The Heart of Revival
Notes
Transcript
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
Cyrus was prophesied in Is. Is was written in B.C. 740-701 Cyrus ordered the temple be rebuilt around 539 B.C. (Around 200 years before it happened.)
Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places;
Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’;
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
Kenneth Boa, Conformed to His image.
RENEWAL AND REVIVAL In many cases, Spirit-centered renewal movements have brought new life and vitality on a corporate and personal level. But as beneficial as this joy and exuberance can be, this form of renewal is often not the same as revival. The latter involves the Spirit’s gracious and outpouring work of revealing the holiness of God and the consequent need for godly sorrow, radical repentance, and personal humility. In revival, God confronts people through his anointed messengers of his purity and Word, and this leads to the serious business of repentance, return, and restoration. Renewal therefore needs to be deepened by a growing realization of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin.
Born Again in the Trenches:
Revivals in the Army of Tennessee
BY: G. CLINTON PRIM JR.
Revivals occurred throughout much of the history of the Army of Tennessee despite one historian's claim that revivalism began and ended at Dalton, Georgia.' During the winter of 1863 through the spring of 1864, this spiritual outpouring reached its pinnacle in the Army of Tennessee as all the chaplains united and thousands were converted and baptised.
However, during the war's first months there were were numerous reports of soldiers playing cards, swearing, and drinking within a few feet of religious services. During the first winter of the war, soldiers did not take enough interest in religious services to prepare a place for public worship. As Cherry stated: "for more than a year, very few manifested any desire to become Christian save the sick or wounded."' In later years while the army was in winter quarters with no active campaigning it became customary to erect a rude stand surrounded by seats of round logs or split timber. Immediately after it was built, preaching and prayer meetings were conducted.
However what is Revival
Strictly speaking revival is not mentioned in the New Testament, Although the concept is there. The first mention is in Gen
But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
Revival, as found in the bible is not an emotional experience, but rather a renewal of life.
I. Revival must come from God.
I. Revival must come from God.
A. Stirred up
A. Stirred up
This word means to agitate or literally means to set on fire. It comes from the the root word that provides the idea of passionate desire.
As a hormonal young person would burn with a desire that is unsatisfied so was the heart pf Cyrus towards the rebuilding of the temple.
Many commentators have said that Cyrus moved with a desire for political gain and that this move was only for influence. However, this interpretation denies the work of God in his heart.
B. The Heart
B. The Heart
“Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’
II. God is not limited to us.
II. God is not limited to us.
A. God used someone with ability.
A. God used someone with ability.
God used some with ability, and then made the way possible and blessed the efforts.
B. God used the willing.
B. God used the willing.
God used the person who was willing to act, not the person who talked about it.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
III. We cannot place God in a box.
III. We cannot place God in a box.
A. God may work where we cannot.
A. God may work where we cannot.
B. God may work where we have not.
B. God may work where we have not.
C. God may work where we will not.
C. God may work where we will not.