Can We Have Revival in Our Time?

Notes: Can We Have Revival in Our Time?
Jonah 2
SPEAKER:
Greg Laurie
Sunday, June 12, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

What is it going to take to wake up our country?

We just had the worst attack yesterday in Orlando, FL since 9/11. 50 people killed.

Jonah 2 describes the largest revival in the Bible.

America can be compared to Israel, we both were founded on Biblical principles.

America needs an awakening. The church needs a revival.

1. What is revival?
Means to bring back to life.

We don't want to admit that we are asleep. Like when you dose off in a meeting or at a movie. We wake up, yet deny the sleep.

Everywhere the apostle Paul went there was either a riot or revival.

2. Biblical preaching can bring revival.

The book of Jonah proves this. Jonah didn't want to preach to the people of Nineveh because he knew God would save them.

Nineveh was a population of about 1,000,000. They were the most powerful people of the time.

Jonah ran from his duty to preach. God brought a storm to the boat Jonah was on. Then God had a sea monster swallow him. Then Jonah had a personal revival in the belly of the fish.

Jonah 2:1-3,7-10 NKJV
[1] Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. [2] And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. [3] For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. [7] "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. [8] "Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. [9] But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." [10] So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

3. We often make the topic of revival to mysterious.

1. Let a few Christians get thoroughly right with God.
2. Let them commit to the prayer for revival to God opens the window of Heaven and comes down.
3. Let them put themselves at the disposal of God.

Jonah 3:4-10 NKJV
[4] And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" [5] So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. [6] Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. [7] And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. [8] But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. [9] Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? [10] Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

What a stunning awakening...God spared them.

4. A revived person will be an evangelistic person.

Most people are introduced to Christianity by people that have been believers for two years or less.

5. Even revived people need reviving again.

Jonah 4:1-4 NLT
[1] This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. [2] So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. [3] Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen." [4] The LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?"

Jonah was angry that judgement didn't come.

The problem with Jonah was he preoccupied with himself.

You worry about new believers that aren't changing fast enough, yet you should be worried about older believers that have stopped changing.

Jonah 4:5-11 NLT
[5] Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. [6] And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. [7] But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. [8] And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed. [9] Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?" "Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!" [10] Then the LORD said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. [11] But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"

That must of been a big worm! 

Jonah was like the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son.

Luke 15:25-32 NLT
[25] "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, [26] and he asked one of the servants what was going on. [27] 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' [28] "The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, [29] but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. [30] Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!' [31] "His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. [32] We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

Galatians 6:1 NLT
[1] Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

We all have a Nineveh that we are called to. 

Jonah wrote the book of Jonah, even Jonah 4.

Jonah 4:9-11 NLT
[9] Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?" "Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!" [10] Then the LORD said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. [11] But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"

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

Your love can grow deeper and stronger for the Lord.

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.

God sent his healing and he can do the same for you.