Don Graham Revival Ministries

"The Pathway to Revival"

I Kings 16-19

Part Six: The Promise of Revival

I Kings 18:39-46

In our first four studies we have watched the ways of God "ruthlessly perfecting whom He has royally elected" preparing Elijah for his grandest hour as the point-man for revival at Carmel. In our last issue we saw that glorious chapter unfold as the fire fell at Carmel. We asked the question "Then?" "When?" When can we expect the fire of God to fall in genuine revival? In this study we ask, When the fire fell, what happened? When real revival comes what can we really expect? When the fire fell...

I. The People Confessed (v. 39)

When the fire of God fell at Mt. Carmel (v.38) the immediate reaction from the people was to prostrate themselves on their faces before God and confess, The LORD, He is the God... Confession is an earmark of authentic revival. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye might be healed (James 5:16) remains God's clear Word to His church. When revival fell during Nehemiah's day, ...the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins'...(Nehemiah 9:2). Ezra called his backsliding people to revival saying, Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your Father...(Ezra 10:11). Jusi last night I saw a broken young man weepingly confess before his church his immorality that had resulted in the pregnancy of his fiancee: He refused to cover his sin, but confessed it with a broken heart and has been set free. That's revival! When the fire fell, the people fell before Him!

II. The Pretenders Were Destroyed (v. 40)

When the fire falls all pretenders, i.e. false claimants, to the throne of your life will be ruthlessly dealt with and radically destroyed. When real revival comes men will deal swiftly and decisively with all sin in their life. We must be prepared to declare war on sin! When Achan's sin was exposed Joshua commanded that he be stoned to death (Joshua 7:25-26). RADICAL! When Saul's sparing of Agag was exposed for the sin it was, Samuel hewed Agag in pieces, before the LORD in Gilgal (I Samuel 15:33). RUTHLESS! Jesus said, And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off... And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off... And if thine eye offend thee pluck it out. RELENTLESS! The declaration of war against sin in our life must never be rescinded. Have no doubt about it - Sin must be exposed and expelled!!

III. The Prophet Travailed (vs. 42-44)

All true revival is birthed in and borne along on the wings of travailing prayer. Indeed it is the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous that availeth much. In his stirring sermon, "My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer", Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, New York City, tells how one Tuesday night prayer meeting in his church was turned into a "birth room" as his people travailed with their pastor over his daughter, a prodigal child on the streets. When she came home broken and repentant a few days later she asked, "Daddy, who was praying for me last Tuesday night?"

Never shall I forget one Wednesday night years ago watching a broken and burdened wife stand before her church and ask them to pray for her husband who was seated beside her. As she sat down weeping and trembling God sent a spiritual shock-wave through our church and many were drawn to travail with that lady for her husband. When he was saved months later all who had travailed in prayer were blessed almost beyond their capacity to retain. When revival fell at the church in Dundee where Robert Murray McCheyene was the pastor, the church had 39 prayer meetings every week, five just for children! Ah, walk with Elijah to the back side of Carmel, see him "cast himself down" and "put his face between his knees" and seven times over beseech God of heaven to send the rain of revival. After the seventh prayer his t reported a barely visible cloud the size of a man's hand was seen in the sky! Rising from importunate prayer. Elijah exclaimed. That's it. Head for the shelter, boys, you 're going to get wet.

IV. The Promise Was Fulfilled (vs. 45 46)

What a thrilling and absolutely unforgettable day! From that almost imperceptible, tiny cloud shortly the heaven was black with clouds, and wind, and there was a great rain. And, oh, what a rain! The dry, barren earth lapped up the rain—-the people danced, played and sang in the streets in the middle of the rain. There was great joy. What a celebration followed the breaking of a three year old draught!

Oh Lord, do it again! Even as Ezekiel prophesied, ...and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessings.(34:26) Surely ours is a dry, barren, parched land. If nothing else, "Columbine and Conyers" has underscored our desperate need for revival. It is a dark and dismal hour on the American landscape when our public schools become a more feared battleground than Kosovo.

Ciaon with me for our eounu}, cor land, and our homes the promise of God....I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground... (Isaiah 44:3) Are you thirst)? Cry out for the showers of revival blessing. True to His Word, the very moment God's people met God's conditions the rain clouds began to form and they burst forth upon the people with supernatural blessing. Yes, Lord, do it again!!