A.I. Representation of Young People coming to Jesus in Faith
Revival and Renewal in our Community
“Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God’s near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.”
That God might visit our communities and awaken us to the reality of His presence and desire to redeemed the lost by working through lives for His witness and glory!
The pattern for revival/renewal in God’s Word begins with a 1. renewed focus on His Word, 2. obedience to His Word, and 3. repentance. We see this in 2 Kings 22 and 23:
https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/22.htm
https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/23.htm
God’s Word guides our steps as we seek to walk along this journey.
Revival Truth
God’s Word Speaks truth to us about what God expects of us and desires for us: 2 Kings 22:
10Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes 12and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: 13“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”
King Josiah responds to God’s Word with repentance and godly sorrow. He seeks God’s guidance and inquiries on what God would have him as king do. There is a righteous fear of God’s coming wrath. Chapter 23 reveals Josiah’s actions:
First, Josiah reads God’s Word to the people:
Josiah Renews the Covenant
(2 Chronicles 34:29–33)
1Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.
3So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
Second, in verses 4-20, he removes the idols from God’s Temple, the Asherah poles, and high places. He has the false priests removed and descrates the places of idol worship. Idolatry comes between God and His people. The Asherah poles represented a desire for fertility and success in crops/animals. The high places were locations were the people worshiped various local gods and idols. Josiah obeys God’s Word and removes the evil from the land.
For a more in depth look at 2 Kings 22
https://inspiredscripture.com/bible-studies/2-kings-22#gsc.tab=0
What is Idolatry, why is it dangerous?
What is an idol and we are we attracted to worshiping them?
An idol can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives, anything that takes God’s place in our hearts, such as possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol/drugs/gambling/pornography, etc.
Some of the things we idolize are clearly sinful. But many of the things we idolize can be very good, such as relationships or careers.
https://www.gotquestions.org/idol-worship.html accessed 3/15/24
How do we know when we are following or practicing idolatry?
The good things of this world are gifts from God, meant to be enjoyed with a thankful heart, in submission to Him and for His glory.
But when the gift replaces the Giver or the created replaces the Creator in our lives, we have fallen into idolatry.
And no idol can infuse our lives with meaning or worth or give us eternal hope.
Ibid.
The key term is “thankful heart, in submission to Him and for His glory”. All things are to be for His glory not our own personal glory or pride. The tragedy of human existence is that we as humans tends to worship the good gifts and material things of the physical world instead of the Good Creator Whom All Good Things originate!
Idolatry is the wide road Jesus Warns Us About in Matthew 7
All of our idolatrous pursuits will leave us empty, unsatisfied, and, ultimately, on the broad road that most people take, the one that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).
Ibid.
Turning away from our sins
Praying through Psalm 51 is a great way to turn to the Lord!
https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/51.htm
Believers come together for worship, fellowship, and encourage each other in Christ’s presence.
The People Celebrate
2 Kings 23:21-25
Josiah Restores the Passover
(2 Chronicles 35:1–19)
21The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.”
22No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. 23But in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.
24Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD.
25Neither before nor after Josiah was there any king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses.
The third truth of revival is highlighted above: all about turning to the Lord according to God’s Word. Celebrating Passover is celebration of remembrance of God’s deliverance from Egypt.
Ultimately God’s punishes Judah (verses 26-27). 2 Kings Chapter 21 explains the reason for God’s righteous wrath. Verse 9 states:
9But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
The people did greater evil than the people who lived in the land before them.
Revival begins when we turn to the Lord in prayer, humility with a desire to experience His presence and obey His Word.
Turning to the Lord
“Revival is a divinely initiated work in which God’s people pray, repent of their sin, and return to a holy, Spirit-filled, obedient, love-relationship with God.” ~
Henry Blackaby
This is the heart of revival: coming back to our first love!
Current example of God’s Word, baptisms, and turning to God:
Pastor Bruce Chesser teaches the people about God’s Word and the need for believers to be baptized. People respond and the church is prepared with all that is necessary for baptism. The key is responding and the church ready to receive them in the baptismal. It took faith for the people to respond and insight/preparation for the pastor to have everything ready for those who would respond.
Prayers from Psalm 80
3Restore us, O God,
and cause Your face to shine upon us,
that we may be saved.
17Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand,
on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.
18Then we will not turn away from You;
revive us, and we will call on Your name.
19Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts;
cause Your face to shine upon us,
that we may be saved.
For excellent commentary on this Psalm
May God’s Holy Spirit move among us and revive us for His glory! That God may revive us with His Grace, Mercy, and Righteousness!
Words of Grace & Hope 