Revival in ‘my’ city
REVIVAL IN MY CITY
Acts 2:38
Jerusalem was the revival city, of the apostles days. I like that term revival city. O my lord knows how much I want that as a term for my city, your city. Revival city.
For there to a revival city there must be a revival preacher. before the city can hold revival the preacher man must himself be in revival.
The Lord had given to Peter the keys of the kingdom, the keys to the city. They were found in his response to the crowd which shouted what must we do (to be saved) his answer is found in Acts 238.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
1.Three keys Repentance, water baptism in Jesus name, and the infilling of the Holy ghost. now imagine that event happening every Sunday night at your church. acts style salvation is the real thing and that’s what folks inside and outside of the church really want the real conversion the conversion that works, the real deal as they say. This salvation gospel which is the only gospel given to preach WORKED here’s the proof, the RESULTS of Genuine salvation:-
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2;40-43).
The results of an acts 238 salvation. 1. They gladly received his word and were baptised. 2. They were added to the church yes 3000 added to the church. 3. They continued, they didn’t backslide but they “continued” in the apostles doctrine, yes doctrine! 4. They feared God in ‘their generation 5. The revival continued with many signs and wonders done by the apostles.
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5;17).
REVIVAL COMES TO THE UNLIKELY AND LEAST QUALIFIED
The apostles were not experienced revivalists, world known preachers, tv celebrities with big ministries, they were fishermen, everyday guys who had yet to go “everywhere preaching the gospel” (Mk 16;15,16) they had yet to win a soul, they had yet to baptised into the name, they had yet to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, they had yet preach a gospel message to a crowd. think of it they were raw beginners.
So many today are like the lame man at the hour of prayer at the temple, waiting asking “alms”(finances) from others to enable them to do something big for the Lord, yes we are asking god for money in order to do the job, but friends God has other ways, he always starts with a miracle.
Silver and gold have we none but such as we have we give to you now in the name of Jesus rise up and walk.
O yes its been easy to ask God to use another, I’m praying for you brother or I prophesy over you my brother, God will use you. How easy it is to say God will use you, but Peter and John didn’t look on others to do the work they said “look on us” It’s easy to prophesy that another can do it but to say I can do it… is another thing. we have to have divine confidence that we are called chosen and elected to preach revival at this hour.
Look on us!
3. REVIVAL MUST ACCOMPANY SOUND DOCTRINE
Revival has a sound. The sound of a mighty rushing wind that came from heaven. How do you know when the sound you hear is a valid sound authentic and from God. It comes from heaven with heavens message and not your own.
Our own messages wont cut it it in revival it has to be the message of the moment that pricks the conscience of the hearers and disturbs the soul of the unredeemed. By that I don’t mean one should preach hell fire and damnation, O no, rather one should preach what Peter and Paul preached the gospel that was. prominent and dominant in their time (Acts 2:38).
Doctrine makes a think authentic, we don’t want just anything that comes our way. deceptive spirits about by the many. True Revival of itself will divide the religious (Ac7;1) ‘Are these things so,’ they said. by what power o what name have you done this (Acts 4;7). By what denomination, whose ministry?
The qualifier was not so much the apostles who were of themselves considered ‘ignorant’ and ‘unlearned’ (Acts4;13) or ‘untrained’ and ‘uneducated’ (NKJV) but rather it was the fact that they knew the name and had been with Jesus.
REVIVAL HAS TO BE IN US FIRST.
Revival begins in us first the Lord told the disciples to go to the upper room and wait for the promise fo the father, what a way to start a holy ghost revival waiting. the first thing that has to get out of the way in order for us to have revival is our programme. We have to wait for the moving of the spirit first, when the spirit touches the water we can then dive straight in like the man at the pool of Bethesda, who waited for someone to come along and pout him into the water when the waters moved.
I feel in my spirit that many times the waters have moved in our congregational times yet we have had no one to put us into the waters, leaders have put their time and programme in front of the movings of God no one likes silence of waiting of the Lord. we have to ship up the congregation. the congregation that has to be whipped up to say hallelujah or praise the lord is in no state for revival. the amen and the hallelujah has to be a natural response of worship to a Lord. we love. if its not there no amount of stirrings will result in us being in revival.
Revival is an experience a meeting with the Lord. Peter met Jesus and Jesus asked him who he thought he was. Friend we as men of god have to encounter Jesus. yes Jesus, A true encounter where we experience him and gain knowledge of him that we would be otherwise unable to experience or know unless we had met in a supernatural way
REVIVAL COMES TO A PEOPLE OF FAITH
Your Faith will Take you into God’s “New, Next and Now” Big thing!
Abraham lived in a tent yet looked for a city. Your faith will be stretched and challenged. Without FAITH it is impossible to please God. God does nothing without FAITH. Matthew 13:58 tells us ‘And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.’ if we have FAITH in our churches God will do miracles THERE.
REVIVAL HAS TO BE BROADCASTED AND SHARED
We don’t have revival because no ones talk of revival. The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10;8). ‘‘If you can talk it you will see it. If you can pray it then you’ve got it.’’ That’s how you know its real. Its in you!
REVIVAL HAS TO TURN INTO A MOVEMENT
Revivals are moments which turn into movements. Moments of refreshing that turn into seasons of refreshing.
With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2;46-47).
The Revival continues!
Your Faith will Take you into God’s “New, Next and Now” Big thing!
Be the revival and Leave the rest to God!
Full houses and full churches
Paul.