Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo (Senior Pastor).
Text: Joel 2:15-19.
” 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen “
A Revival is a hunger for change backed up with actionable steps for positive change. We all desire Turnarounds in life, but there must first be a change or realignment before Divine Turnarounds occur. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results. Isa. 53:6 says we have gone astray like sheep; this means we must return to The Lord first before we start praying for His Blessings.
Everyone needs revival, every family, city, state, nation, the entire world and even The Church of God needs Revival. We all need to turn our hearts back to God for a spiritual re-awakening. We need Revival because something has gone wrong in the world. Men have turned their hearts from God, nations are promulgating ungodly laws, and, Truth is lacking in almost every system. Before a Revival, there must first be a dissatisfaction with the present condition. We need to bring God back to every system of human endeavor. Romans 6:1 enjoins us not to continue in sin if we want a True Revival.
Our above Text tells us the conditions before any genuine Revival: Blow the Trumpet, consecrate a fast, gather the people, assemble the Elders, cry to The Lord, etc. Repentance is the first ingredient for every true Revival or Turnaround. After God’s people repented and turned back to God, God caused a mighty restoration and promised an outpouring of His Spirit upon His People. Nehemiah also stood for the land in repentance before God turned things around.
Ingredients of Revival
1. Prayer is what ignites every true Revival – 2 Chron. 7:14.
2. Be sincere with yourself and do a “Soul-searching” (Lord, where have I missed it?) – Ps. 51:6, Rev. 2:5.
3. Repentance and confession. A cry for Mercy and forgiveness – Acts 3:19.
4. Change your conduct; eschew evil, put on Christ – Isa. 55:7, Eph. 4:25-27.
5. Seek to grow in the Spirit; never be complacent. – Acts 4:42-47.
6. An increase in The Word of God brings Revival – Acts 8:4-7, Ps. 119:11.
7. High Praises and Worship of God cause Revival. – Ps. 67:5-7, 2 Chron. 20:20-24.
In closing, we have to realize something is missing; we need to all go back to our first love (Christ). The prodigal son when he came back to his senses repented and came back to his Father. Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.
God Bless You!
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