100704 America Needs Revival
Tim Franklin
Acts 2:1-2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. NKJV
2 Chronicles 29:36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly. NKJV
Introduction:
· I want to start today by saying “Happy Birthday America!” And “America needs revival!”
a. Revival is not the conversion of thousands of unsaved, but the awakening of the church, making it holy and alive once again.
b. God’s purpose in revival first and foremost the awakening of His own people.
c. We can only pray for revival when we ourselves face up to the condition we are in as Christians.
· Our problem is: We are too content to live without revival.
o In 1969 Dr Elton Trueblood a theologian was asked, “Sighting the final third of the 20th century, what do you think it offers the church? His response, “By the year 2000, Christians will be a conscious minority surrounded by an arrogant militant paganism.”
o The church has let itself sink into this place weakness. And the church can pray itself out of it.
· A billion souls. A harvest of harvesters before the end times.
1. America Is Ripe for Revival
A. We are far from what our fathers understood.
i. “The Founders understood that Biblical values formed the basis of the republic and the republic would be destroyed if the people’s knowledge of those values should ever be lost.” David Barton pp. 337 Original Intent Therefore, a republic is the highest form of government devised by man, but it also requires the greatest amount of human care and maintenance. If neglected, it can deteriorate into lesser forms including: a democracy, anarchy, oligarchy (govt. by small council) or dictatorship.
a. Noah Webster-“Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.” Pp. 336 Original Intent – David Barton
b. Benjamin Franklin-“A simple democracy…is one of the greatest of evils” pp 335 Original Intent- David Barton
c. John Adams-“Remember, a democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” John Adams ibid.
d. Noah Webster- “A pure democracy is generally a very bad government. It is often the most tyrannical government on earth.” Ibid.
ii. Samuel Adams “Let…statesmen and patriots unite their endeavors to renovate the age by, educating their little boys and girls… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.”
iii. Daniel Webster—The Christian Religion—its general principles—must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society. Ibid. p 164
iv. Patrick Henry—The great pillars of all government and of social life…are virtue, morality and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone that renders us invincible. Ibid. p 164
v. Noah Webster instructed students “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republican government depend on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”
B. The times call for it.
i. A pattern of revival. When conflict is brooding on the horizon that will take the lives many young people, God in His mercy moves upon a generation. That is why the prophets are calling for billion souls of young people. These will be the harvest of harvesters.
a. Revival of 1900 before WWI & WWII,
(i) Evan Roberts in Wales, Seymore in Azuza, Korea had a major revival before Japanese invasion.
(ii) God in decade(s) ahead touches the body in the place of prayer to cry for revival because He can’t bear to see so many die without Christ.
b. Second awakening - Finney before the Civil war
c. Revival in China a decade preceding the Moa regime.
ii. When God is signaling pray for revival something bigger is on the horizon.
C. Historical Time Lines Suggest It
i. Church Historian have broken down church History to 500 year increments of major Awakening. The year 2000 mark the beginning of that cycle.
ii. 100 year cycle of revival in the church. There was major outpouring of Gods Spirit in early 1900’s. We are at the 1oo year cycle. IE. The Azusa Street revivalist, William J. Seymour, prophesied in 1909 that within 100 years there would be a release of the Shekinah Glory of God that would burn brighter than what took place during the Azusa Street Revival.
D. Statistics declare it. Only 4% of Americas 25 and under crowd practice their faith on a regular basis. America has the 5th largest group of young people now ages 13-15 who will soon be voting age. These Godless children will vote having no knowledge of the principles our founders carried and they will vote based on how they feel not with moral convictions. They will vote based on fairness not on justice. They will bring forth a true democracy thus destroying the Republic as we know it.
E. We are now standing on the threshold of revival! Church—God is looking for a place to land. 2 Chron 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him..." NKJV
2. How Revival Begins?
A. Every revival begins with a small group of people who are praying, fasting, and yoked with the burden of the Lord.
B. Then on one person the burden falls and soon after the whole group is touched and they cry for the nations for their inheritance. Starts with new life coming to these believers, continues with salvation of souls and moves to the nations.
C. Revivals always begin with personal desperation. It begins by dealing with people of God.
i. There is an alarm at sin.
ii. There is a longing for holiness
iii. There is a revival of prayer
iv. And from here the way we worship is touched.
D. When we are desperate enough to cry out to God for our need, He releases a deluge of His Spirit to not only meet your need, but to also change your family, community, state, nation, and the world.
E. “Let the changes begin let the weeping continue.” Bob Jones
3. Bring Revival to Me
A. Starts with Conviction of Sin.
i. King Hezekiah calls for a house cleaning. 2 Chronicles 29:15-16 And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the Lord to the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron. NKJV
ii. They went into the temple in that part that was furthest from the eyes of men. In the Holy of Holies only one man could enter one time each year. They could have cleaned up the outer two courts and left the rest till later. No! They went to the place furthest from the eyes of men and started cleaning there. What part are you cleaning?
iii. We must also realize that that which is furthest from the eyes of man is closest to the eyes of God.
a. Moses crushed and ground up the golden calf
b. Josiah crushed pagan altar and scattered them in Kidron valley.
c. Hezekiah’s priest also cleaned the Holy of Holies and through the debris in the Kidron.
d. Revival always touches the conscience of those who long to serve Him most. Hezekiah reminded them of their past. 30:15 they were ashamed.
(i) 2 Chronicles 29:5-8 "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. NKJV
B. Proceeds with a call to prayer
i. Hezekiah opened the door so the people would pray once again in the Presence.
ii. Two prayers are prayed
a. Those preceding the revival—you will not find a revival that began absent of soul wrenching prayer.
b. Those continuing during revival.
(i) George Whitfield— When the revival began…“Sometimes whole nights were spent in prayer. Often we have been filled as with new wine.”
C. Continues with unprecedented Worship
i. It prompts a rush to the House of God!
a. 2 Chron 29:28-31 worship, sang, played music, worshiped again.
b. Crowds came to see what the commotion was
ii. The Presence!!! This is the key to revival! It is what makes revival unique and desirable. The Presence of God. You feel Him. You know He is near!
a. The Presence is what we forfeit when we sin. Adam hid from the Presence of God. Cain went out from the Presence of God.
b. Moses would not move from his position unless the Presence went with Him. “How will anyone know you are with me if you do not go with us? What will make us any different than any other people?”
iii. There are so many stories of revival throughout history that have incredible accounts of worship. One account lasted for seven days straight! The worship never stopped. Another had a prayer meeting that lasted 300 years non stop. That is power when you are able to impart to the next generation so deeply that they can carry it.
iv. Look at 2 Chron 29 & 30
a. 29:30 They sang with gladness
b. 29:36 the people rejoiced at what God had brought about
c. 30:21 they celebrated for seven days with rejoicing.
d. 30:23 that was so good they called for another seven days.
e. 30:26 there was joy in Jerusalem.
Conclusion:
· Initial outpouring is happening now and in other nations it is well under way.
· America is ripe for revival.
· Quit giving God excuses why it can’t happen to you, your family our church or county!
· Fate of America is not determined yet. America is being weighed in the balance. We need that one burdened soul for this nation.
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