Tuesday, May 1, 2007

5-1-07 Revival "Habakkuk 2:18-3:2"

The Month of May's Study is: Revival

Memory Verse: Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

"REVIVAL" is a misused word. It is often used to describe a series of meetings where genuine revival never takes place. Walter Boldt has written: "Revival is God at work, restoring His church to health." Revival must begin with the people of God.

Most Christians say they want a revival in America. Yet, revival is not legislated in Congress or decided in the halls of justice. Good or bad decisions by Government may affect the conduct of certain citizens but revival can only be experienced by Christians.

If we are to have revival, we must be willing to confess and forsake favorite sins. Those areas of constant defeat must be given to the Lord. You know the battlefield. Is it your thought life? Your tongue? Your temper? Tell Jesus. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

Also vital is our relationship with others. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Revival is very personal. Gypsy Smith was asked how to start a revival. He answered: "Go home, lock yourself in your room and kneel down in the middle of the floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start a revival inside that chalk mark. When He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on."

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