Revive Us, O Lord! Dr. Jim Cecy Introduction A true revival of the masses has to come one person at a time. The History of Revivals

“...a surprising work of God.”

What are the real evidences of revival? True revival occurs when an individual’s heart is shaken and stirred by God and he responds in humility to the work of God in His life. Background to Isaiah 6

Evidence #1. A renewed desire to know Christ more intimately. Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” cf. John 12:41 Isaiah saw the Christ, the Lord on His throne. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) “When revival comes, I expect to see to see two things...first, a new sense of the holiness of God and...second, a new sense of the sinfulness of sin.” (Dr. Billy Graham) “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.” (John Wesley)

Evidence #2. A renewed awareness of our own sinfulness and the sinfulness of others. Isaiah 6:5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” James 4:8-9 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.” Isaiah 6:5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Evidence #3. A renewed willingness to turn from sin. Isaiah 6:6-7 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” There can be no true revival in my heart if there is not true repentance in my life. (Repentance = Admitting • Confessing • Turning) 2 Chronicles 7:14 “...My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” e.g. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

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Evidence #4. A renewed commitment to be used of God anywhere He sends us. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:9-11 He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate.

Evidence #5. A renewed understanding of dying to self. “True revival is expensive. It will cost you your life!” Matthew 16:24 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” The World says: “Indulge Yourself!” — Christ says: “Deny Yourself!” Matthew 10:38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. DENYING self begins with DYING to self. 1. Dying to self means being honest with myself and God. Ps. 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord;” And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah. Our Confessions • I am proud and self-reliant • I am unwilling to take up my cross and follow Christ • I am hypocritical -- expecting others do live in a way that I don't • I have a hard time confessing my faults to others • My life is consumed by secret sins of the heart, mind or body • I am too entangled in the affairs of everyday life • I am really just playing with the word “commitment” • I am not one who spends consistent time in the Word and prayer 2. Dying to self means admitting I need God. 2 Cor. 3:5 “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God...” Our Admissions • I admit I need God more than I need more time • I admit I need God more than I need more money • I admit I need God more than I need more talent • I admit I need God more than I need better health • I admit I need God more than I need any thing or any one 3. Dying to self means looking at others as more important than myself. Phil. 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” The Challenge: 2 Cor. 3:12-13 “Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look intently at the end of what was fading away.” Renovate My Heart, O Lord! 2

For Further Reflection:

Old Testament Verses Regarding Revival, Renewal and Restoration Job 8:6 If you are pure and upright, Surely now He would rouse Himself for you And restore your righteous estate. Job 22:23 “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, Ps. 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Ps. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Ps. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. Ps. 60:1 O God, Thou hast rejected us. Thou hast broken us; Thou hast been angry; O, restore us. Ps. 69:32 The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive. Ps. 71:20 Thou, who hast shown me many troubles and distresses, Wilt revive me again, And wilt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Ps. 80:7 O God of hosts, restore us, And cause Thy face to shine upon us, and we will be saved. Ps. 80:18 Then we shall not turn back from Thee; Revive us, and we will call upon Thy name. Ps. 85:4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease. Ps. 85:6 Wilt Thou not Thyself revive us again, That Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Ps. 119:25 My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Thy word. Ps. 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Thy ways. Ps. 119:40 Behold, I long for Thy precepts; Revive me through Thy righteousness. Ps. 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me. Ps. 119:88 Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Thy mouth. Ps. 119:93 I will never forget Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast revived me. Ps. 119:107 I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy word. Ps. 119:149 Hear my voice according to Thy lovingkindness; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thine ordinances. Ps. 119:154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Thy word. Ps. 119:156 Great are Thy mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Thine ordinances. Ps. 119:159 Consider how I love Thy precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy lovingkindness. Ps. 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Thy right hand will save me. Ps. 143:11 For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, revive me. In Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. Is. 38:16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health, and let me live! Is. 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. Is. 57:18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, Jer. 15:19 Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you-Jer. 31:18 “...Bring me back that I may be restored, For Thou art the Lord my God. Jer. 33:7 And I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first. Lam. 1:16 “For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul; My children are desolate Because the enemy has prevailed.” Lam. 5:21 Restore us to Thee, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, Hos. 6:2 He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day That we may live before Him. Hab. 3:2 Lord, I have heard the report about Thee and I fear. O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. Zech. 9:12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

© 2013 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com

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