Revival, the Old Fashioned Way (Part 1)
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000
Revival, the Old Fashioned Way (Part 1)
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued
stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread,
and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and
signs were done by the apostles. ... Praising God, and having favour with
all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved." (Acts 2:41-43, 47)
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31)
This note and the one following is primarily a sermon outline. Here are
the three simple main points:
Revival...
I. Born in the Spirit of Prayer
II. Brought Forth by the Spirit of Holiness
III. Branches Out Through the Spirit of Evangelism
Intro: Acts 2:41-47 is a picture of a revived church = conviction,
conversions, continuance, community. Is this kind of church we are part of?
What are God's intentions? (Refer to Acts chapters 1 and 2) Revival
started in Acts chapter one. By the end of chapter two it is in full bloom.
Much of the rest of the book of Acts gives a picture of true Holy Ghost
wrought revival. Christianity spread by the Spirit of Revival throughout
the world all because of the Holy Spirit.
Years ago in communist controlled Bulgaria, Brother Andrew visited the
underground churches. He decided to visit a "puppet" church, which had a
"hand-in-glove" pastor named Basil -- one who was supposed to be under the
communist government's control. There were about 40 or 50 people in
attendance. Basil asked Brother Andrew to preach. After much prayer, for
he thought that it might be a trap, Brother Andrew felt that God said to
say, "Yes".
Brother Andrew preached for three or four services. The church was
packed and the Spirit moved. Later, the church had 400 people. At that
time the Communists moved Basil and replaced him with a "safe" pastor.
Persecution came upon the people. Many scattered and took the flame of
revival all over.
When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings holy fire. When the Devil tries
to put out, it usually gets spread about!
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Revival. Lawrence B. Hicks, in his
wonderful sermon "This Is That" had as one of his points "This Is That That
Will Revive the Church". His sermon emphasized the instrumentality of the
Holy Spirit in the hearts of people and the progress of the church.
Old Fashioned Revival Is
I. BORN IN THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER -- "And when they had prayed
the place wasshaken where they were assembled together." (Acts 4:31)
What happens when we pray? Leonard Ravenhill said that when the church
today has "played, the place is taken." -- no doubt by enemy.
"Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is
from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. ... These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother
of Jesus, and with his brethren." (Acts 1:12-14)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER.
The Holy Spirit:
A. Leads into prayer
B. Helps to pray (Romans 8:26)
C. Comes in answer to prayer (Luke 11:13)
Revival is not worked up, but prayed down and worked out. When the
Spirit comes He revives the church.
John Wesley Redfield believed that, when opposition of the Devil came,
the Truth and the Holy Spirit would prevail. So he would pray for more of
Spirit's presence and power, and he would continue to preach the
unadulterated Truth of God's Word.
Laurence B. Hicks (also from his sermon, "This Is That") told about an
event at a church where he pastored. He had Brother Elbert Dodd scheduled
for a revival meeting. The Sunday before the meeting began, God impressed
him to try to get the youth group to praying. He asked his youth leader, a
timid but sanctified young lady, to set aside whatever she had planned and
have a prayer meeting. She said that she would try.
What were the results? The leader and maybe a couple others knelt down
to pray, but many of the youth were not too interested. After a while,
those with spiritual needs began to seek God. By the time their regular
service was to begin, the youth prayer meeting was ablaze. So, Brother
Hicks did not interrupt, but began his service. While trying to conduct the
service, he could hear the prayer meeting getting stronger and stronger.
The young people were really praying through to victory! Finally, they
could not contain the meeting any longer and the young people came marching
into the sanctuary singing, "My heavenly home is bright and fair and I feel
like traveling on". Before Brother Dodd had arrived, a true revival had
already been born in the Spirit of prayer.
The Holy Spirit
D. Leaves when we do not pray
S. L. Brengle told of a preacher who talked too much on the way to a
church service and found that the power of God had gone from him. I wonder
how many people these days do not even realize that this may be the reason
they do not enjoy much of God's blessing in their church services. So many
churches have a great amount of socializing, but little true prayer before
services.
I have read about a real revival, which lasted for 13 years in one
place. Suddenly it stopped abruptly. Know one seemed to know the reason.
Then one young man got up in a service and confessed that he had been
praying a good portion of every Saturday night, but had just decided that he
would rest this time. Revival ceased when the man who had been prevailing
in prayer for it ceased praying. (Note: If the Spirit of God is moving in
a place, there is a reason for it! If He leaves it could be because the
cause of His coming has ceased.)
Oh, may the Lord help us to pray in the old fashioned way, until a
mighty Holy Ghost revival is born in our hearts and spreads throughout the
land.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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