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Special Study 01/08/2011

OUR EXPECTATION OF AN ABIDING REVIVAL

Psalm 85:6; Habakkuk 3:2; Hosea 6:1-3

Every sincere seeker and worshipper of God has an expectation of revival. Thepsalmists passionate request-question, Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? reveals that the revival once enjoyed hadbeen lost. He could recall that there were revivals in the days of Moses, Joshua,Elijah, Elisha and David for the people of God which did not last. Absence of revival, power, authority, miracle, signs and wonders informed his heart-cry forrevival as of old. Since He did it before, he believed that the unchanging Godcould do it again. The psalmists expectation and passion for revival representthe expressions of our desire for revival. Our passion is also like that of prophetHabakkuk. Having heard the declaration of divine judgment against sin,Habakkuk became afraid and pleaded for mercy and revival in lieu of impendingdevastating dryness, poverty and weakness. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of theyears, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

What is revival? It is R enewal in righteousness; E mpowerment for exploits;V ision for victorious, virtuous vessels; I mpartation of His image; V ictory overvanity and vice; A greement with Almighty God; and L ove for the Lord. Revival isour expectation from the Lord; and as we agree together and pray, God willgrant our hearts desire. Then the Lord will revive, build, re-unite us and Hismighty power will be felt in the whole land and in every family.

1. PREPARATION AND PRAYER FOR AN ABIDING REVIVAL

Joel 2:12-20

Preparation precedes revival. If Gods promised revival will be fulfilled, thereis a preparation and prayer that the Lord is calling the individual Christian aswell as the Christian assemblies/associations to make. Therefore alsonow, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart... rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God... He requires repentance from evils done to others. It is when wecompletely repent, turn away, forsake all sins and live righteously andconsecrate to serve God that the promised revival will come. We also need todeny self, fast and seek His face in a united prayer to be able to enjoy an

abiding revival. The children of Israel never enjoyed a lasting revival; theywere always in a cycle of being delivered and afterward conquered. TheEgyptians, Midianites, Assyrians, Philistines, Babylonians, Medo-Persians andRomans all took their turn in ruling over them. This vicious cycle characterisethe lives of some people who do not retain the blessing of God. The will of God is a permanent enjoyment of freedom from sin and living a consistentlypure lifestyle. If the church will cry to God, He promises to remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren

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and desolate... When we give up our sins and pray, God will grant us andour country success and prosperity.

2. PROMISE AND PROPHECY OF AN APPOINTED REVIVAL

Ezekiel 37:1-14

God has promised to bring revival. With the revival come salvation, peace,success and prosperity in all areas of personal and national lives. Our presentspiritual, political and economic conditions are as critical as those of the drybones that prophet Ezekiel saw and ministered to. Poor facilities and livingstandards are discouraging. There is no excitement and motivation to pursuelifes aspiration or render quality service. Discouraged, many are seekinggreener pastures in other lands. But like Ezekiel, believers must not quitbecause of the dryness and draught in the land but overcome thesechallenges and rebuild dry lives, families and our country.

To effectively revive dry bones require addressing them with the revealed

Word of God for specific conditions. Every situation requires a differentapproach if the believer must be fruitful. Christ used different approaches toconvert Peter, Matthew, Zacchaeus and Saul. The secret of a fruitful ministryamong dry bones and elsewhere is declaring the revealed Word for thespecific audience. It is faithfulness to prophesy as commanded that makesthe Lord to honour His Word by bringing a mighty revival. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone . God knows the ugly condition of dry bones and the message that will bringrevival. A mighty revival will come when ministers of the gospel preach, notthe message dictated by men but given by God.

3. PROGRESS AND PENETRATION OF AN ASCENDING REVIVAL

Acts 2:41,47;4:4;5:28; 6:7;8:5-8;9:31;2:39

During the Pentecostal revival in the early church, there was progress andpenetration of the gospel. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. When true revival comes, thousands of souls, notfew, will be converted to the Lord. When we accept all the precepts of theLord and prophesy as He has commanded, He will add converts to the churchdaily as He did in the early church. The progress was real as there was asubsequent record of five thousand people who became converted. But there

was penetration too. The Sanhedrin alleged that, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine ... Believers were everywhere. Every street,community, office, school, hospital, section and family had genuine believers.God brings this kind of true revival through the ministers who are fullyrevived and dedicated to Him. When there was progress and penetration of an ascending revival, the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Philip was able to bring joy to the

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Samaritans through salvation, miracles, signs and wonders that God wroughtthrough him. The church also multiplied numerically. The promised revival weseek is such that will usher in activities of planting strong and vibrantchurches that cannot be conquered by the devil.

* * * * * * *Congregational Song:

1. We praise Thee, O God!For the Son of Thy love,For Jesus who died,And is now gone above

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen ;Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Revive us again.

2. We praise Thee, O God!For Thy Spirit of light,

Who has shown us our Saviour,And scattered our night.

3. All glory and praise To the Lamb that was slain,Who has borne all our sins,And hath cleansed every stain.

4. Revive us again;Fill each heart with Thy love;May each soul be rekindledWith fire from above.