Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Jan. 13, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE DEMAND FOR REVIVAL

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:11-15

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:13

2 Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

Introduction: I have chosen to emphasize as a theme for our church year, “Lord, Send A Revival!” Last week I brought a message called, “The Definition Of Revival.” I believe God stirred our hearts. We praise the Lord for the professions of faith, baptism, and additions last week, but there was also a movement among the people of God.

One evangelist of the past defined revival as “nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to the word of God.” I like that. I explained revival last week as the supernatural work of God in the hearts and lives of submissive believers that brings 1. life from death; 2. laughter from despair; 3. liberty from domination; and 4. labor from decay and dilapidation.

This morning I want to preach to you on this subject: “The Demand For Revival.” That is, why is a revival needed? Why am I stressing it? Why do we seek it?

I. REVIVAL IS DEMANDED BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS

2 Chronicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night …

The best thing about dark times in our lives is that in those times we are most likely to seek help from God and draw close to Him.

Jacob wrestled with the angel during the night and was renamed Israel. The butler had a dream by night in the dungeon, and God showed him that he was going to be restored to his place with the king. Nicodemus first came to Jesus by night, and he eventually came to know Him who is the light of the world.

We are in a dark hour, beloved. But be of good cheer! The darkness of the hour may motivate us to draw nigh to God, that He may shine down upon us with the light of His countenance!

America is getting darker by the hour!

A. Our liberties are growing darker

Speech liberties are in danger
Religious liberties are in danger
Travel liberties are in danger

B. Our laws are growing darker

Many of our lawmakers are lawbreakers
Thank God for a President and Attorney General who are at least giving public recognition to God, prayer, and the Bible!
Still, many of our lawmakers are perverts, drunks, thieves, liars, and God-haters!

C. Our learning institutions are growing darker

Schools are now one of the most dangerous places for a child to be … other than a mother’s womb (abortion)!
Children are killing children!
After all of the money has been pumped into government schools, Johnny STILL can’t read!
Teachers do not have the authority and power to control their classrooms!
Kids are afraid to go to the restroom, because they might get robbed!
Too much emphasis is given to making sure that kids have views that are “politically correct” than that the kids have CHARACTER and the ability, to read, write, and solve problems!

II. REVIVAL IS DEMANDED BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT

2 Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain …

When we think of heaven being shut up, we think first of prayers not being answered.

Also, though, the Bible compares rain to the word of God:

Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Bibles are EVERYWHERE in our country, but there is no rain in many places, because the Bible is not being READ or PREACHED.

Amos 8:11-12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Because of the lack of the rain of the word of God, we are plagued in our country, churches, and individual lives by

Thirst
Dirt
Fruitlessness

A. God’s word has been disallowed from the schools of the land

Because of pressure from a wicked woman named Madalyn Murray O’Haire and those who supported her, the Supreme Court decided that school was no place for Bible reading and prayer.
So the Bible is gone, and in its place we have murder, rape, ignorance, disorder, disrespect, drugs, and teenage pregnancy.

B. God’s word has been displaced in the churches of the land

In some churches the AV 1611 has been replaced by modern “perversions” of scripture.
Some churches have church services without any preaching or teaching from the Bible.
You can rest assured that when you attend our church, the Bible will be expounded, explained, and EXPLODED for the glory of God!
Many churches have 45 minutes of singing and 15 minutes of preaching.
Many churches substitute slides, films, videos, and drama for the word of God at some church services.

C. God’s word has been disobeyed in the homes of our land

Men are failing to lead their homes, even though God’s word says that they are to be the head of the wife and of the home.
Men are letting their wives and children have to take the lead in church life, as in other areas.
Men are failing to discipline their children, and their kids are growing up to rebel against ALL authority.
Women are rebelling against their husbands, even though the Bible tells them to REVERE and OBEY their husbands.
Husbands and wives work two and three jobs to try to make ends meet, but they place themselves under a financial CURSE by not giving TITHES and OFFERINGS each week!
Men, READ your Bibles, and LIVE by it!
Ladies, READ your Bibles, and LIVE by it!
Young people, READ your Bibles, and LIVE by it!

III. REVIVAL IS DEMANDED BECAUSE OF THE DEVOURING LOCUSTS

2 Chronicles 7:13 … or if I command the locusts to devour the land …

A. Satan

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
SATAN is on the loose in this world!
He is deceiving multitudes and damning them to hell!

B. Spirits of devils

Spirits of devils are at work in the religious world …
Charismatic movement … phony healing, phony tongues, phony signs and wonders
Spiritism, fortune tellers, people who communicate with the dead

C. Seducers

I wrote a book called, “Why Benny Fools So Many.” Multitudes are deceived by the likes of him, Jimmy Swaggert, Paul Crouch and TBN, and other charismatics. MOST charismatics are confused about the doctrine of salvation.
Mormons and Jehovah’s False Witnesses are fooling many people with their counterfeit appearance (clean-cut, sharply dressed, going house to house two-by-two) and message (clean living, family values, etc.).
Unlike many Christians, these cults STUDY what they believe, and they are able to overwhelm babes in Christ sometimes.

D. Sin

Sin is a deceiver, defiler, detective, destroyer, and like a devouring locust. But I will say more about sin in my next point.

IV. REVIVAL IS DEMANDED BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE

2 Chronicles 7:13 … or if I send pestilence among my people;

A pestilence is like a plague. AIDS has frightened our entire country. Anthrax and smallpox have many people scared in recent days.

I realize that sin is not a sickness to be treated by doctors, but it is LIKE a disease, especially the disease of LEPROSY. Leprosy is a type, or picture, in the Bible of sin.

A. Our country’s sins

Sodomy
Abortion
Gambling
Fornication and adultery
Drugs and alcohol
Forgetting God

B. Our churches’ sins, the organizations and their members

Worldliness in appearance, attitude, and action
Pride
Envy
Covetousness (adultery in heart and deed, living beyond means, not tithing, missing church to work and make money)
Unfaithfulness

V. REVIVAL IS DEMANDED BECAUSE OF THE DECISION

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

That’s a big IF …

God IS sovereign, and it is true that GOD sends revival. Yet, the verse clearly says, “IF my people …”

A. A country can have a revival if there is a decision

There would have to be a move among the people of God in the country.

B. A community can have a revival if there is a decision

C. A church can have a revival if there is a decision

D. A Christian can have a revival if there is a decision

Will you desire revival today?
Will you decide for revival today?
Will you dedicate yourself to revival today?