"When Revival Comes"

Vance Havner said, “We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but the combustion within it of our lives ignited by the Spirit of God.”

The early church had none of the things we think are so essential for success today – buildings, money, political influence, social status – and yet, the church won multitudes to Christ and saw many churches established throughout the Roman world. How was that accomplished? The church had experienced the reviving, empowering work of the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit is available to us today.

When the revival took place at Pentecost, the church was immediately identified by changes in behavior and the results were phenomenal.

There are many words that might describe the modern church - dull, disjointed, distracted, or even dead. But when revival comes everything changes. First of all, you will see that:

The Church will worship with passion

The New Testament church worshipped with passion because the Spirit came. The Holy Spirit had been active prior to Pentecost and had been at work in creation, during the Old Testament period and in the life and ministry of Jesus. After the ascension the Holy Spirit would no longer just come upon people, but actually dwell in them. His presence would be permanent, not temporary.

The Spirit not only came, but the Spirit baptized. The Greek word “baptizo” has two meanings – one literal and one figurative. Literally it means “to submerge,” but figuratively it means “to be identified with.” At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to identify believers with Jesus.

Not only did the Spirit come and baptize, but the Spirit filled the believers (Acts 2: 4). “The baptism of the Spirit means that the believer belongs to His body; the fullness of the Spirit means that the believer’s body belongs to Him.”

The Spirit came, baptized, filled and spoke. The believers were praising God and declaring His wonderful works so that everyone was able to comprehend the message in his/her own language. The sound of the wind might have drawn the people to the temple where the believers were gathered, but it was the passionate worship of the followers of Christ that really captured their attention.

When revival comes the church will worship with passion, but additionally;

The Church will witness with power

Peter did not preach in tongues. He addressed his audience in the everyday Aramaic that they understood. He explained what had happened: the Spirit had come. He explained how it happened: Jesus was alive.

In fact, Peter offered four proofs of the resurrection including the witness of believers in verse 32. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to his followers at least eleven times including an appearance to 500 people at one time. The reports of his resurrection were numerous enough to convince any reasonable person that Christ was alive.

Then Peter explained not only what had happened and how it happened, but he explained why it happened. It happened to save sinners. The Holy Spirit took Peter’s message and used it to convict the hearts of his listeners. In fact, there were many believers sharing their faith on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 persons were saved in one day. When revival comes, the church will witness with power.

Finally:

The Church will walk in purity

The purity of these Christians was marked by godliness (verses 42-43). With purpose and steadfastness these new believers continued in the apostles doctrine and we know that beliefs determine behavior. They believed right; and they lived right.

They also continued in fellowship, which implies much more than just being together. Fellowship suggests sharing our mutual faith, sharing our mutual burdens, sharing our mutual needs and responding to those needs with love and concern. They also continued in the breaking of bread, which referred not only to the Lord’s Supper, but also to their daily meals.

The result was a reverential fear within the fellowship as people witnessed what God was doing in the lives of His people.

The purity of these Christians was also marked by generosity or graciousness, (verses 44-45). In some churches some folk come together in a spirit of mutual tolerance, but there ought to be a spirit of mutual love. They shared everything. Selfishness was a thing of the past.

Finally, the purity of the Christians was marked by growth (verses 46-47). The risen Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit continued to work in the church and people were being saved every single day. When revival comes it will so revolutionize the church that we will think differently, talk differently, act differently and become so attractive that the world will be drawn to the Savior.