I am leading my church through a 40 day time of prayer and fasting which starts tomorrow, 2/18/15. It's purpose is to seek the face of God for revival in the church and a great awakening in our land. Throughout the 40 days they will receive a daily bible study along with a prayer guide. I will begin posting the bible studies and prayer guide tomorrow and would love for others to join us. This is the introduction.
Introduction
For the past several years, God has given me a burden to write this study. He has given me a burden for seeing revival in our land and in our time, which is the purpose of this study. Not a week of meetings that soon is forgotten or isolated movements that soon fade, but a mighty moving of God’s powerful hand that spreads throughout the land capturing the glory of His splendor. As I read through the Word of God and church history, I can come to no other conclusion than the fact that He is able, He is more than able. We will also see the clear biblical truths unfold that He is also willing.
Through my studies, I am fully convinced that God desires to move mightily upon the land. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” God wants His glory to be seen. So what is the problem you might ask? We are. We have become so obsessed with “us” that we have not allowed God to be seen through us. We glory in the works and wisdom of man rather than standing in awe of the greatness of God. God’s heart is that His glory is seen by the world through us. However, we must get “us” out of the way.
In this study we will take a close look at II Chronicles 7:14 along with its biblical context. God set apart King Solomon to be the man who would build His temple. God had provided Solomon with the wisdom and the wealth to build a phenomenal house in which the very presence of God would rest. In II Chronicles 6 the nation of Israel gathered together in the outer court of the temple for a dedication service. Solomon prayed asking for God’s hand of blessing and guidance to come upon them. In chapter seven we see the Shekinah Glory of God fall down on the temple and consume the offering.
When the glory of God fell, the priests were not even able to enter the temple. They could not fulfill their priestly duties-duties that God had called them to, equipped them for, and anointed them for. They could not do the very thing that God had called them to do because God showed up and said, “I will take it from here”.
That is true revival. That is what I am longing for and what I pray you are longing for as well: God’s showing up in such a way that man has to simply get out of the way; God’s moving in such a way that everyone, beyond a shadow of doubt, knows this is a movement of a mighty God; and God’s moving so mightily that no man can share in His glory because it is all directed to Him. I am seeking true revival where God moves in such a way that the fires of revival fall from heaven consuming us in His glory and purifying us in His presence. An undeniable Spirit-led awakening that transforms the spiritual landscape for His glory is what I am longing for.
Volumes of books could be written about the problems our churches are facing. Even the most spiritually blind can see them. However, that is not the purpose of this study. This study is about seeking the solution. God is our solution. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The facts are overwhelmingly clear that the church of today is in desperate need of revival. God came to Solomon by night after the temple was dedicated and gave to Solomon not just the greatest formula for revival but the only formula for revival. He said to Solomon in II Chronicles 7:14, “If 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.”
Jesus said to the church in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Jesus has given the power and authority to the church to unleash the endless riches of heaven upon this earth. However, we must do it God’s way. He has also given us the power to bind heaven upon this earth. We do that by operating in our own power and authority. We must understand that God doesn’t need us; He simply chooses to work through us. However, we desperately need Him. Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Therefore, if nothing is being done, it is due to the fact that it is being done apart from Jesus.
The question for today is not what should be done if we see spiritual drought. We are seeing it! However, God has given us the answer. We must recognize who we are and whose we are. We must humble ourselves before a mighty God, call upon Him, seek His face, and turn from the things that bring dishonor to His Holy presence. Then, and only then, will we align ourselves to receive the abundant blessings that will flow through us and into this world where God then would receive all glory, honor, and praise. A few years back the contemporary Christian rock group Casting Crowns asked in song with this text of scripture in mind, “What if His people prayed?” WOW! Think of the results. What if His people prayed? What if His people who are called by His holy name humbled themselves before His majesty? What if His people who are called by His name turned from their wicked ways that dishonor Him and trusted in Him in holiness for His honor? What if His people who are called by His name were satisfied with nothing but His glorious presence and began to seek His face? What if?
We must also keep in mind that we did not get in this spiritual drought overnight. God can, if He so chooses send down revival fire upon this land at this very moment that would spread like wildfire near and far consuming all wickedness and purifying it for His purpose. However, we must understand that this is not just some seven-step plan that we do A, B, and C and 1, 2, and 3 then abracadabra alakazam; revival has come. God could put us through a testing period to examine whether we are just seeking the benefits of Him or if we are truly seeking Him. We must ask ourselves as well if we would faithfully serve Him even if we never saw a single result. Many have. God does not ask us for results. His simple request of us is obedience. The results are up to Him.
Jesus also warns us in Matthew 16:4, “an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.” This study is not about being a sign seeker it is about being a God seeker. I have no doubt signs will follow but only if our hearts are seeking God and not simply seeking the manifestation of God. Remember that the righteous walk by faith and not by sight. We see in the book of Acts that God started with a small group of one hundred and twenty ordinary men that were in an upper room prayerfully waiting on His power. When the power of God fell, revival broke out and the gospel spread like wildfire. Within one hundred years, the gospel had spread across the whole world. God is able; however, we must wait on Him, believe on Him, seek Him, and pray. What if His people prayed?
Although the need for revival in our land is abundantly clear I also know that there are many Christians who are on fire for the Lord with a heart to see God sweep a mighty revival across the land. I am also fully aware that there are many churches that God is using in extraordinary ways to reach their communities and the world for Christ.
Again this study is not about finger pointing or fussing about our spiritual state. It is about seeing the church of the Lord Jesus Christ as a whole live up to its full potential in the power and authority that God has granted, so we will join forces and storm the gates of hell raising up the banner of victory that will give glory and honor to The Lord Jesus Christ. This cannot be accomplished through my agenda; nor can it be accomplished by your agenda or anyone else’s. This can only be accomplished through us coming into agreement, and getting on board with God’s agenda. We must surrender to His will, submit to His way, and trust in His power. Let’s answer the question: What if!
Definitions:
Revival: Revival is a restoration to life. Only people who are saved and churches can experience revival. Revival is a restoration to a right relationship with God that releases the power and authority of God upon the church or saved individual. The lost cannot be revived since they are dead in their sins.
Great Awakening: An awakening is the moving of God upon the lost awakening them, or making them aware, of their sin and hostility towards God causing them to enter into repentance and salvation. A great awakening is God moving in such a way on the masses.
The People of God: In the prayer guides you will be asked to pray for the people of God. The people of God are Christians. While praying for the people of God keep in mind that you are in that number therefore, you will be praying for yourself as well.