.” So revive means to “live again”

 

But what is a revival?

 

It is the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness and work, by prayer and the Word after repentance for their spiritual decline.

 

It’s the awakening or quickening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose.

 

Revivals can not be orchestrated — it is God’s work

 

They can not be predicted, forced, coerced, or planned.

 

The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years and nation’s typically progress through this predictable sequence:

We’re somewhere between 7 & 8 in America today. We need a spiritual awakening. We need revival.

 

ISAIAH 57:15 states this – “

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts”.

 

We need to be revived in our courage to our current cultures demands.

“...if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

II Chronicles 7:14

In week two we moved into asking ourselves. . . do we really want revival?

 

The purpose of faith, for most Americans, is not so much to discover truth or to relate to a loving, praiseworthy, holy deity as it is to become happy, successful, comfortable and secure.

 

Unfortunately we have found that a majority of churchgoing adults are uncertain as to what their church would define as healthy, spiritually mature follower of Christ, and couldn’t define it for their own life either.

 

A revival will renew the works of God in our lives and in the churches of our city, and perhaps country. It should look something like this:

 

  1. God’s word will be exalted and authoritative over human experience
  2. There will be an intense conviction of sin, leading to repentance.
  3. Humility and brokenness will be evident
  4. There will be deliberate acts of forgiveness, reconciliation and restitution.
  5. There will be a growing interest and involvement with prayer — hunger for intimacy with God is heightened.
  6. Joy will be pure and overflowing in worship and daily living.
  7. Evangelism will flourish — compassion will overflow!

Do you still want revival? Will you pay the price by humbling yourself, repenting and turning back to God? If you do, a refreshing will be on its way to revive not only you, but hopefully this city. 

 

Now that we're ready for revival. . . how will we know it's coming?

 

In the last week we covered ‘Ten Characteristics of Revivals.’ If we're in prayer, humbly before the Lord, and on the lookout for these chracteristics we should be able to see revival coming. 

 

1. TIMING: Revivals emerge during times of spiritual and moral decline, which leads to intense prayer.

2. PRAYER: God puts a longing into the hearts of many to pray for revival.

3. THE WORD: The preaching or reading of God’s Word brings deep conviction and desire for Christ.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit takes people to a spiritual depth they could not achieve on their own.

5. CONVICTION: There is a great awareness of sin & a strong realization it can only be forgiven by Christ.

6. GLORY FOR GOD: God receives praise, honor, and glory for bringing revival.

7. REFORMATION AND RENEWAL: Revival produces lasting fruit. New ministries are founded, society experiences a reform of morals and more and more people are converted.

8. MANIFESTATIONS: Manifestations like fainting, groaning prayer, and miracles vary by culture and denomination.

9. MESSY: Revivals are messy–controversies swirl about miracles, abuses, excesses, suspicions, and theological disputes (to name but a few)

10. CYCLICAL: Revivals inevitably crest and decline. – (pride, take for granted, focus back on world & not Christ & prayer)

 

Now that we have our ten characteristics of revival, how can we know if we personally need a revival?

Ask yourselves if these statements are true in your life:

 

1. Prayer is no longer a vital part of my life -- Its just something I do occasionally.

2. I have grown content with my Biblical understanding and don’t hunger for it anymore..

3. Gatherings of God’s people are not eagerly anticipated.

4. Pointed spiritual discussions embarrass me.

5. Certain sins can be indulged in my life and it doesn’t bother my conscience.

6. Injustice & human misery almost never cross my mind.

7. A burden for people lost in their sinfulness & separated from God never crosses my mind or hurts my spirit.

8. I seldom think about or sense God’s presence in my life and it doesn’t bother me.

9. The strong desire just to praise the Lord seldom wells up in my heart.

God alone will decide if He is going to send a revival to this church or America – but we don’t have to wait – We can experience His revival in our lives right now.

It is painful to come under genuine Holy Spirit humility and conviction, sincere prayer and earnestly seeking God’s face.

 

But it’s more painful to get in our cars, go home & go right back to half-asleep Christianity & a slow drift further away from God.

 

So "God, please send revival in Your time, Your way, for Your glory & I know that revival must start in me!"

 

Revival is coming. Let's be ready for it! 

View the whole series on YouTube here!

Message content written by Tom Allen, Lead Pastor

Blog post written and compiled by Amie Pruitt, Admin & Communications Director

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