2 Chronicles 7:12-16 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer… This is a revival text. It contains the germs of the whole Divine philosophy of revivals. A revival implies religious declension, and is itself such a waking up of the spiritual life of the Church as leads to the conversion of sinners. I. AN EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPER METHOD FOR PROMOTING A REVIVAL. 1. The first duty of a people seeking a revival is humiliation before God. This state of mind is produced by our contemplating the purity: and perfection and loving-kindness of the Lord, in contrast with our own sinfulness, unworthiness, and ingratitude. 2. Prayer is the next divinely prescribed means in promoting a revival of religion. Prayerfulness is one of the main characteristics of a godly life. But our prayers are sometimes prayerless. They are an unwritten liturgy, made up of hackneyed phrases in which there is hardly a spark of vitality. They lack the strong pinions of faith and ardent desire without which they cannot reach the third heaven. They lack the Divine electricity. When God's people beseech Him, as John Knox did when he prayed, "Lord, give me Scotland, or I die," then their prayers are effective. 3. We must seek God's face. He never intended that His people should pray to Him as strangers. He wants us to draw near to Him as children go to a loving father or mother. 4. There must be a forsaking of sin. II. SOME DEFINITE AND GOOD REASONS WHICH WE HAVE FOR EXPECTING A REVIVAL. 1. God's intimate relation to the Church. (1) He claims a special and unrivalled property in its members. He calls them His people. (2) He puts a special honour upon them. He calls them by His name. 2. God's explicit promise. (1) He will "hear from heaven." (2) "And will forgive their sins." (3) And will heal their land. (David Winters.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. |
    |