A World In Trouble NEEDS A CHURCH IN REVIVAL

I think we could all agree today that the world is in trouble! And because the world is in trouble, it doesn’t NEED just another “church” to entertain, or become a safe place to socially interact. Lord knows we have PLENTY of them around! With that in mind, I’ll tell you what the world NEEDS …“A World in Trouble NEEDS a CHURCH in REVIVAL!”

When Jesus ministered on earth, he did NOT operate under the idea that REVIVAL was an option. Jesus was driven with a sense of URGENCY that was demonstrated over and over again in scripture. He not only understood that the world was in trouble and that He was their ONLY HOPE; He understood that His time on earth was limited. Therefore, there was NO time to waste. IF the world’s needs were going to be met, it was going to be because He met them.

The Church needs a fresh understanding of the reality that this world is in trouble and its ONLY HOPE is for a REVIVAL CHURCH to represent Jesus Christ before it’s too late! Jesus IS COMING BACK and our time on earth IS limited! Therefore, we MUST get aggressive in our efforts to WIN THE LOST and give a world in trouble a CHURCH IN REVIVAL!

The Mission of Jesus Christ did NOT end at Calvary or even at His ascension! Jesus promised to continue His mission through the CHURCH! Jesus transferred His mission; His passion; His divine obligation and His sense of URGENCY to the CHURCH!

What was promised and prophesied in (Luke 24) and (Acts 1) came to pass in (Acts 2) when the CHURCH was BORN!

(Acts 2:1-4/ KJV) says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

These newly filled believers were accused of being drunk, but Peter preached a message declaring among other things that they were not drunk with wine, like they had been of accused of, but it was the promised power of the Holy Ghost that had been poured out. As he preached the first Apostolic message, the Bible says that everyone who heard him preach “were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

A world in trouble now had a CHURCH in REVIVAL! A CHURCH with a mission—a CHURCH with passion—a CHURCH with a message—a REVIVAL CHURCH!

The CHURCH would now represent REVIVAL to a world in need, and represent they did. They made such an IMPACT everywhere they went that they were referred to in (Acts 17:6/ KJV) as “These that have turned the world upside down!”

The CHURCH that was born on the Day of Pentecost was a church that understood there was a world in need and their ONLY HOPE was a CHURCH IN REVIVAL!

The world is in trouble. The Cities that we live in are in trouble. Therefore, the churches that we attend faithfully MUST be CHURCHES IN REVIVAL IF we’re going to win the lost and see NEEDS met in the Last Days!

We’ve got to FILL our Sanctuaries with PRAYER—with FAITH—with PRAISE—with WORSHIP—with TITHES—with OFFERINGS—with PREACHING—with EXPECTATION!

“A World In Trouble Needs A CHURCH In REVIVAL!”

The Power of UNITY

(Genesis 11:5-6/ KJV) says, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

Looking at (Genesis 11:5-6) we can see exactly how much really hinges, Spiritually speaking, on a word we usually take for granted—“UNITY!”

(Genesis 11:5-6/ KJV) says, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is ONE, and they have all ONE language; and this they begin to do: and NOW NOTHING will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

The New Ungers Dictionary says “UNITY” is used to signify oneness of sentiment, affection, or behavior, such as should exist among the people of God.

The Nelson Bible Dictionary says “UNITY” is Oneness, harmony, or agreement.

Websters Dictionary defines “UNITY” as the state of being ONE; singleness. The state, quality, or condition of accord or agreement; The combination or arrangement of parts into a whole, unification. Singleness or constancy of purpose or action, continuity. (In most contexts it implies fundamental agreement or interdependent and usually varied components, which in turn produces harmony, as a thought or purpose. In its most common application, solidarity is an intensification of unity, for it refers to the identity of likeness of interests, objectives, and responsibilities that enables a group of persons to think and act as ONE!

The definition of “ONE” is being a single entity, unit, object, or being; characterized by UNITY; UNDIVIDED: with one accord. Of equal importance; all the same!

Now looking back at our text we can say: “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is ONE—a single entity, unit, object or being; characterized by UNITY; UNDIVIDED; with one accord. Of equal importance; all the same!—and now NOTHING will limit or restrict from them, which they have imagined to do.”

From the original church in the Book of Acts to present day Apostolic Revival Churches, one word stands out to describe how these churches have had such GREAT REVIVAL—UNITY!

The Revival Church in the Book of Acts and every Revival Church afterwards were churches that acted as ONE! They were ONE in purpose and action and their UNITY enabled them to think and act as ONE!

The principle of UNITY being a catalyst of Revival is found throughout the Word of God including scriptures like:

(Psalms 133:1-2/ KJV) says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;”

Unity is compared here to the Anointing so that there is an Anointing that flows in and through a church that operates in UNITY! And as long as there is UNITY in the House of God, there is NO way that REVIVAL can be RESTRAINED!

Paul wrote about UNITY in (1 Corinthians 1:10/KJV) where it says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

(Romans 15:5-6/ KJV) says, “be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.”

(Philippians 1:27/KJV) says, “stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

(Philippians 2:2/ KJV) says, “be likeminded, having the same love, being of ONE accord, of ONE mind.”

We are MANY members but ONE BODY! We are MANY members but we’re in ONE ACCORD! We may use different methods but we ALL have the SAME PURPOSE! We think as ONE—we speak as ONE—we move TOGETHER in UNITY!

My last example will take us back to the Book of Acts after Jesus had spoken to His followers. He promised them an outpouring of His Spirit which would empower them to be witnesses but they would have to tarry in Jerusalem until it came. Out of the 500 people who heard the promise, we find in (Acts 1) where only 120 actually gathered in the “upper room.”

The difference between the 120 who made the journey of Promise and the 380 who declined was the 120 caught hold of the “VISION” and “PURPOSE” of the Promise!

(Acts 1:14/KJV) describes the posture of those who were willing to catch the “VISION and PURPOSE” of the Promise when it says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.”

When they came together in UNITY for ONE PURPOSE; when the Lord looked down in that room like he did in (Genesis 11:5-6) and saw that the “people is ONE, and they have all ONE language;” NOTHING could be restrained from them! And (Acts 2:1-4/KJV) says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Their minds, their affections, and their desires were all concentrated on ONE PURPOSE. They had ONE DESIRE and ONE PRAYER that every mouth uttered in desperation. There was NOT one person present who was uninterested—unconcerned—or lukewarm! But they were all in UNITY and the power of God came down to meet their UNITED FAITH!

When we come together with ONE ACCORD in ONE PLACE with ONE VISION and ONE PURPOSE—NOTHING can be RESTRAINED from us and what we’ve imagined to do!