The Results of True Revival

Acts 4:31

We will have revival services starting next Sunday! Although true revival is only from the sovereign working of the Holy Spirit, you can do some things to bring it about. With a passion to seek God through prayer and the proclamation of God’s Word, and the praise of His work, the chance of personal revival is greater! The word revival means to be made alive again! If you recall the alive feeling that you felt when you first were born again, saved, from that we continually need the Holy Spirit to revive us, for God to do a great work. The Psalmist asked God in Psalm 85:6 “Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?”

Here is a short recap of Chapters 3 and 4. The early church had its first conflict since Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. Peter and John healed a lame guy on the way to the temple. The guy started praising Jesus and this caused an uproar! Peter and John started preaching Christ and they were arrested! They couldn’t find fault with them so they release them asking them not to preach about Jesus. The church came together hearing of this and they prayed! They passionately pursued God! God made revival!   

An Attention to Prayer. “And when they had prayed,” There was a desperation to talk to Jesus! They had seen Him at work, the power of Jesus healed a lame man who had been crippled for 40 years according to verse 22. They knew where the power came! America, may our hearts be turned to a desperation for Christ! For a few days after Hurricane Katerina our hearts were turned. For a few days after 9/11 our hearts were turned. May our lives be so desperate for Jesus that we do as Paul tells us in Thessalonians, to “pray without ceasing…”

How can we talk to men about God if we haven’t talked to God about men? -EM Bounds

An Awareness of God’s Power. “the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,” They prayed, the place shook, God was at work. We may not physically see the outward working of God’s power, but we can notice the inward peace of His power!

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And They recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

An Ability to be used by the Holy Spirit’s Presence. “and they were filled with the Holy Spirit…”

We are a lot like a sponge. God fills us with the Holy Spirit in order to pour out onto others His glory! What happens to a sponge if it’s not poured out? It sours doesn’t it! If we’re not pouring Christ to those we come in contact with, we are being sour Christians. “I don’t like the carpet color pastor, I don’t like the way we do this or that.” Instead, why don’t we have joy in Jesus and pour His Spirit out everywhere?

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

An Absolute Urgency for Proclamation. “and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

“So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

What if we’re not urgent to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? “How then will they call on him in who they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14

I want you to strive to be at these services next week and to invite your lost friends or friends that need reviving! That’s all of us! There is something special about revival! I want you to write down two people you will invite! I want you to tell them that you will pick them up. Their eternity is more important than our comfort!

Some results of a person that has been with Jesus, that has been revived:

  1. An attention to prayer, talking with Him daily and being in His Word.
  2. An awareness of God’s amazing power at work.
  3. The ability to be utilized by the Holy Spirit, to pour out your life for the glory of Jesus Christ.
  4. An absolute urgency for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ! “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you’re not saved yourself, be sure of that” – CH Spurgeon

How do I get there? Spend time with Jesus! Get in the Word, spend time in prayer. If you don’t know Him, today is the day to give your life to Him, He will change you forever! Let’s commit to make these revival services special for the Kingdom!