We've been looking at the requirements for genuine Christian revival this week. It will help us to take another look at intercessory prayer as a key requirement for Christian revival. Let's move into the realm of Christian revival and politics. The level of Christian participation in the hot issues of politics today somewhat unnerves me. I'm not saying we shouldn't get involved, that today's political climate shouldn't concern Christians. What I want to get across is exactly the opposite message, only from a different angle. I am bombarded daily with emails and messages concerning today's politics. Do the activities and actions of our government concern me as a Christian? Absolutely. Will I voice my opinion? Absolutely. So what does politics have to do with genuine Christian revival? Intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the most important activity the Christian can participate in to affect today's political environment.
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:1-4 KJV)."
Don't be fooled. God knows exactly what the leaders of the USA are doing. God knows exactly what they're planning to do. I hear of how godless this nation has become, and is becoming, every day. Where are the intercessory prayers of the Christians?
When is the last time you prayed for President Obama? When's the last time you prayed for your representatives in the Congress and Senate? I'm not just speaking of formal lip-service prayers. How about praying for your governor and state representatives?
If we truly want to change the course of direction the USA is moving in, or is being moved in by our politicians, we should seriously start interceding for them with God. 1Timothy 2:3 tells us this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.
If we truly want a nation-changing Christian revival, we should seriously start interceding for our politicians as well as for each other. God bless...
"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 (2Chr. 7:14 KJV)."
I've heard this Bible verse quoted many times over the last few weeks. The formula for genuine Christian revival is contained within its words. Three items are listed:
humility - if my people shall humble themselves
pray - if my people will make intercession in prayer
repentance - if my people will turn from their wicked ways
Humility is coming before the God broken in spirit. The broken spirit will lead us to see and acknowledge our shortcomings when we're in the holiness of God's presence.
Godly sorrow for our failures and rejections of God's leading will compel us into genuine repentance and intercession. As we become reconciled to the One whose name is Holy, we can't help but feel the pain and sorrow of those we know and love who need reconciled to God.
We consider revival to be when countless sinners come to the knowledge and acceptance of God's saving grace. Look closely at whom this verse is directed. "If my people, who are called by my name." This is a direct statement to the church, not to sinners.
True, lasting, genuine revival must start with the believer. It must start with the Church, the body of Christ. We can choose to humble ourselves or eventually the mighty hand of God will do it for us.
We can choose to come to repentance, turning from the wicked ways of our flesh, or we will one day stand before God and plead for mercy.
How can we lay claim to so great a salvation in Jesus Christ and not take the time to share it with at least one person we know? How can we be so justified in the presence of God when we know friends and loved ones who need reconciled to God?
The key ingredient to bringing mighty Christian revival lies in intercessory prayer. The burden for the lost will grow when we begin interceding for them, standing in the gap between mercy and wrath. God turned Job's suffering when he interceded for his friends (Job 42:10).
2Chronicles 7:14 says God will hear us in our brokenness. He will respond to our genuine repentance. He will answer our intercessory prayers. He will forgive the sins of all and heal the land.
My friends, Christian revival is about the forgiveness of sin for all humanity. It's about the healing and restoration of all things God originally created humanity for. Genuine Christian revival is about Jesus Christ. "For God so loved, he gave... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish."
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."
Let's humble ourselves before God, turn from our iniquity, and begin interceding for the lost souls of our families, our friends, our communities, and our world. Let's begin to proclaim the name of Jesus to a world which is so desperately trying to abolish it. God must respond with genuine Christian revival. He promised it in 2Chronicles 7:14. God bless...
Repentance is the outward action taken based on the inward decision to change. Simply put, repentance requires action based on a decision to change. Today, we will look at genuine repentance as the third requirement for Christian revival.
Let's look at 2Chronicles 7:14 again: "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 (KJV)."
Genuine Godly sorrow leads humanity to repentance. This sorrow usually comes as the result of severe personal trial. We tend to look to a higher source, either for help, or to place blame. When we bring this into the spiritual realm, we begin speaking of revival.
I am baffled when people talk of how great being in the presence of God is. I've heard descriptions ranging from being surrounded by warm goo to sheer terror. It would stand to reason when one stands in the presence of a holy God, lasting change will be the result. Allow me to explain...
One of the most vivid descriptions of being in God's presence is found in Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah is a prophet, a mighty man of God. Surely he was an upright man living in holiness. But listen to his reaction when he was in the presence of the One called Holy:
"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (Isa. 6:5 KJV)."
On our best day, a day where we are sinless (if that's even possible apart from the mercy of God), our righteousness is at best nothing more than filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Genuine repentance is required for revival because we must be willing to turn from our wicked ways (2Chr. 7:14). Turning from our wicked ways requires change.
We're saved. We're covered by the blood of Christ. We're not wicked. Why do we need to repent? If we're that good, then why do we want, or need, revival? We desire the blessing. We desire the holy anointing revival brings. After a few weeks, however, the emotion fizzles and we're still what we were before. This is why genuine Christian revival requires genuine repentance.
Humility, intercessory prayer, and repentance are the three requirements needed to bring genuine Christian revival. Next, we'll put them together into the context of 2Chronicles 7:14. Comments are welcome. God bless...
We're praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a wave of major Christian revival. We speak of praying for revival. We continually request all to pray for revival. We're all in agreement we should be praying for Christian revival.
I must bring 2Chronicles 7:14 to the forefront today. "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 (KJV)." This verse lays out three requirements for revival. We focused on humility yesterday. We 'll focus on prayer today. The verse tells us we're to pray and seek God's face to reap the reward of Him hearing, forgiving, and healing us. What exactly is this verse speaking of when it says, "and pray, and seek my face?" We often interpret it to mean praying for revival. However, the word pray used here means to intercede. The word seek means in worship or prayer. To intercede means to intervene between two parties to reconcile their differences. We are to pray for those who need reconciled to God. We tend to make prayer for revival all about us. Yes, we need revived. For this to happen, we are instructed to begin interceding in prayer for those living apart from God.
I have friends who aren't living for God. I have family and relatives who have need to be reconciled to God. I'm not alone in this situation. Everyone of us can identify with this. We need to begin intercessory prayer for these friend, family members, and relatives. Genuine Christian revival will be the resulting answer to these prayers.
Genuine repentance as a requirement for Christian revival will be the next topic of discussion. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments. They are much appreciated. God bless...
Are you hungry for an outbreak of genuine Christian revival? Do you desire to see and experience a true outpouring of God's Spirit? Do you long earnestly for the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit?
There are three basic requirements which must be met for a genuine outbreak of Christian revival. Let's look at the first one today. It's humility. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in a high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones (Isa. 57:15 KJV)."
This verse begins with an exalting description of God speaking to humanity. God is the high and lofty one. God is the honorable one. God is Alpha and Omega. God inhabits eternity, and God's name is Holy. But this lofty One whose name is Holy also dwells with the one who possesses a contrite and humble spirit.
This first instance of the word contrite in this verse means crushed. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:3 KJV)." We must approach the One whose name is Holy in humility. We must crush all human pride. We must break all ties to self-exaltation. Then, we will be blessed. Then the kingdom of heaven will be ours.
Isaiah 57:15 tells us the One named Holy dwells with the humble to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The second use of the word contrite is the actual Hebrew root meaning to bruise or to be broken.
We must approach God in total humility and brokenness if we want to experience a genuine Christian revival. We display no need for Christian revival without humility and brokenness. Next up will be prayer and its place in the desire for Christian revival.
Comments and suggestions are welcome. God bless...
