REVIVALREVIVAL

REVIVAL

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What is revival?

Who needs it?

When is it needed?

Who gives revival?

REVIVAL

REVIVAL: What is it?

- “to return to consciousness or life”- “Revival is a return to spiritual health after a period of decline into sin and broken fellowship with God.” - “Revival is that sovereign work of God in which He visits His own people, restoring and releasing them into the fullness of His blessings.”

“REVIVE”

• Psalm 119:156: “Great are Thy mercies, o Lord; Revive me according to Thine ordinances.”

• Psalm 119:37: “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in thy ways.”

• Psalm 119:88: “Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

• Psalm 85:6: “Wilt Thou not thyself revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee.”

REVIVAL: Who gives it?

• Revival is what God sends.

• In revival, God does a fresh work in those who have life, yet who have grown weak through sin or neglect.

• Revival is an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.

REVIVAL: Who needs it?

• Revival is what God sends, not to the lost, but to His own people, the church (body of believers). The “dead” can not be revived; they require resurrection.

• Revival is for God’s people when they need to be forgiven and restored to life, spiritual healthy and vitality.

• I, you, us

REVIVAL: When is it needed?

• When they have left their first love.

• God’s people need revival when they are neglecting their relationship with Christ.

• Revival is needed when we are low on zeal and have grown lukewarm.

REVIVAL is not…

• Revival is not a meeting, not an event – it is an encounter with the living, loving God.

• Revival is not a completed event but a continuing experience.

• Revival is not an unexpected accident – it comes to the seeking heart.

Intentional and Intense• Seeking God with all of our being demands

that we be intentional and intense.

• Often times it’s only when we are in a crisis that we become semi-sincere about seeking the “face of God,” …after the pressure subsides or the need is meet, we return to casually seeking God, thinking that there is no urgent need for Him at the moment.

• This is because some only seek God for the blessings in His hands and not His face which is symbolic of His presence.

Intentional and Intense• In God’s presence there is peace, joy and rest for our

souls. When we seek the “face of God,” we are seeking His counsel, guidance, strength, correction and wisdom regarding every aspect of our lives.

• This must be done intentionally and with intensity because every decision we make, big or small, affects our daily affairs and destiny.

• So often many of us have become consumed with the cares of this world. We are intentional about building our careers, building homes, building our image and building unhealthy relationships that pull us away from God.

• We have allowed all these things to turn us away from the source and strength of our lives, and before you know it God becomes an afterthought in our everyday affairs.

REVIVAL

•Revival is the work of God.•We pray for it because we are

dependent upon Him to send it.

•We are not to seek revival –

•We are to seek the Reviver!