Revival in the Land
One Year Bible (Aug. 1)
2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
Revival in the Land
“Revival is an invasion from heaven that brings a conscious awareness of God.” --Stephen Olford (Billy Graham called him “the man who most influenced my ministry.)
Billy Sunday was a famous preacher in a past era of revival meetings. They say that one lady asked him, “Why do you keep having revivals?”
His reply to her was simple, “Why do you keep taking baths?”
True Revival is.. the Tangible Manifestation of God where Godliness in people can be seen in Tangible ways! What is dirty can be made clean and pure!
King Hezekiah was the son of one of the worst kings of Judah, Ahaz, who had followed after the evil kings of Israel rather than after David. Ahaz had made idols for Baal worship. The valley he created was called “the place of burning” where Molech worship including infant sacrifice was practiced. Ahaz even offered up one of his own sons to this Molech idol.
King Hezekiah offered an invitation and call to revival to the people of Judah during a very dark time. Not only does Hezekiah appear in the midst of a very black backdrop personally as the son of Ahaz, but he enters into a very dark time for the nation of Judah. These people had no temple.
On the very FIRST MONTH of the VERY FIRST YEAR of his reign, his very FIRSt GOAL even before fortifying the walls of the city was to REOPEN the DOORS of the Temple.
So, he sent out an invitation for all to come. Some mocked him openly! What proceeded this invitation?
There was the reading of the Word of God and what he required of HIS people. Here is what Hezekiah learned, “God is with those who are with HIM!”
The people had departed from God in every way possible and life had become impossible!
The first secret about REVIVAL is that it often occurs against a very BLACK BACKDROP in time! Perhaps that is because the light can be seen best in broken people! The light oozes through all of their CRACKS!
Hezekiah lived out the RECIPE for REVIVAL found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “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.”
Hezekiah humbled himself through repentance and prayerfully sought to follow the leadership of Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. He learned the ways of David who truly sought after God and the commandments of Moses. He was determined to restore worship, sacrifices, and all the celebrations of God back to the people so that they could truly worship. Before that, he actively destroyed the pagan idols and called the priests and Levites to join him in purifying The Temple.
We see that they had to push the celebration back for a month as they weren’t ready. Not only that but he needed to intercede for the people because they had not “properly purified themselves” to come and sacrifice. God heard his prayer. (30:17)
When they did offer the celebration of “The Festival of Unleavened Bread”, we see that it went on for an extra SEVEN days! It lasted 14 days rather than 7 days! Why?
“There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God HEARD their prayer from his HOLY DWELLING IN HEAVEN.” (30:26)
There are THREE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES ABOUT REVIVAL that are evident here:
PURIFICATION PROCEEDS REVIVAL
PERSISTENT PRAYER ACCELERATES REVIVAL
PRAISE FOLLOWS REVIVAL
Another term for REVIVAL is AWAKENING… People experience brokenness, repentance, renewal, and restoration.
Strongholds are TORN DOWN and God is LIFTED UP!
You see, many seek the supernatural, but NOT MANY seek “THE SUPERNATURAL”!
Hezekiah sought to obey the Word of God, humble himself, pray, and seek after God wholeheartedly. He called the people to join him in full complete, obedient worship.
IDOLS can’t fill hearts that are wholeheartedly filled with God. Hezekiah knew the key to revival, “Return to God and He will Return to you!”
In the darkest of times came a great awakening because there was REVIVAL IN THE LAND!
