Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Jan. 20, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE DESIGN FOR REVIVAL

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

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:11-15

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14

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.

Introduction: I used this scripture reading two weeks ago in a message to consider THE DEFINITION OF REVIVAL, or What IS Revival? Last week I brought you a message called THE DEMAND FOR REVIVAL, which was about why revival is NEEDED. This morning I want to preach on the subject, THE DESIGN FOR REVIVAL, or How is it to be carried out?

How may we have revival? What will it take for God to bless our country again? What is required for God to heal our homes? What do we need to see Christians get the victory in their lives?

Let’s examine this passage, a favorite one for people who are considering revival, and make some observations about it.

The first thing in the passage is

I. THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

Notice the three “I’s” of verse 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;

GOD is the one who opens or shuts heaven. GOD is the one who blesses or curses a nation.

A. Let’s look to HIM

Psalms 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

B. Let’s listen to HIM

In private
In prayer
In the pages of the Bible

C. Let’s learn from HIM

America, get back to the Bible!
Churches, learn how to “do it” from the word of God!
Husbands and wives, run your homes and raise your children according to “God’s Training Manual” – the holy scriptures!

Now, what does God say is up to US? How does God use human instruments to bring revival? There are five ingredients:

II. THE PEOPLE

The position and condition of God’s people affect the way God blesses a land. See Abraham’s prayer and conversation with God about Sodom to see how important it is to have righteous people in a community.

A. GOD’S people must see the need

B. GOD’S people must start the fire of turning back to God

C. GOD’S people must spread the fire

D. God’s people must sustain the fire

III. THE PRIDE

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves …

God has humbled our country in recent days. We never thought that someone would be bold enough to attack us on our own shores.

If we want to avoid further humbling by God and OTHERS, we need to humble OURSELVES, which is what our text says!

We must be humble enough to

A. Receive rebuke and correction

B. Recognize our sins before God

As a country
As a church
As individuals

C. Reconcile with our brethren

Evil feelings toward others cuts off our fellowship with God!

D. Realize our insufficiency

E. Request help from our God

IV. THE PRAYER

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray …

There will be no revival without a revival of PRAYING!

We must encourage a new beginning of obedience to God about

A. Praying privately

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

B. Praying publicly

Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

C. Praying persistently

- Luke 11:1-10 gives an example of persistent praying. In talking about the man who requested bread from his friend for his guests, Jesus said:

Luke 11:8-10 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Importunity – sticking with it!
Ask, and keep on asking!
Seek, and keep on seeking!
Knock, and keep on knocking!

D. Praying passionately

We need to get our heart into praying!
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

E. Praying positively

James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

V. THE PURSUIT

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall … 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.

A. We need to seek God’s person in fellowship

Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

B. We need to seek God’s power in fruitfulness

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

C. We need to seek God’s plan

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

D. We need to seek God’s priorities

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

E. We need to seek God’s partnership

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

VI. THE PARTING

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

There will be no revival without a turning from sin among God’s people!

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Consider some of the wicked ways that are prevalent among the people of God today. Perhaps we will recognize that they are some of our own attitudes and actions:

A. Selfishness and lack of consideration for others

Me first, others next.

B. Stealing God’s tithes and offerings

According to Malachi 3:8-10, a man woman, boy or girl is a thief if he doesn’t give God’s tithes and offerings.

C. Sitting idly by without working

One of the great sins among God’s people is an unwillingness to get involved in the work of God!
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

D. Slandering the brethren

James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

E. Setting up idols in our hearts

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Jobs
Family

F. Shifting toward the world, the flesh, and the devil

Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, and he eventually ended up living in Sodom and sitting with the elders in the gates of the city!
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

VII. THE PROMISE

The promise is that if God’s people do what WE should do, then God will do three things for us. There will be:

A. A regard for our prayers

“then will I hear from heaven”
Sin shuts the windows of heaven and hides the face of God from us when we pray!
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

B. A restoration of our fellowship

“and will forgive their sin”
Where God’s people have unconfessed sin in their lives, fellowship with God is hindered.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

C. A repair of our land

“and will heal their land”
Wouldn’t THAT be a blessing?!!