2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

1. Revival is needed. It is needed in our churches, our communities, our country, and our world. The second half of Romans chapter one describes the condition of man apart from God, left to himself, doing things his own way, and according to his own wisdom. This is clearly demonstrated and seen each and every day in our own community. Indivdually and collectively – We need revival!!!

2. Revival is the responsibility of God’s people. The call for revival is squarely placed on the shoulders of the saved. This is not the responsibility of the ungodly in our world or the lost in our communities. It is our duty to seek after God. The conditional “if” clearly refers to the saved. A lack of revival is not the fault of my lost neighbor, it is my duty to seek it.

3. Revival requires action from God’s people and four things are listed in this passage:

The first is humility. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time…” Humility is laying aside our pride and placing ourselves under the will and ways of God.

The second is prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God. Have you talked to the Lord and asked Him to send revival? Have you asked Him what you need to do in your own life to prepare for it? Perhaps we do not have true revival because we have not asked for it.

The third thing listed in our main passage is seeking the face of God. I believe this seeking refers to a person’s desire to have the favor of God upon his or her life. As the Lord looks upon our life, is our life pleasing to Him? You are not going to be seeking God’s face if you have no desire to please Him.

The fourth is repentance. This means to make a complete change, reverse course, or make a 180 degree turn. Repentance is seeing our sin as God sees it and then turning from it. True revival will not come if we do not repent.

4. God desires revival. How about you?

Lamar Powell
Prepared for Teen Church
February 29, 2012