Can We Have Revival in Our Time?

Notes: Can We Have Revival in Our Time?

2 Chronicles 7:14

SPEAKER:

Pastor Greg Laurie shares a special message for the National Day of Prayer.

Thursday, May 5, 2016 — 7:00 p.m.

The first step of Gods great movements have been prayer. It's time to beg God for an awakening.

Prayer can change things.

Can we have another revival in our life time or are the best days of America behind us?

In the last days in the Bible there is an absence of America. Why isn't America there? Super powers of the past have all started and ended. 

America may not be in scripture because a major revival may take place. If the rapture occurs we could all disappear.

Today is the national day of prayer. 

We have had four great awakenings in American history. In the 1700s there was an awakening. In the 1800s there was the tent awakenings. In the late 1800s in New York was an awakening. Then in the 1970s there was the Jesus Movement in Southern California. 

The late 60s was a bleak time compared to the 50s. In the 50s America was very optimistic. The radical 60s seemed to start when Kennedy was assassinated, then the Vietnam War was going on, MLK Jr was assassinated, Bobby Kennedy was killed, Watergate was about to happen.

The younger generation didn't see a lot of hope. The drug movement was starting up. 

Then the Jesus Movement started. The people it touched were changed for ever.

Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee were working together during that time. In that time Greg came to his faith.

During the Jesus Movement when you went to church certain things were in place:

1. There was a sense of expectancy in the services.

You could sense God's presence.

2. The Word of God was always taught.

3. People participated in the worship.

4. People brought nonbelievers to church and invitations were extended.

5. There was a belief in and teaching of the soon return of Jesus.

Jesus' coming has never been closer.

Psalm 85:6 NLT

[6] Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

Habakkuk 3:2 NLT

[2] I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.

Let's pray God does another revival.

Sometimes calamity is the best back drop for a revival. When people get desperate they will start to look up.

We can start with prayer right now, just pray...right here right now...take a minute and pray.

Revival is waking from sleep.

Revival may only be temporary, but so is a bath and it does you a lot of good.

Revival starts with the church and then affects the world.

Revival is just being a New Testament Christian.

Today most of us are settling for a watered down version of the Christian life. 

Revival is just getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived.

As revival spreads across a nation, it will change the moral climate of a community.

Joel 2:28-29 NLT

[28] "Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. [29] In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants-men and women alike.

We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

[14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Remember that verse...as important to remember as John 3:16.

When God points His finger He does not point at the government. God looks at His church.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT

[5] Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

If I don't see fruit in a persons life, I have to wonder if they are Christians.

1. If we want to see revival we need to humble ourselves and pray! "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray..."

In contrast to conventional thinking, Jesus said we must deny ourselves.

Matthew 16:24-25 NLT

[24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [25] If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

The Bible tells us one of the very signs of the last days is self-love.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 NLT

[1] You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. [2] For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

2. Judge yourself habitually...asking, am I as strong of a Christian as I could be.

Philippians 3:13 NLT

[13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Make every effort to move forward in every way.

Don't ever give up on your prayers for the salvation of others.

Acts 12:5 NLT

[5] But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Our secret weapons as a Christian are prayer and preaching.

3. If we want to see revival there must be repentance from all known sin.

All the praying in the world will not help you if you are living in sin.

Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT

[1] Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. [2] It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

To try and pray and live in known sin, is like hanging up the phone to Heaven. Service can be restored, you have to turn from your sin.

You may turn from many sins, but not doing what you know you should be doing can be sin as well.

R.A. Torrey's Prescription for Revival

1. Let a few Christians, they need not be many, get thoroughly right with God.

2. Let them commit themselves to pray for revival until God opens the windows of Heaven and comes down.

3. Let them put themselves at the disposal of God for His use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ.

That's all, it can't fail.

A revived Christian has been cleaned up by God and blessed by Him.

God wants to bless you, He loves to do it.

Psalm 84:11 NLT

[11] For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

Start doing what is right, God wants to forgive you of all of your sins.