Don Graham Revival Ministries

"When God Comes to Town"

Acts 19:1-20

"ICHABOD!" Oh, what a name! When Eli’s grandson was named Ichabod by his dying mother at his birth she gave expression to the painful reality that the glory had departed from Israel. (I Samuel 4:21-22) The young man’s presence would be a constant and stunning reminder that the glory had departed. The glory of God has departed from our churches. While there may be a few rare exceptions, in the main, we see little, if any, of His glory. Revival is the only answer, for revival, in its purest sense, is the restoration of the glory of God.

When God came to the ancient town of Ephesus in the first century He touched down and He took over! A study of what happened there is a thrilling discovery of how the glory may be restored. Note first of all….

I. THE MINISTRY THAT PRECIPITATES REVIVAL (Acts 20:17ff)

Those of us in ministry must determine to involve ourselves exclusively in a ministry that God could use to bring about authentic revival. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus that plowed the ground for a great awakening illustrates that for us. Note the earmarks of such a ministry:

A. THE SERVING MINISTRY

From Miletus Paul rehearsed his ministry among the Ephesians in his last emotion-packed visit with them. That ministry was characterized by:

1. SERVING WITH HUMILITY

"...serving the Lord with all humility of mind…" (Acts 20:19a) The only heart that God can revive is the humble heart. Humility is the first step in revival, humbled and broken before God. Oh, that we ministers might model that as Paul did among his people.

2. SERVING WITH DURABILITY

"...temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews…" (Acts 20:19b)

Paul modeled how to respond to persecution that inevitably will follow all those who determine to live Godly in Christ Jesus! He did not run from the pressure. He was durable, he endured!

3. SERVING WITH SIMPLICITY

"I kept back nothing that was profitable to you…" (Acts 20:20a) Paul spoke the whole counsel of God withholding nothing from them. Surely, "The Man who loved me the most told me the truth!" We must do the same.

4. SERVING WITH CLARITY

"...have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house…" (Acts 20:20b)

This is "Show & Tell" at its best! Show and teach! Privately and publicly! That is God’s Way.

5. SERVING WITH INTEGRITY

"I have coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel." (Acts 20:33) Men of God must determine to, "Be clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord." Only those who have "clean hands and pure hearts" can "ascend unto the hill of the Lord", and only those who do can hope to ever see His glory restored!

B. THE PREACHING MINISTRY

A life spent serving with humility, durability, simplicity, clarity and integrity was coupled with:

1. PREACHING WITH CONVICTION

"For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) "The fear of man bringeth a snare," and it is that fear that silences many a pulpit from preaching with conviction, "all the counsel of God."

2. PREACHING WITH COMPASSION

"...I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears…" (Acts 20:31) and "...serving the Lord with...tears…" (Acts 20:19). As he went from house to house throughout Ephesus he went weeping! He modeled his own counsel to Timothy to, "speak the truth in love." Paul was a man with a broken heart and he wept unashamedly.

II. THE MANIFESTATION THAT PRODUCES REVIVAL (ACTS 19:1-20)

Note the unmistakable results of revival:

A. REVERENCE "...and fear fell on them all…" (v. 17)

When God comes to town, a holy hush will fall on that place as men sit in awe of a holy God.

B. RESPECT "...and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." (v. 17) Real revival will exalt the name of the Lord Jesus and all human instruments will be eclipsed by His glory.

C. REGENERATION "And many that believed came and confessed…" (v. 18)

When real revival comes to town, men and women will be swept into the kingdom of God, believing, confessing and showing their deeds.

D. REPENTANCE

"So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed." (v. 20) When real revival comes to town, repentance will be the first order of the day resulting in the rapid spread and growth of the Word of God.

III. THE MOCKERY THAT PREVENTS REVIVAL

When God comes to town, get ready for battle! There will always be:

A. RETALIATION FROM THE ENEMY (v. 23)

Immediately "there arose no small stir about that way". Satan will never let revival develop without unleashing his fury in counter attack. The church must be prepared for such reaction clothed in the armor and prepared for battle.

B. RAGE FROM THE ENEMY (V. 28) "And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath…" When the Devil’s crowd feel their billfolds impacted by a turning to God, their wrath will be stirred quickly to a white-hot rage as they go on the attack. The bonfires in Ephesus had affected their income and they railed against Paul.

C. REACTION FROM THE ENEMY (V. 36) Such will be their fury that they will say rash and unreasonable things. These people who pride themselves on their highly developed culture could easily be whipped up into a maddened frenzy, screaming and yelling for two hours. This crowd was at riot stage in short time. Revival and Riot! They go together. Revival and Revolt! They came together! But Revival, Riot and Revolt is better than Rot and Ruin!

Amen and Amen!!!