The Need for True Revival

 

THE NEED FOR TRUE REVIVAL

 

I. TRUE REVIVAL DEFINED

 

A. False conceptions of true revival.

 

1. Emotional response to fast peppy music is a revival.

 

2. Shouting will bring revival.

 

3. Crowds are a part of revival.

 

B. True revival involves a Spiritual awakening.

 

1. It is an awakening from Spiritual slumber.

 

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” - Ephesians 5:14

 

2. The church needs to be awakened.

 

3. The spiritually dead need to be revived.

“Return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death; as the revival of a drowned person.” – Webster.

 

C. True revival is produced by the Holy Spirit.

 

1. There will be Holy Ghost conviction of sin.

 

2. There will be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

3. There will be the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

II. TRUE REVIVAL DETERMINED

 

A. God has appointed times of revival.

 

1. God determines what will be done in His timing. – Acts 17:26-27

 

2. The day of Pentecost was on God’s time table. –

Acts 2: 1-4.

 

3. There have been waves of Holy Ghost outpouring.

 

a. The first Great Awakening.

 

b. The second Great Awakening.

 

c. The turn of the century revival.

 

d. The outpouring in the 1950’s

 

B. True Revival will only come by prayer.

 

1. To wait on God for an outpouring.

 

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” - Luke 24:49

 

2. There is a need for Holy Ghost intercession

 

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

-Romans 8:26

 

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” - Jude 1:20

 

THERE IS NO INCENSE WITHOUT FIRE!

THERE IS NO PRAYER WITHOUT FLAME!

 

3. We need to pray expecting to receive the promise of God.

 

C. Requirements of True Revival.

 

1. God requires unity among His people.

 

a. They were in one accord on the day of Pentecost.

 

b. There has always been unity among the saints in a true revival.

 

c. There is power in unity.

 

2. God requires total separation from the world.

 

a. Holiness has always been the standard of True Revival.

 

b. Sin will hinder True Revival.

 

A sinning man will stop praying and a praying man will stop sinning.

3. God requires an understanding of truth. – Jn. 8:32

 

III. TRUE REVIVAL DEMONSTRATED

 

A. The early church was a demonstration of True Revival.

 

1. This is God’s plan for the church.

 

2. Souls brought to God by the power of God. –

Acts 2:47

 

3. There was a mighty manifestation of healing power.

 

B. There is a mighty manifestation of God’s true power.

 

1. God will not tolerate strange fire.

 

2. There is a desire to tarry in the presence of God.

 

3. There is deliverance in True Revivals of God.

 

C. There will be one more demonstration of True Revival.  

 

1. An outpouring of the Holy Ghost rain.

 

2. To prepare the fruit for harvest.

 

3. There is a need to understand God’s plan for the last days.