I.) WHAT IS REVIVAL?
"The word 'revival' means 'to restore to one's original condition, to get back to the way that you used to be.' And so when God speaks of revival He's speaking to His own people and He's saying that we should get back to that walk with Him that we may have had at an earlier time in our lives. . . . Revival is not something that just happens across the board, it's something that happens in an individual's life. We can pray, 'Oh Lord send an awakening, send a revival!' But it starts with me. It starts with you. . . . We need to get back to the time-honored, God-tested, tried and true message of the Bible. . . . God has told us how to live." (Greg Laurie in What is Revival? WFT tape #G381)
If you have less hunger and thirst for God's righteousness now than at an earlier time in your walk with the Lord, you are in a backslidden state, you need revival!
II.) WHAT REVIVAL ACCOMPLISHES:
- Willing commitments - A willful choice and desire for revival. It is God who gives this capacity. Nehemiah 10:1-29; Dt. 30:15; Josh. 24:15; Jn. 6:44, 67; Rev. 3:20.
- Pure relationships - A willingness to let God sweep through your life and clean house of impure relationships. Nehemiah 10:30; Dt. 7:1-5; Mal. 2:10-16; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1;
- Resistance to worldly temptations- A resistance to the temptations to walk away from God's best. They kept the Sabbath even when tempted. This sets an example for us to resist the temptation of settling for less or choosing ungodly alternatives to God's righteous ways. Take a stand in the LORD (Ephesians 6:10-18). Nehemiah 10:31a; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Cor. 10:1-13;
- Trust in God to guide and provide- A renewed faith in God's sovereign plan. " Where God guides, God provides" (Chuck Smith). Nehemiah 10:31b; Dt. 15:1-6; Jer. 29:10-14; 2 Cor. 9:6-8; Phil 4:19;
- Proper Godly priorities- A surrender to God so that He can establish priorities in your life. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Nehemiah 10:32-39. Mal. 3:8-10; Mt. 6:33
III.) HOW REVIVALS BEGIN:
In Nehemiah 13:11, 17, 25, the word "Contended" (Hebrew - REEB or ROOB). This word literally means "plead, strive, contend, chide, debate." The Theological Wordbook of the OT ( Vol. 2, p.845) equates this word with "verbal combat." Revival occurs when the Spirit of God comes upon a person and directs them to take a stand for righteousness (cf. Acts 1:8; Jude 3). God's eyes are searching for someone whose heart is loyal to Him who He can use for His purposes (2 Chronicles 16:9). Sometimes the person God intends to use is resistant. But God has a way of influencing His chosen instruments. See the account of Jonah! (Jonah 1-4) At other times the person God chooses totally surrenders as in the case of Nehemiah. How about you? Is God calling you to revival? Does He want to use you to start a revival? If so, will you run away or run to Him?
IV.) HOW TO EXPERIENCE REVIVAL:
- REMEMBER - 2 Cor. 13:5; Rev. 2:4-5
- REPENT - 2 Chronicles 7:14;
- REPEAT - Jer. 6:16