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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

P2 - Four important revivals

Genesis 5:26  "To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord."

Introduction and Review
We began looking yesterday at four important revivals. We looked at Genesis 4:25-26 and concluded its importance due to it being the first in recorded history and scripture. We learned from it that God is the initator of revival. Then we considered the defining revival of 2 Chronicles 6-7 and learned some things about the prescription of revival. Today we wrap up our study to consider two other important revivals.

The greatest revival. Acts 2
If Genesis 4:25-26 is important due to it being the first revival and 2 Chronicles 6-7 is important to emulate because of it recording the defining revival of the Old Testament, then Acts 2 is vital because it is the greatest revival in recorded history. It was on that wondrous day of Pentecost in Acts 2 that the Spirit of God came not to merely be with His people nor to visit His people but to indwell His people. The church was born on the day of Pentecost. Scripture was fulfilled in ACts 2. On the day of Pentecost over one dozen people groups miraculously heard the Gospel in their own foreign language by people who had never heard them and people were saved, delivered and healed. 

The first revival in Genesis taught us that Revival requires the presence of God to initiate it. In 2 Chronicles 6-7 we learned that there is a Prescribed pattern from God for revival. In Acts 2, we are reminded of how much power God has in birthing forth things previously non-existent and fulfilling what He said He would do. We are reminded in Pentecost that Jesus' resurrection and ascension not only took place but worked. Jesus truly is seated at the right hand of God! 

We could go on but we must hasten to one more important revival before concluding today's post...

Your revival. 
Revival is not just some abstract concept that is written about and preached about. We must not ever treat revival as some kind of elusive dream that we chase all of our lives but never see manifest. Time and time again revival in the scriptures is made personal. Here's the point: Do you believe revival is for you? We so often approach revival and God's desire for it as a "them thing" or "our parents or grandparents thing". However, God's message in this brief study on four revivals is that do you believe, dear Christian, that revival is for you? Consider briefly excerpts from other great revival texts of scripture:

a. Psalm 138:8  "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

b. Psalm 85:4  "Restore us, O God of our salvation,And cause Your indignation toward us to cease."

c. Habakkuk 3:2 "Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear.O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy."

d. James 5:7-11 "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near."

Notice the underlined personal pronouns in these verses: revival and God's promises of it is for you and me dear Christian. Unless we truly believe that, then we will either not see God's revival power or we will fail to recognize what He is doing. Revival begins with God's prescriptions and powerful visitation, followed by His people surrendering themselves and lives being changed. All these vital truths are what comprise the essence of revival. However, unless you and I grab hold of this final point from this final revival: that revival is for you and me, then we will only demonstrate our unbelief in the truths we found in the first three important revivals.