(Revival) Part 2 - Preparatory Stages — Martyn-Lloyd Jones

Exodus 33 and the Biblical Pattern of Revival

The words to which I should like to call your attention this morning are to be found in that chapter which we read at the beginning in the book of Exodus chapter 33, again looking particularly at verses 7 to 11.

Verses 7 to 11 in the 33rd chapter of the book of Exodus. And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp and called it the tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that every one which sought the Lord went out into the tabernacle of the congregation which was without the camp.

And it came to pass when Moses went out into the tabernacle that all the people rose up and stood every man at his tent door and looked after Moses until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass as Moses entered into the tabernacle the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle and the Lord talked with Moses.

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door and all the people rose up and worshipped every man in his tent door. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend.

And he turned again into the camp. But his servant Joshua the son of Nun a young man departed not out of the tabernacle. I call your attention once more to this chapter and its great and important incident in order that through it and by means of it we may continue our study of this great question of revival.

More and more it becomes evident that it is necessary that we should do this and spend some time in it. Because there is such misunderstanding concerning it as to what it is and what it achieves and is meant to achieve.

Indeed there is such grievous misunderstanding with regard to the whole doctrine of the Holy Spirit that it seems to me the chief danger at the moment is that in our wisdom we should be guilty of the spirit.

And therefore we continue this study because here as I was indicating in a preliminary consideration of the chapter last week we are given some very special instruction with regard to the way in which a revival comes.

And also particularly the stages which are generally so evident in that process. Now it's vital that we should all carry in our minds the background to this incident. It is for me to remind you of it very hurriedly.

Israel’s Apostasy and Repentance

It is just this. The children of Israel rebelled against God. Moses had been called up onto the mount to meet with God and to receive the tables of the law. He had been kept there a number of days. And the foolish restless people began to vice their dissatisfaction.

This man Moses they said we know not what has become of him. Why should we wait any longer for him? Why should we be tied to this God of ours when there are other gods worshipped by the other nations and they seem to be having time.

So they got hold of Aaron and persuaded him to make them a golden calf. Some of them plucked off their earrings and Aaron threw all these together and they were melted and he formed a golden calf. And he was set up and they worshipped him.

This they said is the God that has brought us out of the captivity of Egypt. And they stripped themselves and in their nakedness they danced before him and thus behaved in a thoroughly disgraceful and sinful manner.

One of the great apostasies in the story of the children of Israel. An apostasy which led in that way to grieve us and to open sin as it invariably does. Ungodliness always leads to unrighteousness. And then you remember that God punished them severely.

But above that he told them that he would no longer accompany them in their march up to Canaan. He gave instructions to Moses to go up. He said he'd send an angel to help him and to guide the people and to conquer their enemies but he would not accompany them.

And that it was you remember which really began this process in the children of Israel and caused them to turn back to God. And they began to realize what they'd done and the enormity of the position.

And that led you remember to repentance. To a godly sorrow. And what was so good about their repentance was that they were concerned above everything else about this fact that God had said that he was no longer going to accompany them.

They saw that that was infinitely more important even than possessing the land of Canaan. The presence of God. So they humbled themselves. They truly repented in this godly manner. And they gave a practical demonstration of it you remember by stripping themselves of their ornaments.

And we ended by emphasizing the importance of that. Repentance is not just a passing feeling. Repentance is something so profound that it immediately has as an effect upon our conduct and our behavior.

There is no value in remorse. It's repentance. It's godly sorrow. Not the sorrow of the world. That is of value in the sight of God. And that I say they demonstrated in this way by stripping themselves of all these ornaments which have led to their disgraceful conduct.

The Three Stages of Prayer in Revival

Well here they are. Well now then that is but the preliminary as it were. And it enables us now to come to this next section of this matter which we are looking at together. And here I say we are reminded of something that is very important in connection with this whole matter.

There are definite steps and stages in this process of revival. You will never find it doesn't matter which of the histories you read that the church suddenly passes from gross sin or failure into mighty revival.

No there are intermediate steps. And it is important that we should know about them. In order that we should recognize them when they come. If it be God's gracious will to have pity upon us and to revive us again.

Now then the next step we come to you see is this step of prayer. And of intercession. But I am particularly anxious to emphasize this. That in many ways the lesson of this chapter is that there are steps and stages even in that.

Now then I have just read to you what I would call stage one in prayer. The first stage only. It runs from verse seven to verse eleven. But then there is a second stage which goes from verse twelve to verse seventeen.

And then there is a third stage. The highest stage of all. And that is from verse eighteen to the end of the chapter in verse twenty three. Now I do commend the careful study of these sections to you.

And of these particular stages. Because here I think we really are brought to the very nerve and center of this whole question of revival. And the confusion which is in the minds of so many people. It is because they have never realized the possibility of these three stages.

That they have excluded revival even out of their thinking altogether. And out of their doctrine of the Holy Spirit. They have left no room at all for an outpouring of the Spirit. Their misunderstanding of the doctrine of the baptism of the Spirit is such.

That they leave no room for revival. And for the exceptional. Which is of course the great characteristic always of revival. Very well. Now then let us look at this first stage this morning. These people have been arrested.

They have been apprehended. They have got this dawning realization of their sinfulness and they have repented. But that isn't enough. Something happens beyond this. Now then let us look at this first stage of prayer.

The Tent of Meeting and the Call to Prayer

And you begin of course in the seventh verse. Where we are told. And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp afar off from the camp. And called it the tabernacle of the congregation.

And it came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord. Went out into the tabernacle of the congregation. Which was without the camp. Here is profound teaching. Let's be clear about this tabernacle that is mentioned.

This was not the tabernacle that was ultimately made and constructed. According to the specifications given by God to Moses on the mount. That comes later. This was a kind of tent. Which Moses had already made and set up in the middle of the congregation.

In the middle of the camp of Israel. Where he and others would pray. So it's important that we should be clear about that. It isn't what is normally described as the tabernacle. Which was the precursor of the temple about which we read so much in the Old Testament books.

But just this tent of meeting. Where people might go together to meet with God. The tent of meeting. I pause for just a second over that. Because it's such a significant and such a wonderful term. You know the nonconformist fathers.

Generally referred to their places of worship as meeting houses. And it's a good old term. You see it's a place not so much where people meet with one another. That's included. But the essential meeting is this.

Meaning is this. The place where they meet with God. The meeting house. God grant that this may become more and more a meeting house. In our minds and in our thinking. That we as we come up here Sunday by Sunday.

Shall say to ourselves. We're going to meet with God. The meeting house. The place of meeting. Very well. Well now the thing I'm emphasizing is this. That Moses. Was clearly led here to take this peculiar action.

He takes this tabernacle. Out of the center of the camp and puts it outside. Far off. From the camp. Now there are many things here which must detain us. The first is of course. That this was an action taken by Moses.

Moses himself. And I must pause with that. Because you will find always as you read the history of these movements of the spirit. In the long story of the Christian church. That generally the very first thing that happens.

Which eventually leads to a great revival. Is that some one man. Or some group of men. Suddenly you begin to feel this burden. And so feel the burden that they have led to do something about it. That is what happened here you see.

God Uses Ordinary People to Begin Revival

That is I say what has always happened. Look at the great history. Look at the protestant reformation. That mighty movement. Where did it come from? How did it originate? Well I know that there were precursors even of that.

Wycliffe, John Hus and others. But you see the real thing happened. When just one man Martin Luther. A very ordinary kind of monk. Suddenly became aware of this burden. And it so burdened him that he was led to do something about it.

Just one man. And through that one man. God sent that mighty movement into the church. I could illustrate the same thing. Abundantly. From the stories of other revivals. I have already reminded you many Sundays ago.

That if you read the story of the revival in Northern Ireland. A hundred years ago that great movement. Which led not only to so many conversions. But which quickened the whole life of the Presbyterian church.

And the other churches in Northern Ireland. And transformed the whole situation. As it did in Wales also. And as it did in the United States of America at the same time. Now you will find that in all these instances it was just one man.

Take that man who began those prayer meetings in Fulton Street in New York City. In 1857. I find that I cannot even remember his name. How significant that is. A most ordinary man. But he felt this burden and did something about it.

One man in Northern Ireland. James McQuilkin. It just started with that one man. Likewise in Wales. With one man only called Humphrey Jones. Who feeling the power of revival in America. Felt a burden for his own country.

And crossed the Atlantic and went back. And began to tell people about it. Now I am staying with this and emphasizing it for one reason only. That this is what I like to call the romantic element of the Christian life.

And of the history of the church. That is to me what is so glorious about it. I dare not rush over a point like this for this reason. It may be somebody in this congregation whom I don't know. And whom the vast majority of you have never heard of.

Such may be the person that God is going to use. Now that sort of thing can only happen you see in the Christian church. That sort of thing doesn't happen in the world. The world looks to the leaders and to the great people.

But God as the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians in his first epistle, first chapter at the end. God is constantly doing this thing. He confounds the wise by taking hold of the foolish. He brings to naught the things that are.

By using the things that are not. And therefore I say I dare not pass lightly over a point like this. It may be anybody. There are no rules about this matter. It isn't of necessity a great leader as it happened to be Moses on this occasion.

You will find that insignificant prophets were taken up mount again by God and used. And so it is continued in the long history of the Christian church. Whoever would expect a savior to come out of Nazareth.

No good said the prophet ever comes out of Nazareth. That's the world's way of thinking. But it was out of Nazareth that the savior of the world came. And so my dear friends let us realize this. Let us get out of this deplorable modern habit.

Which seems to have possessed the Christian church. And which makes the ordinary church member think that he or she can do nothing at all. That they've just got to sit back in crowds in large meetings.

And that some two or three people are going to do everything. No, no. The teaching of the Bible is the exact opposite. It may be you that God's going to use. You're an unknown church member. It doesn't matter.

In the hands of God you may be the channel. Very well then. One man or a little group of men. Begin to feel the burden. And therefore I'm entitled to ask this question. Have you felt the burden? And if you haven't, why haven't you?

Are you concerned about the situation? Have you got a zeal for the glory of God? Does it grieve you to see his church as she is? If not, why not? If this is a burden that can come to anybody, why hasn't it come to you?

Very well, I leave it at that. The action of just the one man. And then let's observe his action. Because it's very significant. Moses took this tabernacle which had been formerly in the midst of the camp.

And he pitched it without the camper far off from the camp. Now here is something again which we must underline and emphasize particularly. Because it is again one of those points that you get invariably in the history of revivals.

It's a point I know that can be misunderstood. As most Christian truth can be misunderstood. But the fact that certain foolish people can misunderstand it, it doesn't mean that it's true. And doesn't mean that it shouldn't be emphasized.

Separation from the Camp and Unofficial Revival

Very well, then what is it? Well now then I say, here Moses takes this action of setting up this place of prayer and of intercession. He was glad that the people had repented. But oh, that wasn't enough.

The presence of God had gone. The cloudy pillar had disappeared. And God had made this statement that he was not going to accompany them. Oh yes, we must repent. But we don't stop at repentance. Moses was anxious that the presence of God should return.

So he sets up this place of prayer and of intercession. Now you notice the way in which it was done. He didn't seem to be an elaborate organization. He didn't make any statement. He made no speech about it.

He didn't address the people. Feeling the burden, he felt that he couldn't intercede as he was there in the midst of the camp. So he puts it right outside the camp. And it's open to anybody who may feel the burden to go out also.

You notice how that is emphasized. It came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord went out into the tabernacle of the congregation which was without the camp. An apparently unobtrusive action. It was done quite quietly.

No fanfare of trumpets. No great declaration. But just taking this action. Feeling the need of this intercession. Feeling the need for some unusual action. He wants to do this himself. And he leaves it open for anybody who feels the same thing to join him in that action.

That's all we are told about it. And in exactly the same way you find this in the history of all these revivals. That man James McQuilkin began to talk to two others. And they saw the whole situation.

And these three men alone met together in a little schoolroom on just a little narrow lane almost. I had the privilege of visiting it when I was in Northern Ireland some three weeks ago. I went out of my way to do so.

I like to look at a place like that. You see they didn't meet even in their village of Connor or of Kells. They went to this lonely little schoolroom outside even the village. Where in peace and quietness they could pray to God and intercede on behalf of the people who lived with them in the villages.

And the people who lived in the whole of the surrounding area. They felt this call to prayer. Now then that is the thing I say which is emphasized at this point. I rather like the way it is put. It came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord.

They didn't all go but you see there were individuals in the camp who began to feel the very thing that Moses had been feeling. And they said Moses is going out there to pray on his own. Well let's go out.

We'll go in and we'll join him. And just thus they came one by one. No no it wasn't a great organized thing. No big announcements were made that this was going to happen and it happened at a certain time and in a certain way.

You know it's never happened like that. And that is what almost alarms me about the state of the Christian church at the present time. We must start with our organization. Our first move is set up a committee and then our organization and then our judicious advertise.

All done in a big and organized manner. It's the exact opposite always in the scripture. And it's always been the exact opposite in the long history of the Christian church and revivals in the church.

Believe me my friends when the next revival comes it'll come as a surprise to everybody. And especially to the organizers. It'll have happened in this unobtrusive manner. Men and women as it were just slipping out quietly because they're burdened.

Because they can't help themselves. Because they can't go on living without it. And they want to join with the others who are feeling the same thing and are crying out unto God. They set up the tabernacle.

And then I come to this next point which is this one. That Moses set it up outside the camp. Far off from the camp. Now here is the point at which I'm most liable to be misunderstood. But here it is. It's a part of the teaching.

There is invariably in the history of every revival that has ever been. This drawing aside. Now let us not forget that the camp of Israel was the then church of God. The nation of Israel was the church in the wilderness in the Old Testament.

This is the church we are talking about. And yet you see what Moses did. He as it were took his tabernacle from the midst of the church and put it up outside. Far off from the camp. No revival that has ever been experienced in the long history of the church.

Has ever been an official movement in the church. That's a strong statement isn't it? I repeat it. No revival that the church has ever known has ever been an official movement. You read of the great precursors of the Protestant Reformation.

The people I've referred to already. Your Wycliffe's, John Huss and others. Always unofficial. And the officials didn't like it. Same with Martin Luther. Nothing happened in Rome. No no it happened in this cell.

With just this monk. And so my dear friends it has continued to happen. Even after the reformation of the church of England in this country. There were men who began to feel dissatisfied. And they began to do the same thing.

That's the origin of Puritanism. You're all familiar probably with the story of Methodism in its various branches. Two hundred years ago. How did that begin? Well that began you see in exactly the same way.

The two Wesley brothers and Whitfield and others. Who were members of the church of England. They didn't begin to do something in the church of England. No. They formed what they called their holy club.

Outside the camp. They met privately on their own. Just a handful of people. Nobody knew that it was happening for some time. But they just met together because they were drawn together by the same thing.

It was unofficial. It was outside as it were. That's the beginning. Of Methodism both Calvinistic and Arminian. And the same thing precisely is true. In the early story of the early brethren. The early Plymouth brethren as they came to be called.

But in the first stages it was just this. Now this therefore I say is something. Which we must surely note carefully. Are you proposing sir someone to set up a new denomination? That's the very last thing that this teaching suggests.

That makes it official. That makes it a movement. That means you brought in your organization. That's the very thing I'm not saying. But what I am saying is this. That when God begins to move in this church.

And when he's preparing the way for revival. This is how he always seems to do it. He puts this burden upon certain people. Who are called apart as it were. And who meet together. Quietly unknown and unobtrusively.

Because they're conscious of this burden. Now here again is something that seems to me. To be very grievous at the present time. Because the great word of today is sponsorship. Sponsorship. Even evangelical.

Christian. Spiritually minded people. When they feel led of God to do something. They want a great sponsorship. And they don't care very much who is the sponsor. They want the official church. They want the sponsorship of men who are not evangelical at all.

They want to go to the great cathedrals. Sponsorship. There was no sponsorship here. There has never been sponsorship. In times of true spiritual awakening and revival. These men you see are not concerned about sponsorship.

Their eye is on the living God. Of course if you want to do things in a worldly way. You've got to advertise. And you want to use great names. You want to have sponsorship. So if you go and hold a meeting in a town.

You want the Lord Mayor of the town. Though he may not be a Christian. A professing Christian at all. The governor of a state. Doesn't matter whether he's Christian or not. You must have it sponsored.

And then the people will be attracted. And it will become a great thing. It's the exact opposite of this. Because you see. When you are calling upon the living God. And his illimitable power. The sponsorship you are interested in.

Is the sponsorship of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul goes into Corinth. And what does he do? He doesn't send in his preliminary agents to prepare. And get everybody ready. And have a great public meeting.

No no in weakness fear and much trembling. My speech and my wisdom were not with enticing words of men's wisdom. What's he concerned about? Oh the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. He dare not go without the Spirit.

He must have the Spirit. But having the Spirit. What do they count? Sponsorship. There's no such sponsorship in the Bible. Nor in the history of the church. In her mightiest periods. In all reformation and revival.

No no they just went out. Individuals gathered together. Because of the same burden. And then there's another element in this. That I must emphasize. It is this. Clearly in putting this tabernacle outside.

The camp nurses had another motive. And a very important one. It was this. It's the whole idea of consecration. Moses felt that this couldn't be done in the midst of the camp. The camp had become unclean.

And he deliberately takes it out. Far off. From the camp. It was a very deliberate action. He says we must do this thing in God's way. We must get right out of this impurity. And this sinful atmosphere.

We must gather together here thus. Yes that's consecration. That is if you like the call to holiness. And again I am suggesting to you. That the history of every revival. Brings out this same factor. In exactly the same way.

Holiness, Consecration, and Exceptional Action

What is it that has happened to these men. Whom God has used. Take any one of them you like. It doesn't matter which. Well you will find almost invariably. That their first concern. Has not even been the state of the church.

It's been the state of their own souls. It has been. The holiness of God. I have already referred to that little movement. Which began there in Oxford. Two hundred years ago. And you notice the name they gave it.

They called it the Holy Club. What happened to them. Well what happened to the Westleys and Whitfield. And the others who met with them was just this. They said yes. The Christian church is still the Christian church.

But she is very unworthy and she is very sinful. People are riding very loose. To the commandments of God. And to the whole of the Christian life. As depicted in the New Testament. We must give ourselves to holiness.

We must purify ourselves. So they probably went too far. And became a little bit legalistic. But they drew up rules and regulations. As to how they should live. Hence they were called Methodists. They said we must live methodically.

We must do this thing methodically. We must meet to study the scriptures together. We must meet to pray together. The whole thing must be done methodically. Methodists. Yes but what they were searching for.

Was for holiness. One man or a number of men. Suddenly become awakened. To their distance from God. To the fact that they are in the far country. And their first concern. Is to be holy as God is holy.

And to come into his presence. And to know his glory. So inevitably. There is a kind of separation. Oh so someone. Are you going to divide up the Christian church? I am not dividing. What I am saying is this.

That when the Holy Spirit of God. Begins to deal with any one of us. There will be this separation. It won't be paraded. It won't be the Pharisee. I am holier than thou attitude. No no. But once again begins to be burdened.

For the glory of God and the state of the church. He immediately feels this call to consecration. He goes out as it were. Don't overemphasize the physical aspect. It had to be physical there. But it's the principle that matters.

Oh what I am trying to say is this. In a day of grievous immorality. And godlessness and irreligion. Such as this. In a day. When vice. Is not only shouting at us. But is arrogant and is boasting. When it's being thrown at the people.

Everywhere. All I am asking is this. Do we know anything about the call. To a separation. From that kind of thing. We are living in days when as Christians. We are called to go the second mile. Ordinary Christianity is not enough.

More is demanded. Are we not beginning to feel. That nothing can deal with this situation. But a manifestation of true. Life and living. Holy living. As it is under God. That's what these men felt. So he puts his tabernacle.

Outside the camp. And a long way from the camp. It's got to be separate. He says it's got to be holy. And another emphasis I would put upon this. Of unusual action. And of some. Extra effort. Now then there are two things that always happen.

In this. Early stage of revival. You see the people who are concerned about revival. In a true sense. Are not just people who are out. For a little bit of excitement or interest. Or some happiness or phenomena.

Or something marvelous is going to happen. And we're going to have a great good time. That isn't how they think about it at all. And if you my dear friends are simply thinking. You haven't begun to understand this matter.

No. The first indication. Of a true and a genuine concern. Is that we are aware of our unworthiness. And uncleanness. We've got to separate ourselves. From ourselves. We've got to set up this tabernacle.

Somehow somewhere. Outside the ordinary. It's got to be exceptional. It's got to be unusual. We've got to go out of our way. Now that's the question that I want to impress. And to leave you with you this morning.

Are you in these days of exceptional evil. Are you doing something exceptional. Or are you just content with coming. To the services in the house of God. And doing some routine things. You see in the time when the church is being blessed.

And all is well. People came to the house of God. They worked in the mission societies. They taught in the Sunday school. That's the ordinary work of the church. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the times through which we are passing.

That you are called to do something exceptional. To go out as it were. To take some deliberate action. That in a way separates you. That's the great lesson here. And then for me to complete this review this morning.

The Watching Crowd and the First Signs of Revival

I'm rather interested in what we are told about the remainder of the people. Moses and certain odd individuals. Used to go out to the camp. Out to the tabernacle to pray. Listen to verse 8. And it came to pass when Moses went out into the tabernacle.

That all the people rose up. And stood every man at his tent door. And looked after Moses. Until he was gone into the tabernacle. There's something very wonderful about this. You see all they did was to look on with interest.

They were aware that something was happening. They didn't know what it was. They didn't understand it. They didn't go out of the camp into the tent. Of meeting with God and pray and intercede. No all they knew was well.

Somebody said you know. Moses has taken the tent outside. And he goes out periodically. And there are certain others. Who are going out and they. As you see the mass of the people. The bulk of church members ever will.

They just talked about it and said what's this. And they said oh this is interesting. Something's happened. So they stood by the tent door. And watched Moses as he went. They said what's going to happen.

What's he doing. What's taking place here. In the midst of the camp. That's the right place for it to happen. But it didn't it had to happen there. And as you read the history of the church. You always find this repeated.

Just a few people at first feel the call. And are separate. And the others begin to say. What's happening to so and so. Have you heard about this man or that woman. They stand at their tent doors. And they look on.

They've got a feeling that something is happening. They are doing nothing at all. Oh if we are to wait until the whole church moves. One way is to take hold of individuals. And to use them. And then eventually the majority will be affected.

But at this stage. They simply have this vague general awareness. That something is happening. And they begin to look on wistfully. At the action. Of Moses. And his few companions. I should be very happy to think.

That that is the position in the Christian church today. I believe it is. I believe and I thank God I can say this. I believe. That we have turned a corner. I'm not talking about this local church only.

This is included. I'm speaking generally. I believe. That at long last. There are just certain few individuals here and there. Who are beginning to see. That nothing but the intervention of the living God.

Can suffice. And who are metaphorically. Going to this. Tabernacle that is set up. Outside far off from the camp. And are waiting upon God. And I believe I discern. Some dawning vague interest. In the bulk of the church.

As it looks on. At what is taking place. Very well. What is the result of this action. Well now that's the answer is in verses. Nine to eleven. I just summarized them for you. God recognizes this action.

And he begins to grant encouragement to it. He gives tokens. Of the fact that he is well pleased with it. And it came to pass. As Moses entered into the tabernacle. The cloudy pillar descended. And stood at the door of the tabernacle.

It hadn't been doing that. God had withdrawn it. He'd taken it back. The visible sign of his presence had been withdrawn. But as a result of this. There comes the cloudy pillar. As before. God gave a manifestation of his presence.

What does this mean to us. As someone it means this. It means that the first indication. Is always. That something seems to begin to happen. To the life of the church. There seems to be a new. Quickly.

The worship of the church becomes warmer. Something comes back which had gone. A warmth and a tenderness. There is an encouragement. There is a new wistfulness. A new sense of expectation. A new freedom given.