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THE EVIDENCE OF REVIVAL

INTRODUCTION

What are we talking about when we say that we say that we want to see “Revival”?

The word "Revival" has several meanings. According to Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language there are four definitions:

1)        It can mean “Return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death.”

(This definition is not applicable to the true Church, because we have been made alive through Christ!)

2)        It can mean “Return or recall to activity from a state of languor (laxity).”

3)        It can mean “Recall, return or recovery from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression.”

4)        It can mean “Renewed and more active attention to religion; an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns.” This is the most applicable of the definitions.

            It is talking about a renewal of interest in or a new consciousness to the things of God.

This world we live in stands in dire need of Revival. But where does Revival start?

According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, Revival must start with God's people.

1 Peter 4:17–“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Something that is truly dead cannot be revived except it be given life by God. A lost person is spiritually dead to things of God. Therefore, until they are born again and Christ makes them anew, they can't be revived.

In God's Word, many exhortations are given to God’s people to awake, arise, and get busy for God. Romans 13:11, tells us,"And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

It is evident today that many of God's people have been rocked to sleep by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, but it is time to wake up and serve the LORD!

Here in our text, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, became King of Judah. His Father Ahaz had lived wickedly according to Chapter 16. When Hezekiah started his reign, at the age of 25, he saw that God's people had left the worship of God to worship and serve idols.

Think about this for a minute. God’s people had forgotten what He had done in their lives. Forgotten was all the might works of God–His protection, His provision, and His promises.

But, think about this also. Sometimes we are prone to do the same thing. We forget who we serve and what He has done for us. We forget that without Him we can do nothing and that with Him we can do seemingly impossible things if we let Him have His way in our lives.

Hezekiah, experienced the blessings of God, because he realized one thing--Revival begins with the individual. His father had done wickedly and led the people astray. But our text tells us in verse 3 that Hezekiah, “. . .did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.”

What about us? Are we living lives that are pleasing to God? Are we willing to step up and be

right even though we may different than those around us?

What is the evidence of Revival? How can we know when we have truly had Revival? Let’s look at the example of Hezekiah. When Revival came to the land of Judah, it was evident because of what we see in Hezekiah’s life:

I.         HEZEKIAH RETURNED TO THE OLD PATHS OF THOSE WHO WALKED WITH GOD BEFORE HIM. (2 Kings 18:3)

            Jeremiah 3:22–“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.”

Jeremiah 6:16–“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Isaiah 1:6–“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;”

Isaiah 55:7–“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

II.      HEZEKIAH REMOVED ALL FORMS OF IDOLATRY. (2 Kings 18:4)

Notice that he didn’t just put them in storage to be brought out again.

            He destroyed them!

God’s first command to His people from Mt. Sinai was “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Psalms 44:20-21–“If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

The LORD knows how true we are to Him and if there is anything else in our lives that claims the allegiance that only belongs to Him.

III.     HEZEKIAH RELIED FULLY UPON THE LORD. (2 Kings 18:5, 6)

Psalm 37:3-5

Psalm 115:11–“Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.”

            Psalm 4:5–“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 62:8–“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8--“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

IV.     HEZEKIAH REALIZED THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

            (2 Kings 18:7; Ephesians 3:14-19)

            God has promised not to leave us or forsake us. That promise is unconditional.

            Hebrews 13:5b–“. . .for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

            However, realizing or experiencing the fullness of God’s presence is another thing.

            In order to be filled with God, we must be empty of other things.

Psalm 16:11–“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

V.        HEZEKIAH RECEIVED GOD’S HELP IN THE TRIALS OF LIFE.

            (2 Kings 19:14-19; 2 Kings 20:1-6)

            A.        It Came From Being A Man Of Prayer.

                        He wasn’t afraid to ask God for great things.

                        He wasn’t afraid to shed a few tears for what he wanted.

            B.        It Came From Being A Man Of Faith.

                        He believed God for great things.

            C.        It Came From Being A Man Of Obedience.

                        He obeyed God in both great and small things.

CONCLUSION:

When Revival truly comes things will be different. Change, of necessity, will come.

Some people don't like change, but sometimes change can be good.

If God hadn't saved and changed us, where would we be now?

Do you want Revival? If so, it has to start in all of our hearts and then move out into our living or we will never experience true Revival!

Why don’t we begin the process of Revival right now before the meeting on Sunday even starts.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!