Revival Praying – 3

Revival Praying – 3

Subject – Praying with an Understanding of Who We Are

by Rick Welborne

James 5:13-16 (NLT2)
¹³  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
¹⁴  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
¹⁵  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
¹⁶  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

--The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Obviously, I believe that, and that is why I am preaching this series.

--Something that has always bothered me as a follower of Christ is when I hear believers boast about their position in Christ and speak so much of their privileges because of that. 

--Don’t misunderstand me, there are plenty of scriptures that tell us who we are in Christ and the blessings that entails, but I have never felt it should be a part of our open dialog.

--I am a king’s kid, I am a son of God or daughter of God, I am wealthy, I am healthy, I am seated in high places, I am lifted up with Jesus, I am, I am, I am. How many of you know there is only one I am?

--Here is my dilemma, I see a contrast is Scripture that shows me a different attitude about who we are and the more I study it, the more I believe it has an impact on our prayers. 

--I cannot escape the verse, If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray…I see much in the prayers of people who are always confessing who they are but I do not see humility. Look at Paul.

1. The scum of the earth.

 1 Corinthians 4:13 (NIV)
^13…Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 

--So what is the scum of the earth. Is it the womb of evil where everything horrible in our world is born? Is it the principalities and powers working against God’s church?

--Could it have been Babylon, Rome, or even be Washington D.C.? Is the scum of the earth sin or sinners? We could go on and on guessing what this scum could be and struggle to get the right answer.

--The scum of the earth is neither humanity nor of devils. It is not bad but good. No, not even good, but the very best. It is not material but spiritual, not of Satan but of God. Not only of the church but a group of believers.

--The apostle Paul was saying we apostles are the scum of the earth and if that were not bad enough, he added that we are the refuse of the world. Evidently, Paul had not read the latest self-help book on positive confession. 

--Paul has assessed himself and the apostles as the scum of the earth. How is that beneficial? This person has no ambitions and really has nothing to be jealous about. Today Christians argue over silliness. 

--He has no reputation and so he has nothing to fight about. He has no possessions so he has nothing to worry about. He has no rights (slave) so he can’t be wronged. He is already dead so no one can kill him.

--Is it any wonder that these guys turned the world upside down? The world saw the humility of these apostles and wanted what they had. Sinners today see the arrogance displayed daily on TV. Turns them off. 

--So interesting to me that it was not the world who hurt the apostles but the “church”.

1 Corinthians 4:7-13 (NIV)
⁷  For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
⁸  Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!
⁹  For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
¹⁰  We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
¹¹  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
¹²  We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
¹³  when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 

2. The least of the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NKJV)
⁹  For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
¹⁰  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

--Could there possibly be any connection between Paul’s humility (how he saw himself) and how he was so tremendously used by God? I definitely think so. His humility motivated him to serve God and work harder. 

--If you are not all that, you need all that He has for you. When you see yourself as weak, then you see your need for God’s strength.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV)
⁸  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
⁹  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
¹⁰  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

--I personally believe God has an attraction to those who are the least. Those who are broken, those who are weak, and even those appear to be barren attracts God to them. 

--Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah and she was definitely one of those people who felt like the least. Her rival wife taunted her because she was barren and her husband was clueless about her dilemma.

--She goes to the church to pray and find comfort, but the priest Eli accuses her of being drunk. To say she was going thru a time of weakness and a time of feeling like the scum of the earth, understatement for sure.

--God sees Hannah’s despair but more importantly He hears her prayer and willingness to give back to Him whatever He blesses her with…thus, Samuel was born. A prophet and priest of God. She keeps her word. 

1 Samuel 2:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
²  "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
³  "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. 

--Hannah’s labels…being called barren by the other wife (I can’t begin to imagine the dysfunction in a home with two wives) and to be called a drunk by your pastor when you are praying.

--Adversity has a way of pushing us away from God or pushing us into a deeper relationship with God. Before their salvation, my parents were brutal in their dealings with me. 

--They said…There is no hope for you but I met the God of all hope. You were an accident…God says I know the plans I have for you to give you a hope and a future.

--You will never be anything…God took me into His arms, saved me, filled me with Holy Spirit power, and called me into His ministry. I am the least in the family, the scum, the weakest but Jesus has made me strong. 

 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NKJV)
⁶  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
⁷  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
⁸  We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
⁹  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
¹⁰  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

--I feel I am the least of the pastors in our section and I still am not sure about what I am doing. I am an empty vessel and I hope I stay that way so God can fill me with His power and wisdom. 

3. Esteem God and others above yourself.

Philippians 2:1-9 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
²  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
³  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
⁴  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
⁵  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
⁷  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
⁹  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 

--Dr. Duke and I were talking a few weeks back about how the Word of God will show us patterns if we are willing to look for them and discern them. I see a pattern here in Philippians. 

A. Put Jesus first and be like Jesus.

B. Put others next. Esteem others better than yourself.

C. Humble yourself before God. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.

D. Let God be the One Who exalts you. Jesus was given a Name above every name. 

Revival Praying – 2

Revival Praying – 2

Subject – Praying Earnestly Until Revival Comes

by Rick Welborne

James 5:13-18 (NLT2)
¹³  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
¹⁴  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
¹⁵  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
¹⁶  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
¹⁷  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!
¹⁸  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. 

--Today we continue our series on Revival Praying and tonight we continue to gather to pray. Please do not try to convince me of your concern for America if you are not willing to pray.

--James points out that whatever your need is, sincere prayer is the answer. Whether it is hardships, sickness, or the ravages of sin. Our prayer has great power and wonderful results.

Charles G. Finney – Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—or if need be, to win and die! “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

--Ministry in many ways has become this opportunity for many to show-off their gifting and talent and to convince the crowd how they can move them with their coolness and smooth communication. 

--Many today think how awesome it would be to stand before crowds and feel the power of the moment. In contrast, the prophets of old felt the weight (the enormity) and unpopularity of their calling.

--Many tried to escape the burden of their calling. Moses tried to use the excuse that he stuttered and Jeremiah tried to claim he was way too young for such responsibility. 

--My point is this, many in the ministry today want the glamor without the burden. The burden to pray for the lost and the burden of caring for wandering sheep.

--Pastor Manzer Wright in his last days would share with me the burden he carried as a minister of the gospel and it always came with a warning. “Don’t let those people kill you like they did me.” The burden was heavy.

--Whenever I interview someone for a pastoral ministry position here at Life Church, I always ask them to share with me their experience with God when He called them. No experience, no position.

--Why would I do that? In the ministry you will need to go back in your mind a 1000 times to your calling especially when you are faced with great difficulty. Hear Paul’s burden.

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶  For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

--Woe is me if I do not preach this gospel God has called me to, and to exhort you to prayer like never before.

1. Approaching God in prayer. 

--In the last century we have found the power (the awesome power) of atomic and nuclear force. The church needs to re-discover the power of prayer with Holy Spirit and holy living. 

Jude 1:20-21 (NKJV)
²⁰  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
²¹  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

--Praying in Holy Spirit will build you up, will prepare you for spiritual warfare, and it will help you live a holy life before God (keep yourselves in the love of God).

--We must pray if we want to live a holy life. Also, it will be difficult to pray in sincerity before God if we are not living a holy life. Scripture please.

Psalm 24:3-5 (NIV)
³  Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
⁵  He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 

--You see, how you approach God is so important. Here is something to think about. The secret of praying is praying in secret. What you do in your private life speaks volumes of your desire to approach God.

--Reading books, listening to podcasts, or going to conferences about prayer is good but you still have to learn to pray. I can have the guns and bullets galore but until I go and shoot the game, the freezer is empty.

--From someone who loves you, maybe, just maybe the reason your soul is dry, the reason you are unhappy, the reason you are unfulfilled is because of your lack of time in prayer with the Master. 

--We act like with God similar to the kid who rings the doorbell and runs away before the door is opened. How many undiscovered blessings are forfeited because we do not tarry with God and pray? 

2. Prayer as vast as God is.

--There may be those who can estimate the distance from the earth to the sun, those who can tell us the speed of light, predict the rising of the sun every day. You cannot estimate the power of prayer. 

--Prayer is as vast as God. Why? Because He is the One behind it making it happen. Prayer is so mighty because God has committed Himself to answering when we call on Him. Listen to the psalmist praying:

Psalm 34:4-6 (NKJV)
⁴  I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
⁵  They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
⁶  This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 

--It has been said that the reason Jesus will have to wipe away tears from our eyes at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be because of our small prayers in light of His greatness.

--How powerful are the prayers of the saints of God? Prayer has nullified the strength of fire, prayer has shut the mouths of lions, prayer has stopped anarchy in the streets…ask Esther.

--If God’s people praying and declaring a fast could stop anarchy for Queen Esther and Mordecai in the streets, couldn’t God do the same for the cities of America if we pray?

--Prayer has reversed the laws of science (ax head floating), prayer has stopped armies (ask Jehoshaphat), prayer has cast out demons, prayer has raised the dead to life (ask Lazarus). 

--Prayer has healed diseases like leprosy (what could God do to Covid 19?), prayer made the sun stand still in the sky so the battle could be won (ask Joshua).

--Prayer is a power, prayer is a privilege, prayer is access to the God Who has no limitations. The Bible says we have not because we do not ask. We have not today because we pray not. We must pray. 

--Make note of this, your time of prayer is not just a place where you hand God your unending list of things you want Him to do for you. Yes, prayer changes things but prayer changes people.

--Prayer changed Hannah by taking away her reproach but also, prayer changed Hannah from a barren woman to a fruitful woman. From a woman of mourning to a woman of dancing. Hannah came to a vast God!

--Many of us are praying that God will cause us to dance but maybe the issue is that we have not learned to mourn first. We want the garment of praise first.

Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)
³  To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." 

--Thank God we are a mission’s church but please never forget the vastness of God. You guys give so much to missions and that is great but what would happen if we added prayer?

Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵  Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
⁶  He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. 

3. Revival praying birthed by love.

Exodus 32:31-32 (NKJV)
³¹  Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!
³²  Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."

Romans 9:2-4 (NLT2)
²  My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief
³  for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
⁴  They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. 

--If John Knox had prayed, “Give me success.” But he prayed a self-sacrificing prayer.

John Knox – Give me Scotland, or I die!

 --David Livingstone had such a burden for Africa…He prayed, Lord, when will the wound of this world’s sin be healed? He lived in prayer and actually died on his knees in prayer.

--Only prayer motivated by love will change this sin hungry world. We need a prayer hungry church that will stay in God’s presence until things change. 

--Pastor, I only have influence over a few people. What difference can I make? You probably have more influence than you think. It is not the size but the sort.

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
¹²  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
¹³  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

Pray and Never Give Up - 2

Pray and Never Give Up - 2

Subject: The Power of Dealing with Hidden Sin

by Rick Welborne

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT2)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 

Joshua 7:1-4,11-13 (NLT)
¹  But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.
²  Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.
³  When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”
⁴  So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai
¹¹  Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.
¹²  That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
¹³  “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. 

Joshua 6:18-19 (NLT)
¹⁸  “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.
¹⁹  Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury.” 

--Last week we told you that you need to be pray and not give up. God can work incredible miracles for us but we must be willing to deal with our hidden sins. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
¹⁶  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
¹⁷  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

--Tonight I believe, through our text, God is going to speak to us a word of reproof (rebuke), a word of correction (adjustment}, and a word of instruction (training) so that we can be complete (whole).

1. Reproof: Our sin or sins affects not only us but those around us. 

--Pastor, what I am doing will only affect me…matter of fact my children, my family, and even my church does not know what I am doing. As long as I keep it hidden, I am good. Really?

Joshua 7:1 (NKJV)
¹  But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. 

--The children of Israel committed a trespass, other translations say they disobeyed the Lord’s instruction, they ignored His commands, they acted unfaithfully, they violated His instructions, they broke faith, they sinned.

--Notice it was they…it was Israel…it was God’s people who disobeyed and sinned against God. Wait a minute, Preacher, it says that it was Achan who took things he was not supposed to take.

--I guess you have me; you are right in saying it was Achan who committed the sin but the truth is that sin has a way of affecting more than just the person who does it. 

Romans 14:7 (NIV) ⁷  For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.

Joshua 7:20-21 (NLT)
²⁰  Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel.
²¹  Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

--I saw…I wanted…I sinned…do you see the problem here with Achan…it was all about him and about what he wanted with no regard to how it would affect anyone else. Who does that sound like?

Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV)
¹²  "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 

¹³  For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
¹⁴  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'

--How many of you believe that if Achan could do it all over that he would have made a better choice…he had been warned by the word of the Lord earlier…do not take anything!

Joshua 7:24-25 (NLT)
²⁴  Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor.
²⁵  Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies.

--Pastor, that is not fair that Achan’s sin affected his entire family…not only did his sin affect the family but it also affected the entirety of Israel…think of the impact on the families of 36 soldiers who died.

--We said this was going to be a reproof (a rebuke) so hear me out…It may not be fair what Achan’s sin did to everyone else but think about it…we see the same thing acted out every day.

--The alcoholic is not just destroying his life, the drug addicted person whether legal or illegal is not only affecting his life, the mom or dad who is messing around, the person being divisive in the church. 

Joshua 7:21 (NLT) ²¹  Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. 

--Achan took what he wanted but he got more than he bargained for…his sin cost him everything…he lost the robe, the silver, and the gold but he lost much more…he lost his family…his life.

--I don’t want to be too cruel today with this reproof but just imagine with me Achan’s children looking at him and saying right before they stoned them…Why daddy? The Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:5-6 (NLT)
⁵  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
⁶  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

2. Correction: We must deal with our hidden sins.

Joshua 7:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹  Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

--I know you know this…there is no such thing as hidden sin…you may take pride that you can sneak around and hide your stuff from family and friends but nothing is hidden from God.

Hebrews 4:13 (NLT) ¹³  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Luke 8:17 (NIV) ¹⁷  For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

--What sobering verses to all of us…we need to make sure that we have repented of our sins (confessed our sins before God) and turned back to God with all our hearts. These sins will nullify our prayers. 

--If we do not deal with these sins it will have an adverse effect on our relationship with Jesus, it will have an adverse effect on our families, and it will have an adverse effect on the body of Christ.

--Pastor Rick, are you trying to tell us that when we sin we can really effect the spiritual life and victory of Life Church and of our families? Yes, listen to this verse again: Listen to Israel and they in these verses:

Joshua 7:1 & 11-13 (NLT)
¹  But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi… ¹¹  Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.
¹²  That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
¹³  “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. 

3. Instruction: Be obedient to what God says…His Word!

Joshua 6:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷  Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.
¹⁸  “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.
¹⁹  Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury.” 

--God’s instructions are really simple when you think about it: Everything must be completely destroyed, do not take any of these things, and silver, gold, and iron goes to the Lord’s treasury…His House! House of prayer!

--Think about homes with total disobedience…chaos, think of churches where people are doing their own thing…trouble, think of couples with no honor or respect…division. God delights when we obey Him.

Isaiah 59:2 & 14 (NKJV)
²  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
¹⁴  Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. 

--Sin causes God to not hear us when we pray.

Revival Praying – 1

Revival Praying – 1

Subject – Praying Earnestly Until Revival Comes

by Rick Welborne

James 5:13-20 (NLT2)
¹³  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
¹⁴  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
¹⁵  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
¹⁶  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
¹⁷  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!
¹⁸  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
¹⁹  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,
²⁰  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. 

--Today we begin this new series “Revival Praying” and I hope this is exactly what Life Church will begin to do. Anyone with their eyes opened can see our world is in a mess.

--Please understand where I am going with this message and maybe where I am not going. I have heard recent prophesies that say this next revival or move of God will be easy (effortless).

--I have heard some people, of whom I respect very much, say that that basically all we will have to do is stand back and watch. I wish that were true. I wish it would be that easy. 

--We can plan and organize camp meetings or exciting services with tremendous worship that will make us shout and actually have fun but the spiritual high is only temporary.

--The kind of revival I am talking about takes a church takes the church in its grasp and refuses to let go until every last ounce of sin and self has been squeezed out. There is nothing pacifying about revival.

--Revival is not a season to be jolly. It’s not celebration or festivity. The church in revival is faced with the anguish of unforgiven sin.  Like Isaiah of old the church cries out “Undone”.  

--We have this misconception about revival that it is all about celebration and goosebumps when the reality is a true move of God reveals to us our sinful hearts and how we have turned from God. Repentance.

--As your pastor, I don’t worry as much about the believers who mess up, and then, feel guilt and shame followed by returning to God. I worry about those who sin and feel no guilt at all. Dangerous.

--Many times when we read about former revivals, we say we wish revival would come to us like it came to them, implying it was something easy.

--Hear me, revival does not come easy, it comes thru travail before God until the birth takes place. And just as Satan in the Revelation waited to destroy the Christ child, he waits to destroy revival.

--We are in for a battle, my friends, and it will not be easy. We have to be willing to take hold of eternal life and to never let it go. 

--Like with babies, revival has to be conceived, it has to be nourished for a period of time, then there comes the labor pains, and at the right time, there comes the birthing of the move of God. 

--I am not sure we are ready or willing to pray or pay that kind of cost. We say we need it, we say we want it with hands raised, but are we willing to agonize before God until it comes? Back to our text.

--James is telling us that if we are facing hard times, if we have sickness, if we have unforgiven sin in our lives, we should pray! The earnest prayer of a person right with God produces wonderful results. 

--James shifts and gives us Elijah as a man like us but a man who prayed powerfully. He prays and there is no rain, he prays and the oil and flour do not run out, and he prays and a dead child rises.

--He prays and fire comes down from heaven, he prays and the rain returns, he prays and chooses his successor, he prays (my favorite story) and says if I am a man of God let fire come down and destroy the captain (50).

--He prays and he and Elisha go across the Jordan River on dry land and he prays again, and he is taken up in a chariot of fire. So what’s the point? His prayer was powerful. Shook a nation and affected Israel (church).

2 Kings 2:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" 

--Maybe this is not the question we should be asking. God is where He has always been, on His throne but where are the Elijahs of God?

1. Elijahs of God

--James tells us that Elijah was human or of like passions as we are but we are not like him obviously when it comes to praying and seeking God. 

--He and God stand together as a majority against a wicked nation, against a wicked king, and a wicked Jezebel. We think we can’t make a difference in the mess today but we can if we pray.

Romans 8:28-32 (NIV)
²⁸  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
²⁹  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
³⁰  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
³¹  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³²  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

--We think this election is about either our team winning or the other team winning. Please stop it! This is about the soul of a nation, it is about standing for righteousness, and taking responsibility as believers.

--The things Elijah did to fight against wickedness could not have been done any other way than through prayer. If you want to make a difference please vote but even more important pray for our nation.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NIV)
¹³  "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,
¹⁴  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
¹⁵  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

--Pastor, we have heard those verses over and over. Great, start doing what they say. Humble yourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from your wicked ways. Commentary on Elijah…he prayed.

2. Stand in the Gap.

--So many times we think we have it worse now than any time in history but Elijah was raised up at a time when darkness covered the land.

Isaiah 60:2 (NKJV)
²  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 

--The Lord is telling of a time when darkness will be so prevalent over the land and people but God, in His mercy, will reveal His glory thru His servants. How can this happen? 

--In Elijah’s day you could look across the landscape and see the smoke coming from a thousand pagan temples and altars and this was among the people who claimed Abraham as their father. God had departed!

--So what did God do? He looked for a man, not a committee, not a certain denomination, not the best worship group, but a man who would stand in the gap and make a difference.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)
³⁰  So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

--Pastor, I can’t pray unless we have good worship songs, music with no word, no music, loud music, quiet music, a devotion, a time of worship…please stop. Stand in the gap and pray!

--None of us can even imagine what America will look like in the next ten years if we do not have a revival that sweeps across the land and changes people. 

--Babies dying, cities burning, gun fights in the streets moving to neighborhoods, traditional marriage being mocked, pandemics keeping kids out of school, businesses destroyed in the name of justice. This is today!

3. Stand in the Gap and Pray.

--The secret to praying is praying in secret. If we are not praying, we are playing with the future of our kids and grandkids. I love the song…The Blessing but we have to pray for that to happened. 

--We love to talk about, read about, even quote Azusa, Hebrides, Wesley, Ravenhill, Bartleman, and other great men and moves of God. We do everything but imitate what they did for revival. They prayed.

--We marvel how they gave their last drop of blood to see God move and to change entire countries but we dare not sacrifice any of our own blood. The cost is too great. 

--God is by-passing so many men and women now, not because they do not know what to do, they are not too ignorant, it is because we are to self-sufficient. We have everything we want.

Revelation 3:15-22 (NKJV)
¹⁵  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
¹⁶  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
¹⁷  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

¹⁸  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
¹⁹  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
²⁰  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
²¹  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
²²  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "

--We must repent, we must stand in the gap, and we must pray!

Pray and Never Give Up - 1

Pray and Never Give Up - 1

Subject: The Power of Persistent Prayers

by Rick Welborne

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT2)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
⁵  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

1. I challenge you to pray bold prayers!

--Life Church, God is looking for people who will pray prayers like their lives depend upon it, pray prayers that will resurrect the dead (prodigals), and prayers that will make walls come crashing down. America and churches

--Our bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers.

--God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Why? 

--Because they do not require divine intervention. But ask God to part the Red Sea or make the sun stand still or float an ax head, and God is moved to omnipotent action.

--We must be convinced that God loves keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is Who He is! That is what He does! The bolder the prayer, more glory for God!

--God is just waiting for our human impotence to intersect with His divine omnipotence, and they intersect when we ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, and knock and keep on knocking. 

--But, Pastor, I have prayed for ten years for this miracle…pray another year and pray boldly that this is going to be the time for God to show up in power and majesty! Stretch your faith! 

--I promise you God is ready and He is willing…you must get in your mind and seal it in your heart that God is for you. If you don’t believe that you will pray weak timid prayers. If you believe it, you will pray bold prayers!

Romans 8:31-32 (NKJV)
³¹  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³²  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

2. I challenge you to pray and not give up or quit!

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
¹  One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
²  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
³  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
⁴  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
⁵  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
⁶  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

--Justice will come from a just Judge…How do we view God?

--Do we see Him as just to others but not to us? Is He just to Americans but not to Muslims? Is God just to everyone? Is He truly willing that none should perish? Is He willing to answer our prayers?

--Is your God waiting with a big stick wanting to crack you on the head the first mistake you make or is He so far away and so unconcerned about you and your problems…He can’t be touched by your stuff.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
¹⁵  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
¹⁶  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

--How we view the justice of God will determine how we view our world and those closest to us. If we believe He does not care…we will not care for them…the judge neither feared God or cared about people.

--Justice will come to the chosen who cry out night and day. Those who pray and don’t give up!

The story Jesus told was to emphatically say that if an unjust judge will give justice, how much more will the just Judge God answer those who cry out night and day! Don’t quit praying!

--How we pray will determine how we live…how we pray will determine how we care for the lost and hurting …how we pray will determine how much we trust our just God.

--Justice will come to those who pray and never give up. We give up, we quit way to soon! What if Israel would have gone around Jericho one less time on that last day? Stopped on lap 12. No miracle!

--What would have happened if the people would have started talking instead of being silent …Be still and know I am God? Their history proved their grumbling and complaining killed miracles.

--What if we pray one more time today and then, do it again tomorrow…what will happen if we pray and never give up?

--So learn a lesson from this persistent widow and the results she had. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?

3. I challenge you to pray for those things that are most important.

--Many of us have a Gatlin Gun mentality when it comes to our prayers. We blast out prayers for everything under the sun and, most of the time, we are not serious about any of them. 

--Don’t misunderstand me, everything I pray for is very important and every person I mention in my prayers are dear to me and obviously are dear to God.

--I will continue to pray for all those needs but when it comes to praying bold prayers over certain needs that are absolutely near to God’s heart and mine…I pray with a different intensity. I am more focused. 

--I am more likely to pray with greater diligence about a family member who is lost and far from God than I am you being able to kill a big buck this year or find the best deal on a piece of furniture.

--Three needs that are near to me are my family, my church, and the lost! All these things are near to the heart of God so I will pray boldly and passionately for them. Do you understand?

--When I am praying with intensity for my family, I am praying for my marriage to Tricia…do we have a good marriage, yes, but could it be better by me praying…of course. She is probably crying…Help, Lord!

--I pray for my kids to love God and to find their calling and destiny with Him…I plead the blood of Jesus over them and I pray favor over them every day. Much of my prayer is for them. 

Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
¹⁵  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

--When I pray boldly for the church (Life Church) I pray for Holy Spirit, Book of Acts growth and that Jesus will build His Body and multiply us by souls being saved. Pray for the Villages for the campus there. 

--When I pray for the church I never have to wonder if I am praying the will of God:

Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
¹⁸  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

--When I pray for the prodigals I pray for my own family (who are lost), your families, and those I am witnessing to in our communities. Quite a long least. 

Isaiah 60:1-4 (NKJV)
¹  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
²  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
³  The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
⁴  "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 

--Back to the persistent widow. Surely you believe the community was watching while she fought for the justice that was due her. The community is always watching when we tell them we are believers. 

The last verse in the parable is of utmost importance to this idea of praying. 

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)                                                                                                                                                ⁸  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” 

--How many will Jesus find on the earth who have faith? Those who are praying and never giving up!

Normal or Supernatural – 13

 Normal or Supernatural – 13

Subject – Time for the Church to Have Real Power

by Rick Welborne

Acts 19:11-20 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
¹²  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
¹³  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
¹⁴  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
¹⁵  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
¹⁶  Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
¹⁷  This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
¹⁸  And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
¹⁹  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
²⁰  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

--The first seven verses of this chapter discuss how real Holy Spirit was to believers. Many today try to say the Day of Pentecost was just for that day, thus, He is not for today. Really?

--I looked up the timeline from Pentecost to Paul going to Ephesus in this chapter and it is 24 years later. Did you receive Holy Spirit when you believed? Nope, never heard of Him.

--Paul lays his hands on them and they are baptized with Holy Spirit. They speak in tongues and prophesy. 

--The Book of Acts shows us over and over again how people go from normal to supernatural and how that impacts the Kingdom of God…i.e. people get saved and transformed by the power of God. 

--The modern church has evolved into something that really does not look like what church did in the beginning. Frank Bartleman believes the decline started in the 3^rd Century. 

--When the church started elevating man and diminishing God and His power, the church began to drift toward secular humanism and man’s hierarchal control of the church. 

--Again man became the focus of the church and because of that the church became political and corrupt with much abuse toward the people they should have been loving and ministering to. 

--It became about words and wisdom of man instead of the demonstration of the power of God being displayed in people’s lives showing them the way to God. Like in the Book of Acts. Listen to Paul:

 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
²  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
³  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
⁴  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
⁵  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--Today we are constantly encouraged to listen to these preachers or speakers who are excellent speakers slinging out sermons that make us ooh and ah. We truly get moved emotionally. Temporarily. 

--In my quest for revival I have a rule for myself and for my own spiritual growth…If I hear any hint of pride, arrogance, me, I, with it being all about them, I do not listen. Don’t want that spirit. We should reflect God.

--So what are you looking for, Pastor Rick? Paul sums it up so well in verses 4 and 5:

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
⁵  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--We see the what and the why. The what that is needed is a demonstration of Holy Spirit and power and the why is so men’s faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--If we will see a great sweeping revival with lives being totally transformed it will happen because we have sought God to the point that He begins to demonstrate Holy Spirit and power. 

--We must hunger for such a move of Holy Spirit that we see the sick healed, the bound set free, and the lost being saved in mass. Amen!

--Right now there are people we love and people we call brothers and sisters in the Lord who need a miracle. They need a demonstration of God’s power not more empty words.

1. Unusual Miracles.

Acts 19:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
¹²  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 

--Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s body brought healing. That’s unusual. People brought out sick people so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them. The implication was they were healed. Unusual. 

--Both of these situations point out something that is so important. People were healed, not because Peter and Paul made a big show, but because it was the power of God demonstrating. 

--Peter was just walking by and Paul was not even physically present when the people were healed. It was about God showing up because people were seeking Him and having faith.

--I am going to say something that may offend a few people but I am simply being biblical. We have come to believe that if we simply pray in Jesus Name or add “In the Name of Jesus” something has to happen.

--People who do not even live faithfully for God believe they can just randomly call on Jesus Name believing their prayers will be answered. His name was never intended to be a magic formula.

--The seven sons of Sceva learned a very powerful lesson when it came to using Jesus Name and not having neither relationship or power with Him. 

Acts 19:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
¹⁴  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 

--They tried to cast out demons by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. Think about how ridiculous that is. On the other hand, people try to do the same thing today.

--People say…My mom and dad were faithful to God. They prayed for me every day. They were always in church, always helping others, and always trusted Jesus. I am ok because of mom and dad. Really?

--The seven sons of Sceva found out that there would be no unusual miracles done without a personal and powerful relationship with Jesus Christ. They got their rear ends kicked.

--So many people are blaming God for not showing in their lives when they needed a miracle. They have not served Him or been faithful to Him but now they are praying in Jesus Name. Stop it!

--Let’s bring it closer to home. Pastor, we want to see miracles, we want to see revival, and we want Jesus showing up in power. Do you believe unusual miracles will happen without earnestly seeking God?

--Words are cheap. We want a move of God and miracles that cost us nothing. Will not happen.

2. Evil spirits know.

Acts 19:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 

--Of course, we do not want to attribute more power to demons than what they have but this evil spirit knew that these seven sons of Sceva did not have the goods. 

--Pastor Rick, do demons know what I am thinking? No, but they don’t have to, they can just watch what you are doing and know how to tempt you.

--If you look at porn, don’t say the devil knows my weakness and how to make me fall. Congratulations, you showed him what your flesh wanted and now you are in bondage.

--So powerful what the demon said, Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you? Let me ask you today, who are you? Who are you in God’s Kingdom?

--You can say you want revival and you want unusual miracles to happen but are you going after God with all your heart, are you living in a constant state of repentance, and are you truly filled with Holy Spirit?

--Evil spirits know if you are truly living 2 Chronicles 7:14 or not. Revival will come no other way.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
¹⁵  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

--The seven sons of Sceva were embarrassed, beaten, and the greatest shame of all, they were overpowered. Who are you? Demons know! You shall receive power when Holy Spirit comes upon you.

3. True repentance. 

--We love what we consider revival. We love to be in exciting services where the worship has us dancing and people laying around like cord-wood. 

--Modern day revivals seem to leave out what is, according to the Word of God, is a key ingredient. Unless there is a turning from our wicked ways, no lasting change will come.

--Many times when a ministry falls and embarrassment comes, the church simply holds its head down in shame and goes into hiding. Not so here in Ephesus. The true gospel overshadowed the fake. 

Acts 19:17-20 (NKJV)
¹⁷  This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
¹⁸  And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
¹⁹  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
²⁰  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

--People heard that the evil spirit acknowledged the true Jesus and Paul and great fear fell in the area. God, do it again! Jesus was magnified!

--People came confessing their sins. This is revival! Then, they brought the things in their homes that were offensive to God and the gospel. Get rid of the junk in your house that opens the door to sin.

--Some of you may need to get rid of Net-Flix, movies, access to God cursing movies, and even alcohol. There is a reason alcohol has been called spirits for years. Pastor, what will we do with our time?

--Pray, seek God, read your Bible, or books about revival. The people of Ephesus brought junk that was valued at 50,000 pieces of silver. One piece was a day’s wage. Millions of dollars. They burned it. They burned it!

--So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Revival! Repentance leads to revival!

Psalm 85:4-7 (NKJV)
⁴  Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
⁵  Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
⁶  Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
⁷  Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.