Revival: God's Power in the Ordinary and Unexpected

 

Summary

In reflecting on the history of revivals, it becomes evident that God often chooses the most unexpected individuals and places to manifest His power. Throughout history, figures like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley have been instrumental in revivals, yet God also uses ordinary, unassuming people like James McQuilkin and David Morgan. This pattern underscores a profound truth: God delights in using the weak and the humble to confound the mighty, demonstrating that revival is not a product of human effort but a sovereign act of God.

Revivals are marked by extraordinary phenomena, often characterized by deep conviction of sin and overwhelming spiritual experiences. These events are not mere emotional outbursts but are profound encounters with the divine, leading to genuine transformation. The essence of revival is the miraculous intervention of God, akin to the parting of the Red Sea or the crossing of the Jordan. It is a divine act that cannot be orchestrated or explained by human means.

The unpredictability of revival is another testament to its divine origin. It can begin in the most unlikely places, such as small villages or towns, and often defies human logic and control. The suddenness and intensity of revival leave people in awe, as seen in historical accounts where entire communities were transformed overnight. This overwhelming nature of revival is a reminder of God's mighty hand at work, beyond human comprehension or manipulation.

Ultimately, the purpose of revival is to glorify God and make His power known. It is a call for believers to seek God earnestly, to pray for His intervention, and to be open to His miraculous workings. As we reflect on these truths, we are challenged to believe in the possibility of revival today and to pray fervently for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit.

Key Takeaways:

1. God Uses the Ordinary: Throughout history, God has chosen ordinary individuals to lead revivals, emphasizing that His power is made perfect in weakness. This truth challenges us to recognize that God can use anyone, regardless of their status or abilities, to accomplish His purposes. [24:46]

2. Revival as a Divine Miracle: Revival is a miraculous event that cannot be manufactured or explained by human efforts. It is a sovereign act of God, akin to the miracles of the Bible, reminding us of His ultimate authority and power. [30:08]

3. Unpredictability of Revival: Revivals often begin in unexpected places and defy human control, highlighting God's sovereignty. This unpredictability calls us to trust in God's timing and methods, rather than relying on human strategies. [39:50]

4. Overwhelming Nature of Revival: The intensity and suddenness of revival leave people astounded, demonstrating the mighty hand of God. This overwhelming nature serves as a powerful testimony to God's presence and action in the world. [41:12]

5. Purpose of Revival: The ultimate goal of revival is to glorify God and make His power known. As believers, we are called to pray for revival, not for personal excitement, but for God's name to be magnified among the nations. [48:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [22:33] - Great Men of Revival
- [23:24] - God Uses the Ordinary
- [25:03] - The Spread of Revival
- [26:04] - Phenomena in Revival
- [28:12] - Understanding Revival
- [29:30] - Revival as a Miracle
- [31:05] - Human Efforts vs. Divine Acts
- [32:46] - Explaining Revival
- [34:00] - The Nature of Miracles
- [36:28] - The Role of Ordinary Men
- [39:50] - Unexpected Places of Revival
- [40:55] - The Overwhelming Character of Revival
- [44:29] - Miraculous Events in Revival
- [48:53] - Praying for Revival

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding Revival

Bible Reading:
1. Joshua 4:21-24 - "He said to the Israelites, 'In the future when your descendants ask their parents, "What do these stones mean?" tell them, "Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground." For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What examples from history were given in the sermon to illustrate how God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes? [24:15]
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of revival in terms of its unpredictability and divine origin? [39:50]
3. What are some of the extraordinary phenomena associated with revivals as mentioned in the sermon? [27:03]
4. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate purpose of revival? [48:53]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan relate to the concept of revival as a miraculous event? [29:14]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that revival challenges human understanding and control? [32:46]
3. Why might God choose to initiate revivals in unexpected places and through unexpected people, according to the sermon? [39:50]
4. How does the sermon explain the role of prayer in seeking revival, and what does it suggest about the believer's responsibility? [48:53]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate for a task. How might God use your perceived weaknesses for His purposes, as seen in the examples of James McQuilkin and David Morgan? [24:15]
2. The sermon emphasizes the unpredictability of revival. How can you cultivate a heart that is open to God's unexpected movements in your life? [39:50]
3. Consider the overwhelming nature of revival described in the sermon. How can you prepare yourself spiritually to recognize and respond to God's mighty works? [41:12]
4. The sermon calls believers to pray for revival. What specific steps can you take to incorporate this into your daily prayer life? [48:53]
5. How can you encourage others in your community to seek God earnestly and be open to His miraculous workings, as the sermon suggests? [48:53]
6. Think about a small, seemingly insignificant area of your life. How might God use it to demonstrate His power, similar to how He uses unexpected places for revival? [39:50]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of glorifying God through revival. In what ways can you actively seek to glorify God in your daily interactions and decisions? [48:53]

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Power in the Ordinary
God often chooses ordinary individuals to lead revivals, emphasizing that His power is made perfect in weakness. This truth challenges us to recognize that God can use anyone, regardless of their status or abilities, to accomplish His purposes. Throughout history, figures like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley have been instrumental in revivals, yet God also uses ordinary, unassuming people like James McQuilkin and David Morgan. This pattern underscores a profound truth: God delights in using the weak and the humble to confound the mighty, demonstrating that revival is not a product of human effort but a sovereign act of God. [24:46]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt inadequate or unqualified. How can you trust God to use you in your current circumstances, despite your perceived weaknesses?


Day 2: Revival as a Divine Miracle
Revival is a miraculous event that cannot be manufactured or explained by human efforts. It is a sovereign act of God, akin to the miracles of the Bible, reminding us of His ultimate authority and power. Revivals are marked by extraordinary phenomena, often characterized by deep conviction of sin and overwhelming spiritual experiences. These events are not mere emotional outbursts but are profound encounters with the divine, leading to genuine transformation. The essence of revival is the miraculous intervention of God, akin to the parting of the Red Sea or the crossing of the Jordan. [30:08]

Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): "O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you need a miraculous intervention. How can you invite God to work in that area, acknowledging His power and sovereignty?


Day 3: Trusting God’s Timing and Methods
Revivals often begin in unexpected places and defy human control, highlighting God's sovereignty. This unpredictability calls us to trust in God's timing and methods, rather than relying on human strategies. The unpredictability of revival is another testament to its divine origin. It can begin in the most unlikely places, such as small villages or towns, and often defies human logic and control. The suddenness and intensity of revival leave people in awe, as seen in historical accounts where entire communities were transformed overnight. [39:50]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you are trying to control the outcome. How can you release it to God and trust in His perfect timing and methods?


Day 4: The Overwhelming Presence of God
The intensity and suddenness of revival leave people astounded, demonstrating the mighty hand of God. This overwhelming nature serves as a powerful testimony to God's presence and action in the world. Revivals are marked by extraordinary phenomena, often characterized by deep conviction of sin and overwhelming spiritual experiences. These events are not mere emotional outbursts but are profound encounters with the divine, leading to genuine transformation. [41:12]

Psalm 77:14 (ESV): "You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples."

Reflection: Recall a moment when you felt overwhelmed by God’s presence. How can you create space in your daily life to experience His presence more fully?


Day 5: Praying for God’s Glory
The ultimate goal of revival is to glorify God and make His power known. As believers, we are called to pray for revival, not for personal excitement, but for God's name to be magnified among the nations. Ultimately, the purpose of revival is to glorify God and make His power known. It is a call for believers to seek God earnestly, to pray for His intervention, and to be open to His miraculous workings. [48:53]

Psalm 85:6-7 (ESV): "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation."

Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer for revival into your daily routine, focusing on God’s glory rather than personal gain?

Quotes


men look at a men like Jonathan Edwards one of the greatest philosophers of all time certainly the greatest philosopher that the United States of America has ever produced everybody's agreed about that that's why they're reprinting his works now even men who are not primarily interested religiously he was such an outstanding philosopher he was the man that God used above all others 200 years ago in the New England states Whitfield by any assessment was a great man possibly the greatest aitor that the English speaking world has ever produced John Wesley by any showing was a great man a genius of an organizer and the most able intellectual men all these men of the 18th century were undoubtedly outstanding men of ability yet they were the men who God used in bringing this great Revival amongst the masses of the Common People but here is the interesting thing God doesn't always use men like that he does sometimes that seems to have been the general rule because Luther again was a great natural man and so was celvin so was John Knox so were all these men but you see he doesn't always do that when you come to 100 years ago you find something very different you find God now using simple ignorant unknown most ordinary men he did that in the United States he did that in aler how many of you have ever heard of the name of James mcquilkin while he was the man who was used in Northern Ireland 100 years ago James mcquilkin most ordinary men but God laid hold on him and began to use him it was exactly the same in Wales the name of the men most used there was David Morgan he was actually a minister of the Gospel but a very ordinary Minister an unknown Minister a man of no gifts whatsoever God took hold of that man and used him like a lion for nearly two years a most ordinary man isn't there something that is worthy of our careful contemplation shouldn't we reflect upon this God taketh hold of the weak things of the world to confound the things are Mighty that's it it's a part of the principle it may be a great man it may be a very little man doesn't matter [00:22:19]

sometimes a Revival may be very powerful and yet more or less quiet there may be a very deep and very profound emotion large numbers are converted but quietly but it isn't always like that indeed it comes nearer to being the rule in Revival that certain phenomena begin to manifest themselves such as these that men and women are not only convicted of sin but they are convicted by an Agony with respect to sin it isn't merely that they see that they're Sinners and they must believe in the Savior it comes to them with such overwhelming fce that they become even physically ill they're in a literal Agony of Soul you remember the story of John buan don't you he tells it in Grace abounding how he had such an Agony of conviction for nearly 18 months that on one occasion he even felt envious of geese that were grazing in a field wish that he hadn't been a man at all this Agony this terrible conviction well you get that in Revival people are in an Agony of soul and groan audibly they may cry and sob and agonize audibly but it doesn't even stop at that sometimes people are so convicted and so feel the power of the spirit that they literally faint and fall to the ground sometimes there are even convulsions literal convulsions physical convulsions and sometimes people seem to fall into a state of unconsciousness into a kind of trance and may remain like that for hours now all I'm anxious to do this morning is to remind you of the facts these are not invariable these are variable they may be present they may not be present but generally in Revival you do get something along this line [00:25:50]

the Lord your God dried up the Waters of Jordan from before you until you have passed over as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea which he dried up from before us until we were gone over you are to tell them that these are set up that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord that it is mighty these Stones remind us of facts what sort of facts Miracles miraculous facts and as that was true of these Stones it is equally true of every Revival that has ever taken place a Revival is a miracle it is a miraculous exceptional phenomenon it is the hand of the Lord and it is Mighty what do I mean by this well I mean that a Revival is something that can only be explained by the direct action and intervention of God it is God alone that could divide the Red Sea it is God alone that can divide the Waters of the river of Jordan these were Miracles hence the reminder Gods you unique exceptional action the mighty acts of God and revivals belong to that category [00:28:47]

men cannot produce them men can produce Evangelistic campaigns men cannot and never have produced a Revival oh they've tried to many times and they're still trying to Alas finny has led the whole church astray at this point by teaching that if you only do certain things you can have a Revival whenever you want it the answer is an eternal no and that isn't my opinion this this is a question of fact haven't we all known and watched watched and seen men who've been trying to produce revivals they've introduced all fin methods they've read his book they know it by heart and they've tried to do it they've tried to make people confess their sins they've tried to make them come forward they've done everything that finny says should be done and if you do it you get a Revival they've done it all and they've brought great pressure to Bear but there has been no Revival a Revival by definition is the mighty Act of God and it is a sovereign Act of God it is as independent as that men can do nothing God and God Alone does it set up these Stones why well to say that it is the hand of the Lord and that it is mighty The Sovereign Act of God apart from men and all the details I've just been giving you you see fit into this and illustrate but not only can men not produce a Revival they can't even explain it and that is again most important I would lay this down as a part of the definition if you can explain what is happening in a church it isn't Revival if you can possibly explain it it isn't Revival you see that's true of Miracles isn't it if you can explain a miracle it's no longer a miracle that's why it's rather pathetic to see people be becoming excited when a man publishes a book with the title the Bible is true he's going to prove to us now that the Miracles of the Old Testament have literally happened and what does he proceed to say well he proceeds you see to say this sort of thing happens quite often did you read that book there was one illustration I mention it in order to show my point you remember when Moses struck the rock the water came gushing out ah says this man we are now in a very happy position we can really believe this on what grounds well he said during the last war a number of soldiers in charge of a sergeant were doing a bit of work in a given place and uh the men were not doing the work to the satisfaction of the sergeant he said let me have that pick and he just took hold of it and accidentally just happened to remove a bit of shell from the side of the Hedge and water began to trickle out he says you know we can believe that when Moses struck the rock that the water gushed out see it happened when the sergeant who wasn't a Christian at all it just happened accidentally to touch that pit of Earth a little bit of water trickled out and so we can believe in miracles isn't it rather pathetic if you can explain a thing it isn't a miracle a miracle is the direct Sovereign the immediate Supernatural action of God and it cannot be explained and that is the essential truth about a Revival no no you can't explain a Revival [00:30:56]

there are no methods used in a Revival if methods are used well you can understand the result can't you you do certain things you'll get certain results the advertisers know all about that don't they you use your methods correctly you'll get your results all right people are very gullible you can make them do almost anything you like and we're living in an age of propaganda an age which is suggestible but there are no methods used in Revival at all none you read the stories no great crowds no band no choir nothing whatsoever no preliminary advertising none of these things at all and yet the thing happens so you can't explain it in terms of the methods used because there are no methods used and then I say again look at the men who are used how often has it been the case in revivals that you had the sort of reproduction of the kind of thing that we were reading about in the fourth chapter of the book of Acts at the beginning here was the problem to the religious authorities in Jerusalem here is a man who was known to everybody who used to sit every day at the beautiful gate of the temple asking arms of the people a man of 40 years of age who' never walked at all but suddenly this man has been walking and leaping and running into the temple and praising God and everybody knew it and who' done this well Peter and John who are these here's the problem for the authorities ignorant and unlearned men and yet they said we can't deny but that a notable Miracle has happened and everybody knows it and here's the Enigma here's the problem ignorant and unlearned men fishermen is it possible can they have done this they' have no learning they have no training they have nothing and yet it's happened what can we do ah you see men can't understand it they can't explain it the results are not commensurate with the powers implied the answer is it's God who's using these men now I've reminded you that it was like that in 19 19 in 1858 and 59 and it was like that in 194 and five the last major Revival in the British Isles The Man whom God used was a man whose name was Evan Roberts who was a very ordinary men indeed but he was the men who God used and you can't explain that Revival in terms of the man totally inadequate and then take another argument look at the change in the men look at these Apostles of whom we've been reading look at them before Pentecost weak helpless look at them after Pentecost filled with a blazing power and with a courage the Peter who denies his Lord is now facing the hostile crowd and the authorities that have power to put him to death and he's not afraid of them look at John Wesley before May the 24th 1738 a complete failure in the ministry absolute failure look at him afterwards the same men with the same abilities the same Powers the same everything how do you explain that you can't explain it in terms of Wesley what is it oh it's the spirit of God that has come upon him it's a miracle you can't understand these things and so I say it was a 100 years ago in Northern Ireland and in Wales I've mentioned a man called David Morgan a very ordinary Minister oh just carrying on as it were nobody had heard of him did nothing at all that was worthy of note suddenly this power comes upon him and for two years I say he preaches like a lion and then it goes and he reverts to David Morgan again the same man you see you can't explain it in terms of men there's only one explanation the hand of the Lord that it is mighty it can take the things that are not and confound the things that are and ridicule them then I say consider the places where it happens may I use the Expression the Divine humor where did the Revival break out 100 years ago it wasn't in the capital city of belf Fest in Northern Ireland it was in a village you've never heard of called Connor that's how God does things when he sent his son into this world he wasn't born in Jerusalem he was born in Bethlehem the very least of the cities of Judah thus God you see to keep the honor and the glory to himself makes it impossible that you can explain it in terms of men it's in your bethlehem's your Connors your little Villages that people have never heard of that the mighty thing happens and it was exactly the same 200 years ago it was in that little town of Northampton in New England that the Revival broke out it was in a little Hamlet called tra in Wales that Howell Harris was suddenly laid hold of and in another similar small village that Daniel Roland was laid hold of places you've never heard of that's how God does it not in London not in the capital cities but in these unknown places why well the hand of the Lord that it is mighty you can't explain it neither can men in the third place control it you get your sudden beginning you get your sudden ending you get your variations during the Revival and Men seem to be utterly helpless while it is perfectly true to say that we can quench the spirit and be a hindrance it is never true to say that if we observe all the rules and the condition that we can get Revival no no God keeps it in his own hands beginning course end everything you're dependent upon the holy spirit and his power [00:35:57]

what mean these Stones these stones are there to tell us of the hand of the Lord that it is mighty what is Revival well it's something that happens that leads people to say what was said by the town's people of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost what is this what is it it is something that comes almost like a tornado it's almost like an overflowing tide it's like a flood astounding things happened and of such a magnitude that men are left amazed astonished astounded let me give you but one illustration one of the most lyrical and one of the most wonderful there was a preacher in Scotland 300 years ago of the name of John Livingston of kill Scythe there was a marvelous day in the in the life of John Livingston he tells us himself in his autobiography that he was very ordinary preacher and writing at the end of his life he looks back and he says you know that there was a day I shall never forget it in June 1630 he was at a communion service at a place called shots have you ever read of the Revival at the Kirk or shots read it my friends this is what happened they had had their services they'd gone on over the weekend John Livingston and a number of others had been spending Sunday night after the services in prayer and in conferences they called it talking to one another about these things and Monday morning came and John Livingston had been asked to preach and he was out in the fields meditating and suddenly he felt that he couldn't preach that the thing was beyond him that he was inadequate and he felt like running away but suddenly the voice of God seemed to speak to him not in audible language but in his Spirit telling him that he mustn't do this that God didn't work in that way and he felt he must go back and he preaches he preached he tells us on Ezekiel 36 and he said I'd preached for about an hour and a half and then he said I began to apply my message and as he was beginning to apply it suddenly the spirit of God Came Upon him and he went on for another hour in this application and as he did so people were literally falling to the ground in that one service 500 people were converted oh modern people I've got to say this unfortunately he didn't test the meeting I'm not saying that 500 came forward at the end they didn't do that sort of thing 500 were convicted some falling to the ground having to be carried out others went out groaning in agony and were in this Agony for days but as the result of that one sermon 500 people were added to the churches truly permanently soundly converted that's the sort of thing that happens in a Revival and poor John Livingston's says that that kind of thing only happened to him on one other occasion in a long life just these two days but what days not John Livingston but the hand of the Lord that it is mighty working in and through John Livingston [00:41:12]

do you believe this do you believe the facts do you believe the inclination do we who claim to believe in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ still believe in miracles in the possibility of miracles in God coming in and doing things that we can not only not do but cannot even understand nor control nor explain yay I ask you do you long to know such things to see such things happening again today are you praying for such a visitation for believe me when God hears our prayers and does this thing again it will be such a phenomenon that not only will the church be astounded and amazed but even those who are outside will be compelled to listen and to pay attention in a way that they're not doing at the present time and in a way that men left to themselves can never persuade them to do that's the meaning of the stones that's why I'm calling your attention to Revival this is what God can do this is what God has done let us together decide to beseech him to plead with him to do this again not that we may have the experience or the excitement but that his mighty hand may be known and his great name may be glorified and magnified amongst the people [00:48:53]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?