Revival: Misconceptions, conditions, and marks of true revival

Misconceptions:

Not earthly source. True revival comes from God.

Not emotionalism and enthusiasm. Not about feelings and hype.

Not evangelism. More than telling others about Christ. That's only part.

Not education. It’s more than knowledge. We're already educated beyond our level of obedience.

Not enlargement. A church does not necessarily grow in numbers during revival.

Conditions

1. Consciousness of need. (Rev. 3.14-18 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation: "I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ) Do we like the Laodicean church fail to see the need for revival.
2. Firm belief in revival (Matt. 21.22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.") Have we asked for revival?
3. Recognize that God desires revival (Is. 48.18 O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea) God’s desire for us is for us to prosper.
4. Strong sense of urgency (Rev. 3.20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.)
5. Earnest desire to be revived (Look at the day of Pentecost. They were gathered together in prayer seeking God’s revival. Do we desire revival so much that we go to prayer to pursue it?)
6. Willingness to pay the price (Earnestly following God will cost you something. Are you willing to count the cost? Are you willing to give up all that you have, all that you are, all your aspirations and desires, to be revived by the power of God? It is not something that is lightly undertaken.)

Marks of (2 Chor. 7.14)

1. Brokenness (confessed Sin, Humility)

2. Beseeching (pray, meditate on word, seek God’s face)

3. Burden (will of God, needs of community, desire to reach lost)

4. Behavior (obedience to God’s commands, turn from sins)

John Wesley, “Give me 100 Christians who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen. They alone will shake the very gates of Hell and set the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth”

I feel like Abraham talking to God: If we don't have 100, God, is 50 enough? What if we have 20? How about 5? Do we have five people who will seek God's face with everything in them, and resist sin with the same? God, can you start with one? Here I am, Lord, use me.