The Signs of Revival — Don Wilkerson

This message is one of the Times Square pulpit series. It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. Other tapes are available by writing to World Challenge P .O. Box 260, Lindale, Texas 75771 or calling 214 -963 -8626.

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Want to say Say that the other last night Around our dinner table. My family asked me what I was preaching about and I told them and then I told them the passage and They sort of turned to me and in unison and said you can't do that pastor Bob just preached from that and It's marked the second chapter and I said well, I was gone.

I wasn't here. It was several Sunday mornings ago. I believe you preached from Mark the second chapter. Am I correct about that? And I didn't go on to tell my Family, I wanted to explain to them the pastor Bob doesn't own chapter 2 of Mark but I I didn't I didn't tell them that but they were.

They were sort of saying you can't you can't preach for that. Well, I I wasn't here and I I didn't haven't heard the message yet, and I'm gonna go in a different direction. Anyhow, so Mark chapter 2 tonight I just wanted to explain that but Bob and just in case you thought that I thought maybe you didn't get it Right when you preached it, therefore I was going to preach it.

I want to speak to you tonight about the signs of revival the signs of revival and let's Read a few verses here in Mark chapter 2 and when he came to Capernaum several days afterward It was heard that he was at home.

He was at home King James says in the house, I believe and many were gathered together so that there was no longer room even near the door and he was speaking the word to them and they came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men and being unable to say Unable to get to him because of the crowd they removed the roof above him and when they had dug an opening they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying and Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic my son your sins are forgiven and there were some Of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts.

Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming who can forgive sins, but God alone and Immediately Jesus aware in his spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves said to them Why are you reasoning about these things in your heart?

Which is easier to say to the paralytic your sins are forgiven or to say arise and take up your pallet and walk. But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins He said to the paralytic I say to you rise take up your pallet and go home.

And he rose immediately and took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all. So that they were all amazed and were glorifying God saying Saying we have never seen anything like this. We have never seen any King James, I believe says we've never seen it on this fashion.

Revival Must Be Distinguished from Religious Excitement

Signs of revival, you know, I a year ago. I would not have preached this message frankly. When it comes to the matter of revival, I have to tell you that I was sort of turned off by all of the talk and messages that I heard about revival and There were some reasons for this which which I'll cite for the way that I felt.

First of all, some were saying that we were or we now are in the midst of a great Revival across the land. Now the evidence that is cited for this is the fact that the Gallup poll polls have shown an Evangelical resurgence in our country and Supposedly more people claim to be born again than ever in history.

Added to this feeling that we're in the midst of a revival is the fact that there are many great mega churches today and in some locations, it appears that there has been a You might say a revival at least on a local level.

But as I've traveled across the land, I've seen another picture and we pastors have also seen another picture and That is of the so-called Charismatic renewal that some people point to as evidence of revival and We see that in many respects of being in disarray and Now that the dust has settled you can and we take a look at the state of the church.

It's not a pretty picture in most cases. For example, the television ministries are in shambles. All types of winds of doctrine have swept through the church like a tornado. Leaving behind a host of Wounded sheep and never before has there been more people in the church.

More people in the church with less character and less holiness and purity of lifestyle. Because you see the price that the church and some preachers ask people to pay to join the renewal. The price they asked them to pay was so cheap.

Anybody Almost anybody could join it because there was little commitment involved. There was a little need to adopt a radical life change. It was almost as if the preaching has been come along at just as you are.

You can have all this world and Jesus too and other was just add Jesus. All you need to do is just add Jesus to your life. That's what's missing in your life. You don't have to do anything different. Just add Jesus.

You don't need to subtract anything from your life. Therefore the revival that I thought at first might be a genuine move of God Turned out to be more like a 4th of July fireworks. That flashed across the body of Christ.

It stirred great excitement for a period of time as a firework work show will do. But when it was over there was little of permanence or permanent value that remained. Now I don't discredit the entire charismatic renewal.

There was some good to it but nevertheless for the most part I was turned off by all the talk that we're in revival and Then a second a second reason that I've been cautious about referring to Revival is that it has become a cold word meaning a cure-all for this nation.

Some people think that if the Holy Spirit would just sweep upon us in mighty power that it would Get America back to its roots. We would get rid of the humanist and the liberals in our society and the church would become the head and not the tail.

In fact, that's what the kingdom now people are claiming as Bob preached Sunday morning that that's what the that's what they're teaching. Now, it's true that in past revivals. Past revivals have reformed not only the church, but in many cases the society as well.

During the Great Awakening in the 18th century, which I'm going to refer to frequently a little bit. During that awakening. In fact, there were two great awakenings. It changed attitudes in the society.

It changed attitudes towards the poor. It changed towards the orphans and the Indians and the slaves. However, no revival ever has fully or will fully Christianize this nation. Or set up a utopia or a millennial reign on this earth.

Stephen Olford who used to be the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church here in New York City. He said this about revival. He said revival is a strange and sovereign work of God in which he visits his own people restoring Reanimating and releasing them into the fullness of blessing.

But you see that blessing falls only upon those who have a hunger for righteousness and maintain a right heart attitude. Even in the midst of the greatest revivals in the past often the majority of the society Ignored it and men to continue to go on and serve their own gods.

You see there is a danger of Making an idol out of a cry for revival and expecting too much from it. Even Jesus disciples wanted or thought that he was going to launch liberation theology and Set up his kingdom now and overthrow their oppressors and they were deeply disappointed when he didn't do it they didn't understand that it was a kingdom within the heart and They thought that it was going to Christianize as it were the nation a Third reason we must properly understand revival and why it needs to be Redefined is that the call for revival up to now has been miss focused.

It's been missed focused. For example, we hear over and over again. I've heard this quoted so many times I've seen posters with this verse on it. You're familiar with it. Let me let me repeat it to you again.

2nd Chronicles 714 it says if my people who are called by my name 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.

But my friend that is not Directed to Washington DC that is directed to the church. First of all, the church has to repent first. God's people must humble themselves turn from their wicked ways and seek his face.

We've been asking the wrong people to repent first. We've got to get our own house in order first. It's not just Washington DC or the government. Or the nation. Yes, they need to repent but the scripture says if my people and If the church would spend more time on its knees praying then on his feet lobbying.

I Think we would be in revival right now. It's not Washington. We need to lobby. It's heaven that we need to lobby. Somebody said revival is God's finger pointing at me. The call to revival is given not to the unbeliever but to the family of God.

Leonard Ravenhill says evangelism affects the other fellow. Revival affects me now in spite of the misconceptions of revival, I am Preaching tonight about revival because my heart hungers to see an old-fashioned heaven-sent revival.

That begins within me that begins within the church and Spills out over into the streets and into your homes among your unsafe loved ones. Into your offices into our schools and into our universities.

There is a need to call for and to cry out for revival. But at first must begin personally and individually in each of us before it spreads anywhere else. Now I have no word from the Lord tonight. I have no word from the Lord that America is going to see revival.

I have no word that New York City is going to see a great revival or a spiritual awakening as It's happened in earlier history but my heart still cries out for it and I can I believe that we can say it and we were talking about it today in our pastors meeting.

I believe that we are now seeing a cloud about the size of a man's hand a Cloud of revival that God wants to move and bring and is is manifesting in our midst right here. As I said, I don't have a word from the Lord as to revival in New York City.

But I do have a word from the Lord to myself and that is I need to pray for a continual personal revival in my own heart. I Pray that that personal revival grows Within you and will move within this church and then we'll.

And then we'll let the Holy Spirit decide where he wants to to go from here. But you see all past revival started in one place. It started in one gathering it started in one town. Other people heard about it and it drew hungry souls like a magnet and they would come and they'd catch the flame of that fire.

And they'd take it back somewhere else. And I'm going to tell you about some of those revivals in just a moment. Habakkuk 3 2 says Lord. I have heard the report about thee and I fear I Have heard the report about thee and I fear Oh Lord revived.

I work in the midst of the years. In the midst of the years make it known in wrath. Remember mercy and I believe that in the midst of the years of backsliding and famine and spiritual deterioration That has gone on in the land that like Habakkuk we can cry out and say Lord Revive thy work again and that he will do it if that's our heart cry.

Hallelujah. Now when we but when true revival breaks out certain things happen always happen there's certain characteristics and I Want to use the account in Mark 2 to show you some things that happened here.

That as I study revivals in the Bible as well as in history, I find Certain similar characteristics and I want to cite about four or five of them tonight. Now there are there are more than this. But I find about four or five of them in this account and I want to talk about them.

Revival Begins with Biblical Preaching

The first sign of revival is a return to biblical preaching and a renewed interest in the Word. Note what Jesus was doing in the house meeting in Capernaum. Before he healed the man. Before he saved the man.

Before he did anything else. Look what he was doing in verse 2 and Many were gathered together so that there was no longer room even at the door and what was he doing and He was speaking the word. He was speaking the word to them.

Psalms 119 80 and 93 don't turn there listen. It says I will never forsake thy precepts for by them Thou hast revived me. Let me read that again. I will never forget thy precepts. I will never forget thy word for by them thou hast revived me.

You see the reason that I've not been able to get too excited about the so-called renewal. Or revival in the church over the past several decades is that it has been centered mostly on Spiritual manifestations or people getting spiritual experiences.

Getting gifts which is nothing wrong with that or Receiving tongues and there's nothing wrong with that. The emphasis has also been on praise and worship. It's been on dance it's been on healing. It's been on deliverance has been on a lot of things.

But the preaching of the word in some cases has been relegated to a secondary place. And there has never been a revival without christ-centered and word-centered. Preaching and preachers and people who are drawn to God's Word.

Now how we know that there is a famine of the word. Over the last several decades is because the emphasis on today's teaching is what can God do for me? What can God do for me? Not what I ought to do for God and.

The result is that we produce a group of shallow Christians of carnal church goers and compromising Christians. But to listen again from psalms 119 verse 103 and 104 says how sweet are thy words to my taste?

A characteristic of the revival. It is suddenly the word becomes alive. People get hungry for the word it becomes sweet to them. They can't get enough of it. How sweet are thy words to my taste. Yea sweeter than honey to my mouth.

From thy precepts I get understanding. Therefore I hate. I hate every evil way. Turn go with me to second kings very quickly just a scripture or two in second kings chapter 23 turn to it. The revival under josiah.

Second kings chapter 23 Was a revival that came as a result of the word of righteousness being given. Its rightful place in the temple and in the hearts of God's people. Second kings chapter 23 and verse 2.

It says and the king went up to the house of the lord. And here's who went with him and all the men of judah. And all the inhabitants of jerusalem went with him the priest and the prophets and all the people.

The priest and the prophets and all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the lord. Now I want you to note a few things about it.

It says that the priest and the prophets went to the house of god along with all the people. Now today so far as the church is concerned. It seems that the people. The laity the congregations are the ones that are hungry for the word more than some of the pastors.

I don't know who was the great leader who said made this statement. He said there go my people. I must catch them. For that I am their leader. There go my people. I must catch them for they are my leader for I am their leader and I find today that.

That in the pew in the church people are hungry for the word of god. We hear it over and over again the letters that come to us reports of people say I went to the church and I got a little a little sermonette.

I got a just uh. As I say sermonette for christianettes, you know, you know. There was not there was not a word from the lord and the people are saying we're hungry for the word. And the revival in this day.

It says that both the priest and the prophets Along with the people went to the house of the lord. It also says both great and small went to jerusalem. Into the house of the lord again, it seems like today the so-called great people.

The great people or leaders in the church are more interested in their denominational programs more interested in holding on to Ecclesiastical power and position than then being men of the word. I just had some friends that just came back from a conference.

200 leaders were gathered together. And And the denominational representative was there stood up. He gave a message for the evening and one of the men came all the way from england. And sat there and listened to a a little pep rally about be faithful to your denomination.

There was no word from the lord and he after the service. He turned to one of the men and he said is this it? Is this is this all there is to it? And you see in that day it said both great as well as small ordinary people.

Are going to have to get into the house at capernaum and sit at the feet of jesus as he speaks the word to us. If there's going to be a revival, it's going to be a have to be a reviving of the pulpit.

As well as a revival in the pew. I like what somebody has said. I don't know who said it. They said preaching is not the art of making a sermon and delivering it. Preaching is the art of making a man and delivering that.

Back in mark the second chapter go back to mark again. Right after this incident at capernaum. It jesus left the house. He left that house and he went down by the seashore. And now a larger crowd gathers verse 13 and he went out again by the seashore and all the multitudes were coming to him.

And what was he doing? I love it again. There it is. It says he was teaching them. He was speaking the word to them. Now in all great revivals of the past. It was the preaching and teaching Of the unadulterated word of god that was the first sign of the spirits moving for example.

In the first great awakening in the 1700s. It was men like george, whitfield Jonathan edwards and john wesley who preached with great power and great results and at the time. That these men appeared the conditions in the land were very similar to what is taking place in our land today.

There were people who went to church. But there was a coldness. There was an indifference to the true gospel. And jonathan edwards preached for 16 years in massachusetts to his congregation with nominal results little to no results nominal results.

But then Jonathan edwards along with other preachers began to get burdened. And the first seeds of a glorious revival broke out in somewhere in the the third decade of the 1700s 1700s. Because god got a hold of pastors and preachers and they believed in the possibility of what they called preaching through the spirit of slumber.

And one minister wrote of that period and this is what he said. When ministers get a sight of the valley of vision. And the bottomless gulf into which bone after bone is sinking. They the pastors will feel that it is important that they warn and alarm sinners.

And then that they alone the preachers are responsible that they preach against death. They preach for eternity. They preach about the judgment seat. They preach for heaven and they preach about hell.

And these great awakening preachers also believed. They said That neither they or even truth itself could induce the fear that leads to life. They said only a consciousness of the presence of god can make the truth preached startingly real to the preachers and hearers alike.

He said then. Then the final the fact of final judgment Can be no more doubted than if it had already been present. And that is exactly what happened the truth of judgment. The truths of gods were got a hold of these pastors and these preachers.

And they began to minister on the anointing of the holy spirit and preached it like they'd never preached it before. One youth wrote regarding the outbreak of revival. This is what he said. He said I fully expected As soon as mr. Edwards closed his message That the judge would descend from heaven and the final separation would take place.

Now the result of that faithful preaching Together with concerted prayer and i'm going to talk about that in a moment as well. The result of that preaching brought about a remarkable spiritual awakening in america the american colonies.

And in the motherland in england. And somebody wrote and said that the move of god broke upon slumbering churches like a thunderbolt out of heaven. Listen to what was said Of george whitfield when he came to america and his preaching.

Let me read it to you. He said it is wonderful to see what a spell the word cast upon an audience. By proclaiming the simplest truths of the bible. I have seen upwards of a thousand people hang on his words with breathless effort.

Broken only by occasional half suppressed sobs. He said the preaching impresses the ignorant and not less the educated than the refined. It is reported that when george whitfield was in england preaching the miners of england listened to him.

The tears made white furrows down their dirty cheeks. And so here also in america our mechanics shut up their shops. And day laborers throw down their tools to go hear the preaching. And few return unaffected.

He said many persons date the beginning of new thought new desires. New purposes and new life from the day in which they heard him preach of christ and this salvation. George fit. George whitfield preached approximately 18 000 times in his life.

Often to crowds as large as 20 to 40 000 people in the open air. Without megaphone without a sound system. And at one point during the revival, he said the whole world is my parish. And you see the point is this is that when revival breaks out there comes a New hunger for god's word.

There comes an outpouring of his word through his pastors through his preachers through men of god. Who god raises up? And if revival is going to come to this nation, there must be a return of power in the pulpit.

First corinthians 1 21. It says it pleased god to the folly of what we preach to save those who believe now. Another sign of revival always took place during any revival. Another sign is that there was great conviction of sin.

Revival Produces Conviction of Sin

Great conviction of sin. Look again at mark chapter 2. Verse 5. It says in jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic my son your sins are forgiven. Now no work of god can be effective Unless we deal with our sins.

You've heard that again and again from this pulpit. This man in capernaum obviously needed a physical healing. But jesus dealt first of all with the most important issue and that was a man's sin. In fact, it is probable that the man's physical condition was a direct result of his sin.

And this was the reason why the focus was first on forgiveness rather than healing. Now you have to also understand that the jews At that time all believed that all sickness was the direct result of a man's specific sin.

And jesus did not always teach that because you remember when they brought the blind man to jesus. They asked the question said, you know, what sin did he commit or what sin did his parents commit that this happened to him?

And jesus said neither did he nor his parents sin, but that in order that the works of god might be displayed to him. However in other cases there was a correlation between sickness and sin. And apparently it was so in this case and so jesus first of all dealt with sin.

Now one thing is for sure in a revival. In order for the power and the presence of god to be manifested. Sin must be confessed and it must be forsaken. Because when revival breaks out the immediate result in the church.

And in the person's heart is that the attitude towards sin? Changes it no longer is indifference, but there is great conviction of sin. Now prior to the great awakening in the 1700s. Which swept across great britain and then america?

Every Strata of society needed revival. Gambling was then what drugs are today. It was at academic proportions. Brutal and cruel sports amused the ordinary people. The gallows were there was the center of hanging shows.

When 10 to 15 people might be hung at once when the crowds watched and in fact in those days In the 18th century you could be hung for any number of 100 different offenses. It included picking a pocket for shilling or just a very minor thing.

And they would set up the gallows and everybody would come to see the show. And it was a it represented a disregard for human life. Even as abortion does today. Also during that period drunkenness Turned people that people were cruel and brutal because of drunkenness.

Corruption and immorality was rampant among politicians on all levels. There was a wave of materialism That affected the clergy. They neglected their flock. One person characterized the sermons preached at that time as dull duller and dullest.

In fact when I read of the Conditions that existed in great britain in america before the great awakening. It is uncannily similar to the conditions in our land today. You talk about gallows where 10 to 15 people are hung at a time.

Did you know that in july in new york city? There were six homicides a day. Six a day in july over 180 people killed in this city and in all revivals. The result of the entrance of god's word is that there was a turning away from apostasy.

And backsliding and adultery and gross immorality people got deeply convicted. Listen to some of the results of revival during the great awakening. It says there was in the minds of the people a general fear of sin.

And of the wrath of god denounced against it. There seemed to be a general conviction. That all the ways of man were before the eyes of the lord. It was the opinion of men of discernment and sound judgment.

Who had the best opportunities of knowing the feedings and the general state of the people at that period? That when the revival break broke out. They said you could lay bags of gold and silver on the street and nobody would touch it.

Lay bags of gold on the street and nobody could touch it. He said theft wantonness Intemperance profaneness sabbath breaking and other gross sins appeared to be put away. He said the intermissions on the lord's day instead of being spent on worldly conversation and vanity.

As had been too usual before. Were now spent in religious conversation in reading And in singing the praises of god. Jonathan edwards also said after preaching and he was preaching in one church. He said the groans listen the groans and outcries Of the wounded or convicted were so great that my voice could not be heard.

Above the groaning against the conviction that was in their hearts. Here's another account. One of the prominent features of the great awakening. Was that the gospel was armed by the holy ghost? With a tremendous and irresistible individualizing power.

Men had come into the light And taken his appropriate place before god as guilty and accountable. Men and women of all ages and descriptions felt themselves to be in the presence of god. Unbelievers felt it with profound conviction, but also did christians who no less altogether had been Indifferent now became different.

Some christians rejoiced in full assurance. Others had a remarkable new work of god as if they had been the subjects of a second conversion. And on and on and when I read that It stirs up my heart and and you know what it makes me want to say god do it again.

God do it again. And I believe that he can. Third characteristic or evidence of revival. Or the effects of revival is that there is a new burst of soul winning. Look what happened here in this story how it came about verse three.

Revival Brings a New Burst of Soul-Winning

It says. And they came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four. Carried by four you see every revival has spread from the church to the world. To the society. And I get a picture of these four men.

Now some may say well, you know, how did they get involved? Did this man get a hold of four friends? No, I believe that they were part of this revival. They knew jesus was in the house. And so they went out and picked him up and said come on we're taking you to the revival.

We're taking you to the house where jesus is. And doing a revival. Backsliders, especially unsaved loved ones begin to feel the convicting power of the holy ghost. Listen to a brief description of what took place in new england during the great awakening among backsliders.

It said many had their countenance changed. Great numbers cried out aloud in the anguish of their souls. Several Strout men fell as though a cannon Had been discharged. And a ball had made its way through their hearts.

Now don't you know a few family members and friends and relatives you'd like that kind of cannonball to hit. And slay them with holy ghost conviction. That's exactly what happened when revival breaks out.

Look at mark 1 45. Just before this incident when uh, what was it the leper who was healed? Verse 45 it says but he went out. He went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news about I like the king james better.

It says he didn't it doesn't say he blazed it abroad. Jesus told him don't tell anybody but immediately he went out and began to tell and to proclaim it to such an extent Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city but stayed out in unpopulated areas.

But they were still coming to him from everywhere. My friends that's revival. That's revival. One minister doing the revival in in new england. He said this. He said in one week. I saw more souls come to christ in my ministry.

Than in 24 years previous of preaching one week. Friends, do you know what? Do you know what's going on and what i'm describing here? I don't know if you've got it yet. I don't know if you see it yet.

I don't know if you're excited about it yet, but do you know something? I'm talking about characteristics of revival if you just think about what god's doing in our midst folks. We're on the verge. Hallelujah god wants to do it again.

We're already seeing the very. That cloud about the size of a man's hand. Hallelujah. Now there's another sign of revival. Actually, it's a prerequisite to it and that is concerted prayer. Go to mark chapter one before all this happened.

Revival Is Birthed in Concerted Prayer

Look at verse 35. Do you know why what the reason? What happened in the house and in the house church at capernaum happened it was because here it is right here and early in the morning. While it was still dark he arose and he went out and departed to a lonely place.

And was praying there. You see what happened in the house and capernaum was a direct result of what happened in a lonely place prayer. You see revival and prayer are synonymous. That's why we talk about our friday night prayer prayer meeting so much.

That's why we want folks to come. You know, there was a there was a second great awakening that took place in the 1800s late 1800s early 1900s. One of the greatest revivals that that History has ever seen and that took place in wales.

It was called the great welsh revival under a name a man by the name of evan roberts. He was mightily used of the lord and As I said, it was probably the greatest one of the greatest revivals in history.

But it was a revival that was preceded and bathed in prayer. Young evan roberts as well as another other young companions began to pray. And there was an account told of how he he went he would go to a prayer meeting on monday night.

And then he they would have another prayer meeting on tuesday night on wednesday night. Went back to monday night's place and had another prayer meeting on thursday night. There was another prayer meeting on friday night.

There was another prayer meeting and for 13 years evan roberts and a few faithfully committed themselves to prayer. And finally one night. As a group of 19 young men were gathered for prayer. Evan roberts stood up and he began to sing and this is what he said.

He said it's coming. It's coming the power of the holy ghost. It's coming. I receive it. I receive it. The power of the holy ghost is on its way. In another meeting he prophesied and he said I believe.

In fact, he asked the question he said do you believe that god can give us? 100 000 souls in wales. And they began to pray for that and my friend that's exactly what happened. The revival was so great that it was news around it was in newspapers around the world but in wales.

Do you know what they did? They used to publish a Revival map. You know like we have a weather map that tells you what temperature is going to be in one place another they had a revival map. And in in it, they had three shades dark medium and light.