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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/ea-johnston/the-man-of-revival/
We're in part two of the evangelism awakening Revival Institutes, and if you turn in your handouts to session one the man of revival in the book of Amos God would speak to his prophet Amos by asking him questions.
God would show Amos a vision of a plumb line or a basket of summer fruit and then ask Amos What seest thou? Then God would wait for Amos to respond and when he did God would then go on to explain the meaning of the vision.
The plumb line Revealed how for the people of God had strayed away from God and sin. The basket of summer fruit Meant that Israel was ripe for judgment. Amos had to see and Comprehend how God was dealing with his people in Amos 3 3.
God asked Amos a critical question. He asks Can two walk together? Except they be agreed. This got Amos to thinking and it will get us to thinking as well friends. Can we walk with God if our personal life is not in harmony with him?
Of course not. Can two friends walk together if there is a bone of contention between them? Of course not. There must be harmony in a relationship. For that relationship to have intimacy our session today We'll examine the man God uses the man of revival.
How can mortal man walk with Almighty God unless Almighty God is in mortal man? The man revival must pursue a life of holiness unto the Lord. God's glory must be his first priority. The man revival must be a man who walks under the Discipline of the Holy Spirit and he must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Go examine the life of John Wesley and the life of George Whitfield. And you will find two men who lived Sacrificially for God and eternity. They were holy men who were wholly sold out to Christ Jesus and they shook a continent in revival for God.
John Wesley cried Give me 100 men who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin. And I will shake the gates of hell and he did just that. The man revival is familiar with a life of consecration unto God.
He is deeply familiar with the cost and sacrifice and Following a crucified Savior. He lives his life in absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Two men that I knew always made me thirsty to be more like Jesus.
Because of their holy walk with God. Every time I was with Adrian Rogers He made me think of Jesus because when I was with him, I really felt like I was with Jesus. Adrian Rogers used to say we need God called man.
He will take the book of God and preach the Son of God with the anointing of the Spirit of God. Well, it was a rainy night in Memphis and I had just dropped my family off at a local restaurant. While I parked the car I made my way in the parking lot.
Beneath an umbrella in the pouring rain and as soon as I stepped into the restaurant. But there was a figure Standing inside with his arms outstretched and he threw his arms around me as he greeted me in a deep booming voice.
Ernesto it was Adrian Rogers and he hugged me and I felt as if for a moment I had stepped in the heaven and Jesus was hugging me. I'm not kidding friends. Adrian Rogers Always Reminded me of Jesus Because of his close walk with him.
The other man who always inspired me to be more Christlike was Stephen Olford. Here was a man who had a mantle of authority. Whenever he preached in his life of holiness Was reflected in his demeanor.
I love the following story about him. Church in Dallas had invited Stephen Olford to come preach and the pastor of the church told his intern To go pick up. Dr. Olford at the airport and then the intern asked to see a photo of Stephen Olford so he would recognize him.
No need for that said the pastor. Just go to the airport terminal and look for a man who has God all over him and the young intern Did just that and as soon as he saw Stephen Olford with his coat draped over his arm and briefcase in hand.
He knew was him by his holy demeanor. The man of revival must be entirely sold out to God. At the funeral of Stephen Olford I was talking to Adrian Rogers who conducted his funeral and he stood facing me with his Arms crossed on his chest and he asked me a question.
He asked do you know what bothers me? I said No, dr. Rogers. What bothers you? He said what bothers me? Is I see God calling up men like Sidlow Baxter and Stephen Olford. And I look around and I don't see any come uppers and Adrian Rogers was right a few men in ministry today or an Adrian Rogers or Stephen Olford, but if you want to be used of God and revival, then you must be a man of Revival.
You must learn all you can on the subject of revival and you must live your life in Subjection to God. He will not accept a divided heart. He will not tolerate sin the instrument of revival Must be a clear and clean channel for God to flow through as a means of blessings to others.
Stephen Olford kept a framed quote on the wall of his study by Robert Murray McChain and had read Lord make me as holy as a saved sinner can be so the man of revival will have a life of consecration unto God.
Secondly the man of revival must be a man of prayer. J. Siddle Baxter said that the habit of regular lingering prayer more than anything else makes any Christian a dangerous holy weapon in the hand of God.
In the book of Joel reread and Rend your heart and not your garments and turn on to the Lord your God. Seeking God in Desperate burdened prayer is the key to revival. Praying patient of Portland wrote in his diary the best means of keeping near to God is in the closet here the Battle is won or lost and I like what Donald Grey Barnhouse said when he said The man who is to thunder in the court of Pharaoh with an imperious thus saith the Lord must first stand barefooted before the burning bush and its true friends a life of prayer is.
The common denominator of men and women used of God to bring glory to his name the Prophet Hosea places great emphasis on Seeking God in prayer so to yourselves and righteousness reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground.
For it is time to seek the Lord. Till he come and reign righteousness upon you. God gets serious with those who get serious with him again in Hosea God declares for I desired mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
But today in our churches There is a lack of fervent burden praying. The standards have fallen the weekly prayer meeting is replaced by Bible Bible studies or Social cell groups and if we do pray at all our prayers are self-absorbed.
Merely listing our needs before God. I want to quote you a man revival that I knew Colin Peckham who wrote a Burdened broken bold praying is the nerve center of revival. There is a price to be paid a price of curbed freedom of resolute concentration of agonizing supplication.
Intercession costs. There is a burden a passion and agony and yes glory. The breaking through of God in a meeting the evidence of his felt presence is Everything and to get that costs everything. A true intercession is sacrifice.
When last did we pray with broken hearts when last? Did we feel that pain filled fellowship of the pierced hand? Oh? How we need the refreshing breath of the spirit. We're glowing coals are fanned into a white hot flame.
A revival is a many Splendorous thing but at its heart it is the revelation of the holy presence of God. Well, I agree with that assessment the two primary elements of any man a revival or a life of Consecration to God and a life of prayer on to God those two doorposts that swing together.
Those are the two doorposts that make an intimate walk with God and as we study revival We must not overlook the human instruments of revival to examine their lives and learn from them. Well this ends our session today.
We will prepare for session 2 of part 2.