WITHIN THE DOOR OF REVIVAL
Isa. 64:1-3
Introduction
In 1904, the spiritual condition of Wales was desperate. Churches were empty, sin abounded, and God was forgotten.
Then suddenly, like an unexpected tornado, the Spirit of God moved upon that land. There was such an overwhelming sense of God’s presence that the churches became full to overflowing. Christians got right with God. Sinners were converted. In 5 weeks 20,000 were saved.
* 5 COMMON OCCURRENCES IN REVIVAL
1. Dramatic Consciousness of God’s Presence
2. Deliberate Response to God’s Word
3. Demanding Sensitivity to Sin
4. Demonstration of Personal Holiness
5. Dramatic Fruit in Evangelism
* WHEN GOD DRAWS NEAR, THERE IS A DYNAMIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
A DYNAMIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
I. His Presence Is Dynamically Experienced
Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence-- As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil-- To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence! (Isa. 64:1-2)
* ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN - WHEN GOD COMES NEAR, YOU WILL KNOW IT.
1. Isaiah
Isa. 6:1-5 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple
- quaking mountains are pretty dynamic
2. Tabernacle
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Ex. 40:34-35)
3. Upper Room
Acts 2:1-4 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting
4. Throughout History
* JOHN WESLEY: Great Revivalist
Jan. 1,1739 - gathered with friends including brother Charles, George Whitefield
- Watch-night Service Praying
“About 3 in the morning as we were continuing earnest in prayer, the Presence of the God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried up for exceeding joy and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from awe and amazement at the presence of His majesty, we broke out in song.”
5. Elijah
Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)
* THE DRAMATIC PRESENCE OF GOD IS NOT ALWAYS EXPERIENCED IN THE LOUD - BUT OFTEN IN THE DRAMATICALLY QUIET.
** THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, YOU WILL MOST OFTEN KNOW IT.
* QUESTION: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU EXPERIENCED THE DRAMATIC PRESENCE OF GOD? - are you experiencing the Presence of God in your life?
- is He real to you or is your Christian existence only a life style.
II. His Presence Is To Be A Daily Experience
1. To Be Experienced By All Believers
* Not for the few or the super saints
* John 15 - point is we are to have a intimate fellowship with God
* As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God (Ps. 42:1-2)
2. To Be Experienced In Worship
*GOD WANTS TO COME NEAR US IN WORSHIP
- many times we find worship boring. WHY?
- We don’t sense God’s presence
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me (Matt. 15:8-9)
3. To Be Experienced In Daily Life
* GOD WANTS TO COME NEAR US IN DAILY LIFE
- Practice the presence of God
* John 15 - all about nearness and intimacy
** THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A DYNAMIC SENSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR WORSHIP AND IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES INDICATES THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DESPERATELY WRONG IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES FOR WHEN GOD DRAWS NEAR, THERE IS A DYNAMIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS PRESENCE.
- when we don’t experience that, it should drive us to our knees
III. His Presence Is A Deliberate Experience
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22)
1. Draw Near Through The Blood Of Christ vs 19-20
Cannot know God apart from Christ
* (STRESS) - DRAW NEAR TO GOD THROUGH THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
- repentance and faith in Christ
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:8-10)
2. Draw Near With A Sincere Heart Heb. 10:22
Sincere = gk. Alethinos ((al-ay-thee-nos') = genuine - not superficial - Unhypocritical - THE REAL THING
* WHEN WE HAVE A SUPERFICIAL DESIRE FOR GOD, HE DOES NOT DRAW NEAR.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)
* MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE - LOVE GOD SUPREMELY
-heart = emotion, soul - inner being, mind - intellect,
strength - body , zeal
Illustrate:
When Garibaldi recruited men to fight off a horde of invaders, he made it clear that he wanted only soldiers who were true patriots. In reply to the question "What do you offer?" He said, "I give you neither pay nor quarters nor provisions. I offer only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battle and possible death." Yet he gave them something to fight for, when he said, "Let him who loves his country with his whole heart, not with his lips only, follow me."
--The Lord Jesus seeks men and women who will serve Him unselfishly and courageously.
3. Draw Near With Pure Hearts Heb. 10:22
“The New Testament Christian must come to God with a pure heart and a clean conscience. Fellowship with God demands purity.” (Warren Wiersbe)
* SIN ALWAYS INTERFERES WITH FELLOWSHIP
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me (Ps. 66:18)
But your iniquities have separated you from your God. And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear (Isa. 59:2)
* IF WE WANT GOD TO DRAW NEAR THEN WE MUST HAVE CLEAN HEARTS - committed to Holiness
And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13)
Conclusion
* WHEN WE SEEK GOD WITH OUR ALL OUR HEART WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE DYNAMIC PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.
* ARE YOU PRACTISING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE DAILY?
ARE YOU SEEKING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART?
