Revival Conference 2007 - Part 9 — Denny Kenaston

Revival's Lasting Fruit

The longevity of revival, the longevity of revival. So will not we go back from Thee. Quicken us, and we will call and keep on calling and keep on calling upon Thy name. The longevity of revival. True revival has a stabilizing effect upon the people.

Converts Who Continue for Many Years

Its converts have clear testimonies of continuing for many, many years after a visitation from God. We're talking about longevity. Brothers and sisters, true revival lasts. If it doesn't last, it wasn't revival.

You didn't stay there long enough. Maybe you went forward. Maybe you went into your closet and you confessed some sins to God and God forgave you and you went out your closet and went your way. But if it doesn't last, you didn't stay on your face long enough for God to come.

Revival's Steady Progress Over Decades

Because true revival lasts 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years. Oh, I'm not talking about perfection. Sure, there's some ups and downs and maybe a little bit this way, a little bit that way. But steady on, moving forward, always gaining.

The East African Revival as a Historical Example

True revival lasts, brothers and sisters. I think of the East African revival movement back in 1930. I believe that's when revival broke out in Eastern Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, over there in that area over there.

Forty years later, it was still the same. I went to Kenya in 1986, 56 years later. I never met Africans like those Africans in Kenya. And they were just, they were still on the backside of revival. They were powerful people, powerful people.

Rejecting Roller-Coaster Christianity

True revival lasts, brothers and sisters. It's got longevity to it. None of this up and down stuff. None of this up for three days and then five days later or two weeks later, back down to life as usual.

No, it's not that way. Not when revival comes. It lasts. I'm afraid we're still too much in the mode of this up and down Christianity, you know, roller coasters. Up for the special meetings and right up there a little while and down, back down again.

Up for the special meetings and then back down again. That's not the will of God, brothers and sisters. That's anemic Christianity. There's no revival in that whatsoever. Revival lasts. And I thought about it, you know, earlier this afternoon.

A Revival for the Next Generation

We owe our children a heaven-sent revival. We owe our children. Brothers and sisters, our children have never sat as they saw God moving powerfully in the midst of his people. We owe our children a revival.

Revival as Normal Christianity

About revival lasting. Why shouldn't it last? It's just normal Christianity. Did you hear that? It's just normal Christianity. It's nothing special. It's just normal. We've been living in the subnormal so long that the normal looks abnormal.

And we think, oh, this would be wonderful, and it would be wonderful. But it's nothing special. It's just normal. It's just God being in the midst of his people. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

We're Christians. Christ is living in me. It is God that is in me, both willing and doing of his pleasure. God is with me. God's presence is with me. Today, tomorrow, ten years from now, twenty years from now, fifty years from now.

It should last, shouldn't it? And if you study church history, it did last. It did. And it will if it's real. So, let's not settle for anything less than the real. When God comes, you will be changed.

And everyone will know that you're changed. And a year from now, they will know that you have been changed. And lastly, the unchanging way of revival. Excuse me. Revival only comes one way. Only one way.

Repentance as the Unchanging Way of Revival

That way is expressed throughout this psalm in the cry, Turn us, Lord. Turn us. In the Old Testament, that word turn means repent. Repent us, O Lord! Repent us! That's what it means in the Old Testament.

It is the unchanging way of revival. Every history book. Every account. You follow them out. Down through the annals of history for two thousand years. It's always the same. Wherever there's a group of people who decide they're going to get thoroughly right with God and then begin to pray, God comes.

And the way never changes, brothers and sisters. It's through repentance. It's through undone-ness. It's through broken-ness. Sometimes it comes through failure. Through strong crying and tears. Through repentance and restitution.

Honest Confession and Humility Before God

Through honest confession. That's how it comes. You know, if the heart says, I'm not going to let anybody know who I am. I'm not going to let anybody know my secret sins. Oh, I'm here. I like the sermon.

I'll say amen. I'm not going to let anybody know who I am. That's pride, friend. And God resists the proud. I mean, it's just like this. Do you want to go through these whole three days and God is like this with you?

Think about it. Think about it. You're here. And God is like this with you. Honesty, brothers and sisters. Are you willing to get honest? You know, it seems awful quiet in here. I don't say that to be funny.

It seems awful quiet. God does want to visit you.