Don Graham Revival Ministries
101 Craig Circle
Clanton, AL 35054
205-755-7295
Rev. Don Graham is a Revivalist and an Evangelist, yet his heart cry is for revival. Rev. Graham believes if the church will be revived, it can evangelize the world. Rev. Don Graham's heart for revival in the local church is the reason for his focus on Bible teaching and preaching to the local church.
Rev. Don Graham is a highly sought after Bible teacher. The study and teaching of the word of God is the heart of everything that Rev. Graham does. His ministry lives out 2 Timothy 3:15-17. These three verses show that evangelism, revival preaching and discipleship all have their roots in the Word of God.
A WORD FROM "THE WORD"
"The Pathway to Revival"
I Kings 16-19
Part Seven: The Pressure of Revival
I Kings 19:1-18
In our series of studies on Revival at Mt. Carmel we have considered...
The Prelude to Revival (17:1-7)
The Prerequisites to Revival (17:8-16)
The Preamble to Revival (17:17-24)
The Problems of Revival (18:1-16)
The Proof of Revival (18:17-38)
The Promise of Revival (18:39-46)
In this our seventh and final study in this series we come to study The Pressure of Revival. Make no mistake about it!!! Awesome pressure accompanies authentic revival!!! We have watched our hero, the revivalist, used mightily of God, as he single handedly confronted an entire nation in a remarkable showdown on the slopes of Carmel. Elijah prevailed mightily-the fire fell-the people repented- the false prophets were annihilated-the rain fell. But note that when the fire falls there will be...
I. Inevitable Resistance (vs. 1-2)
Immediately when the fire of revival falls the Devil will challenge. His prime target: the point-man of the movement of God! So promptly Elijah's life is threatened by Jezebel, and spiritually exhausted, mentally drained, and physically depleted. Elijah wilts and runs for his life. The enemy will indeed hurl his most lethal weapons at the man who will stand in the gap for the sake of revival. We must not be surprised by this. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed!
II. Insidious Reminders (vs. 3-4)
The Devil begins to play mind games with Elijah and instead of taking these thoughts captive to the mind of Christ he listens and becomes frightened to death. He believes the lies of Satan and is paralyzed. As we listen to the enemy, we, too, will fall into the black well of depression. Seeing no hope and utterly disillusioned ...he requested for himself that he might die... While running for his life, hiding away in a cave and begging to die Elijah also discovers that there will be available...
III. Inexhaustible Resources (v. 5ff)
The depressed and defeated revivalist discovers:
The Divine Initiative-God pursues him! (v.5)
Exhausted from his marathon retreat he falls asleep under a juniper tree and the ever pursuing God sends an angel and touched him. It was a gracious touch, a caring touch, a practical touch, and a personal touch.
The Divine Improvisation-God fed him! (vs.6-7)
In the middle of the waste land the angel improvises and serves the weakened prophet the original angel food cake. Wow! What a touch! The tender hand of God serving food to a famished servant of His. What grace!
The Divine Interview-God interrogates him! (vs.8-14)
Twice over the Lord asked, What doest thou here, Elijah? (v.9, 13) Like many of us Elijah was convinced he was the only one left in all the nation that God could depend on and he knew that now his faith was fickle at best. Nursing the memory of God's spectacular display of his power in the fire that fell at Carmel he now learns that God is just as much in a still small voice as He is in the strong wind,
earthquake or fire. Often we expect God to display Himself in some supernatural and awesome manner when He may just choose to appear in the small and insignificant; and, if we're not careful we'll miss Him altogether.
The Divine Instruction-God directed him! (vs. 15-18)
God instructed him to get out of the cave, go back to work and find a friend. As Elisha is brought along his side for the rest of his journey, Elijah discovers God's last piece of the puzzle to learn how to cope with depression. This remains a great practical antidote for any of God's servants who find themselves in the slough of despondency. First, resist the temptation to withdraw--refuse to have a pity party--just get out of the cave. Second, repent the first works-go back to work. Find someone else to minister to and pour yourself into it and watch the shadows begin to flee. Third, rediscover the joy of discipling a younger brother and give yourself unreservedly to minister to them.
Elisha's greatest battle was in the cave, not at Carmel. Never are we so susceptible to temptation as in the afterglow of a great victory. The price of revival is high - Yes! but difinitely worth it!