Message

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Spiritual Revival

(For the UBF From a Historical Viewpoint)

Paul Choi, St. Louis UBF

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Read 7:11-22) “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

1. What is spiritual revival? What is spiritual revival? Spiritual revival is also known as, 'revival', ‘spiritual renewal’, or ‘spiritual awakening’. Spiritual revival is spiritual renewal by the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38, Peter said to those who came to him, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Paul said in Titus 3:5, “...He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” In short, spiritual revival is the spiritual renewal by the work of the Holy Spirit through the forgiveness of sin.

Spiritual revival is an inner transformation by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works for transformation in two ways; first through conversion, and next through sanctification. Conversion is the initial stage of transformation through the confession of sin and forgiveness. Conversion often accompanies instant and drastic change like the conversion of Paul. (Ac 9:1-19) In other words, in a short period people whose conscience are convicted grieve over their wrongdoings, make a resolution for new life, and commit themselves to Jesus Christ. We call it "being justified through faith in Jesus." (Ro 3:24)

Sanctification is the slow and steady growing process by imitating Jesus Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit after conversion. Someone said that the process of sanctification is ‘deepening our spirituality.’ In Romans 5-7, Apostle Paul describes sanctification as being united with Christ Jesus in his death and resurrection. (Ro 6:5) The Holy Spirit works for both conversion and sanctification. We cannot tell which one is more important and necessary between conversion and sanctification. Indeed, no conversion, no sanctification. According to Jonathan Edwards, the leader of the First Great Awakening in America (1740-1742), we need a balanced and simultaneous process of conversion and sanctification. Today, in order to understand 'spiritual revival' from a historic viewpoint, we will focus on the history of conversion rather than the process of sanctification.

2. Why do we need spiritual revival? Our God is the God of revival. God wants our revival and needs our revival. John Calvin mentioned that spiritual revival belongs to God’s divine sovereignty and His will. He said that our spiritual revival is not optional, but essential to fulfill God’s will. (Ro 12:2) God's will is to fill this earth with the knowledge of God and to establish His kingdom through Jesus Christ. This is the reason why Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom may come and his will be done. (Mt 6:10) This is the reason why Jesus traveled around and preached the message of repentance and the coming of the kingdom of God. (Mk 1:14)

Spiritual revival premises men’s sinfulness. Sin separates men from God. Men cannot live without God. This is because in the beginning men were created in God’s image and his likeness. Man became a spiritual being through the breath of life, which is the Holy Spirit. (Ge 2:7) Adam who sinned against God lost his Spirit and escaped from the presence of God. Life without God drove Cain to become a restless wanderer. Adam, Cain, and all those who lost the image of God need to restore the Spirit of God and the holiness of God. Jesus describes this in John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Dr. Samuel Lee, the founder of UBF, often said that life without God is like a cut flower in a base. A flower is beautiful, but it will soon wither because it has no roots. The flower needs its roots, not only to survive, but also to thrive. As grapevine branches need to remain connected to the vine, and the flower needs its roots, men need God, the source of life. Spiritual revival is to find the image of God in us and to restore the holiness of God which we lost because of sin.

John Calvin calls the fatalistic condition of sinful men, 'total depravity,' which means that men cannot do anything for their own salvation because of their thorough corruption and incapability. He meant that men are situated under God’s wrath, and they need irresistible grace for their salvation. They cannot determine their destiny because they depend on God's sovereign election and grace. God always works for his good purpose. God’s divine sovereignty and good will seek for those who need spiritual revival. God never fails to save his chosen people through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jonathan Edwards was a Calvinist who believed that spiritual revival does not belong to men, but to God alone. Jonathan said that the purpose of spiritual revival should be for God’s glory rather than for men’s happiness. He believed that for the sake of his own glory God will continually choose, seek, find, and renew those who were selected by predestination. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and Charles Finney, the leader of the Second Awakening (1858-59), had a different idea from Jonathan Edwards. John and Charles believed that spiritual revival can be brought through men’s will and effort if they meet the conditions of God. They added the role of men in spiritual revival plus God's sovereignty. They believe that our spiritual hunger and desire for the Holy Spirit can bring spiritual revival as long as we meet the conditions of God. According to Evan Roberts, the evangelist in Wales, the conditions of God are 1) confess openly and fully any unconfessed sin; 2) put away from your life anything doubtful; 3) obey promptly anything the Spirit tells you to say and do; 4) confess Christ openly. We’ll study more about these conditions of revival in part four.

3. How does the spiritual revival start and work? Spiritual revival is the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit judges sin, righteousness, and judgment. (Jn 16:8-11) The Holy Spirit convicts our conscience, realizing that we are wrong and God is right. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth which leads us into the truth and enables us to remember all Jesus said (Jn 15:26). When the Spirit of Truth works, we acknowledge that we are wrong and that we need a way to be free from guilt and shame and fear of punishment. The Holy Spirit starts the revival with conviction of sin and desire for redemption. The Holy Spirit makes a man stand in the presence of God as a desperate sinner who needs His grace which brings redemption from God's divine judgment. Liberation from God's wrath is the joy of salvation.

The Holy Spirit works not only for self-realization from our sin, but also for resolution for our new life. At that moment we experience the strong love of God who is always ready for us. The conversion completes when we experience the inexpressible love of God through the forgiveness of sin by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in Romans 5:5 “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the son went back to his father’s home after he came to realize his wrongness and expected for his father’s mercy. He experienced unconditional, forgiving love when his father hugged him and restored all his position as his son. In the same way, those who are converted not only experience God’s forgiving love through Jesus Christ, but also appreciate God's restoring their position as children of God.

The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to love Jesus who died in our place. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps us to realize that God forgives our sins through his Son Jesus Christ and that we can come to God the Father through his Son. (Ro 5:2) Through the work of the Holy Spirit we come to love Jesus and have strong desires to know Him and obey Him. Then, we accept Jesus as Lord and King and put Him in the center of our lives. We want to imitate Christ in all aspects of our lives. We want to be as humble as Jesus. We want to be as holy as Jesus. We want to be as kind as Jesus. This is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. Paul mentions the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit that we are children of God through Jesus. (Ro 8:16)

The Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes to see the kingdom of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (Jn 3:3) He added, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (Jn 3:5) Sin separates us from God, and it also blocks our spiritual vision. Those who are spiritually blind see only the earthly things and desire only physical benefits. But when the Holy Spirit comes, it allows our spiritual vision to see Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Those who are converted begin to have hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Their desire and value system are lifted from the earth to heaven. They have hope and vision to walk on the golden streets of heaven with our Lord Jesus when they meet Jesus face to face.

The Holy Spirit enables us to serve the Lord and follow the way of Jesus. The Holy Spirit renews our minds to focus on Jesus. It also encourages us to live as man with the Spirit. We make the decision to live as God had originally designed and proposed in the beginning. In the past we offered our body as the instrument of sin, but now we offer our body as the instrument of righteousness. (Ro 6:13,12:2) Saul was a murderer and a persecutor of the church of God. He offered his body as an instrument of sin. But after his conversion, he became the apostle of Christ Jesus. He offered his body as an instrument of righteousness. Paul's conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the author and finisher for spiritual revival. As John Calvin and Jonathan Edward believed, it comes only from God’s sovereign will and for his glory, so also it comes through men's hunger and effort as John Wesley, Charles Finney and Billy Graham believed. It is not a right place to discuss who is right between the two opinions, but we conclude that spiritual revival is the outcome of co-operation and interaction both God’s sovereignty and men’s spiritual hunger. God pours out his Spirit, not on everyone, but on those who are willing and ready for the revival and on those who meet the conditions of God. God seeks for those who earnestly seek Him and finds those who want to be found in Him.

4. Conditions of God: What are the conditions of God for spiritual revival? How can we prepare for the work of the Holy Spirit? 1) We must pray. Prayer is the essential prerequisite for spiritual revival. Whether it is a prayer for repentance or a prayer for the Holy Spirit, God is pleased with those who humble themselves and seek Him. Prayer is the expression of our spiritual hunger. Prayer is confession of our sinfulness and submission to God's will. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Mt 5:6) We must humble ourselves and earnestly seek God and His mercy. This applies personally and nationally. The national spiritual revival at Mizpah under the leadership of Samuel is recorded in 1 Samuel 7:2-14. At that time the destiny of Israel was like a smoldering wick before the perfect storm. Samuel knew that the invasion of their enemies was caused by their sin. Samuel called all the assembly of Israel at Mizpah and asked them to get rid of all their idols, to seek God’s mercy and His forgiveness. Samuel brought a repentance prayer nationally.

What did the disciples of Jesus do before the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost? Mary and all the disciples gathered at Mark’s upper room and prayed earnestly with one mind. (Ac 1:14) Through this prayer they made the vessel of the Holy Spirit. In 1739, at Oxford, England, Charles Wesley started with his friends a prayer group called “The Holy Club”, igniting the great spiritual revival of England and America (1739-1791). There were always warriors of prayer behind the great spiritual revivals. There was John Hyde, who was behind the revival in India in 1859, having prayed for the revival for 12 years. John prepared his heart and the hearts of Indians for 12 years for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Intercessory prayer for spiritual revival is needed. In 1907, the newly converted Korean Christians in Pyongyang began to pray for brothers and sisters in Manchuria, China. They prayed for them day and night. God answered their prayer to fan the revival into the flame in all Chinese churches in 1908-1910. In 1971, Dr. Samuel Lee suggested to Korean students a prayer topic that they might have the first Bible Conference at Niagara Falls within 10 years with 200 American students. The Korean students simply accepted it as God’s will and began to pray wherever they went. Their prayer blew away the seed of fire, crossing the ocean in the hearts of students in America. They had the first Bible conference at Niagara Fall in 1981 with 220 students.

There was a spiritual revival at Asbury College, Kentucky earlier this year. Prayer meetings at the chapel and in the auditorium continued for several weeks. It became global news across the country. But there are not many people who know that there was a hidden prayer warrior behind the revival. Dr. James Han, a pastor and former professor of Asbury, prayed for two years for the revival at Asbury. He testified that he had a strong prayer burden when he retired, so he came back to Wilmore. He put up signs that read "Repent and believe!" on both sides of his body and preached the message of repentance on campus and in the street like John the Baptist.

2) We must confess any unconfessed sin publicly and fully. Sin blocks the channel of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Joshua when Achan had hidden his secret sins, God did not bless Israel. Whenever Israel went out to fight, they lost. Later, Joshua knew that Achan’s hidden sin brought God’s anger and defeat in the battle. After Joshua removed the evilness of Achan, Israel restored God’s blessing. (Jos 7:28) After King David was rebuked by Nathan the Prophet, he came to realize that he was wrong. He could not hide his sin any longer. He asked God for the joy of salvation and the restoration of the Holy Spirit (Ps 51:12).

There was a great spiritual revival in Pyongyang in 1907. The revival started with the confession of hidden sins from missionaries and elders. Missionaries confessed that they did not love Korean people even though they came as missionaries. Some elders in the church repented their hidden sin of adultery and fraud. Others confessed their hatred in public. All other church members followed them by confessing their sins one by one. The Holy Spirit came down like fire and burned their hearts. In UBF, we have a life-testimony sharing hour at the conference and in worship service. Many confess their hidden sins out loud and in public. Through their honest and courageous repentance, many others have courage to confess their hidden sins, too. Personally, I was also encouraged to confess my hidden sin in public after listening to others’ honest and sincere testimonies at the conference. We can cheat people, but not God. We cannot cheat the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cannot come to us and dwell in us as long as we have sin in our hearts. (Ge 6:3)

3) We must confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the culmination of conversion. Conversion starts with the confession of sins and completes with the confession of Jesus Christ. Jesus called the Twelve and taught them the kingdom of God for three years. At the end of His ministry, Jesus asked them about who he is. Jesus blessed Peter who answered that Jesus is Christ. (Mk 8:29) Confession in Jesus Christ was the goal for Jesus’ discipleship. In Acts 19, Paul asked the believers in the church of Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Ac 19:2) The believers answered that they did not even know there is the Holy Spirit. When Paul asked them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, they all received the Holy Spirit. The name of Jesus Christ has the power to bring the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the church.

In John 15:26, Jesus said to His disciples, “--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” The Holy Spirit convicts us as sinners and leads us to Jesus Christ because it is the Spirit of Christ. When we believe Jesus as Lord and Christ in our heart and confess it with our mouths, we are saved. (Ro 10:9,10) The Holy Spirit, the Another Counselor, helps us to confess our sins and confess Jesus. This is the reason why Billy Graham asked people to come forward and have public confession about Jesus Christ as the conclusion of His crusade. We call this an ‘altar call.’

5. Characteristics of spiritual revivals:

a) The role of spiritual mentors and friends in spiritual revival: Proverb 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” As for spiritual revival it is not too much to emphasize the importance and necessity of a spiritual mentor and a friend. When King David committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, God sent prophet Nathan to rebuke David. Nathan exposed all of David’s hidden sins and led him to repent and be forgiven. (1 Sa 11:1-12:3) Psalm 51 shows us how David grieved over his sins and desired the restoration of his relationship with God.

King Ahaz did evil in the sight of God. He abandoned the way of the Lord and worshiped other gods and led his people astray to idolatry. The temple was closed, and the destiny of Judah was in danger through an invasion by foreigners. But God sent prophet Isaiah to the young prince Hezekiah as his mentor and teacher. Isaiah taught Hezekiah the way of the Lord. He also taught the king that the sin of his father Ahaz caused God’s judgment. Then, King Hezekiah started a national revival with Isaiah.

In 1729, Charles Wesley started prayer meetings and Bible studies with his four friends as a part of “the Holy Club”. They read the Bible and discussed daily how to practice what they learned from Jesus. After returning from America, his brother John Wesley joined the group and became a leader. Years later George Whitefield joined. God used the Holy Club to ignite the future spiritual revival in England and to spread to the whole world.

In 1735, John and Charles Wesley left for America to the colonists and natives. But at that time, John was not born again. He cried out, “I went to America to convert the Indians, but Oh! Who shall convert me?” On the way back home, John, confused and tired, sailed into a storm. He was filled with the fear of death, but a group of members belonging to the Moravian church on board prayed and praised the Lord in the middle of the storm. John was greatly moved by the faith and courage of the Moravians. Later, Peter Bohler, one of the Moravians, visited John in England and prayed for his conversion. God answered his prayer and poured out his Spirit to John.

Abel Clary was a silent man. He supported Charles Finney and his ministry, not in public, but with prayer behind his work. No one knew Abel’s prayer for his spiritual friend Charles. Charles found out later about how Abel supported him with prayer. Charles took Abel to England and to wherever the work of God is needed. There are many prayer warriors like Abel Clary who prayed behind the work of the Holy Spirit.

Several years ago, a small prayer group called the ‘Helpmates’ started in a small town in Indianapolis with a few devoted Christians. Their friendship in Jesus produced a devoted prayer meeting. Once every month, they met and prayed and discussed how to serve the Lord and support God’s ministry. A year and half years ago, they met every Wednesday morning to pray for a mission revival. They believe that their prayer may ignite a spiritual revival in their home, church, conference, and country.

b) The Holy Spirit is the key to revival. There have been numerous revivals without pastors or any human leader because the leader of the revivals was the Holy Spirit. God uses anyone who is ready and prepared through the Holy Spirit. In 1858, there were national prayer meetings at noon in America which were led by laymen. This prayer movement started with a businessman named Jeremiah Lamphier in New York. There was no coordination between the prayer meetings. It was not a movement planned by or guided by pastors. It was a laymen’s movement, and it was the work of the Holy Spirit. From January to April in 1858, at least one hundred thousand were converted across the country. In 1904, four young Welshmen began to pray together every night for revival. None of them were a pastor or evangelist, but soon others joined and their fervor spread to the whole local churches. Later, the fire of prayer ignited the spiritual revival not only in Wales, but also in Australia, New Zealand, and even S. Africa.

God starts His revival through anyone, anywhere, and anytime if His conditions are met. There was a great spiritual revival among lumbermen in Philadelphian in 1828. More than 5,000 lumber men were converted without any coordination of evangelists or churches. It was a Spirit-led movement. In China, a spiritual revival started with an elementary school girl’s repentance. Her conversion ignited the fire in her school. Her stubborn and hostile schoolmaster repented his hatred for her, and he was converted along with many of the students at the school. There was no involvement of churches or human leadership.

Again, let us talk about the revival at Asbury, Kentucky this year. It was not planned or organized in advance by a church or a school, but it started when several students repented and prayed together at the chapel. They received spiritual fire, and the fire spread to their friends and others who were spiritually hungry. Their prayer meetings continued for a few months without any traditional worship program or human leadership. Anyone who was moved by the Holy Spirit came forward and shared their testimonies and prayed together. They just put all things into God’s hand and let the Holy Spirit work as it wishes. Zechariah 4:6 says: “Not by might nor power, but my Spirit.”

c) There are varieties of revival. The Bible teaches us the various manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit appeared like fire in the book of Acts. Jesus described the work of the Holy Spirit like the wind. The Holy Spirit appeared like a dove when Jesus was baptized. (Mt 3:16) As there are various types of the Holy Spirit, there are also many different forms of revival. I mean that each revival demonstrates its own unique form when the Holy Spirit works. It is like a prism which projects seven different colors from one beam of light.

The spiritual revival often accompanies praising and singing sacred songs. There was a great wave of praise and singing during the revival in Southern Wales in 1904. There was no preaching or any instrument but singing and praising which echoed one town after another. Even a passing-by train stopped, and the passengers got off from the train and joined the praising group. Evan Roberts wrote, “The revival is born along by the billowing waves of sacred songs...It is the singing, not the preaching.... which is the most efficacious in striking the hearts of men.” Personally, I was converted when I sang hymns during the UBF Bible Conference in 1985. When I sang a hymn, the Holy Spirit came down like fire and filled my heart with the joy of salvation and hope of the kingdom of heaven. Singing hymns and praising has a mighty transforming power in the revival. Therefore, when we prepare a music program or choose hymns for the service or begin praise bands, we must pray hard for the work of the Holy Spirit. Music often works more powerfully than words for the revival.

The Holy Spirit also works for transforming through repentant testimonies and Bible studies. This is the reason why we deliver the message of repentance and share our testimonies. During the revival in Pyongyang, Korea, in 1907, church leaders arose during the service and asked for the prayer meeting. The leaders confessed their hidden sins first in public, and all others followed them. Their prayer soon turned to weeping. One after another rose up, confessed their sins, broke down and wept. In five years, 80,000 Koreans were converted through the revival. Those who attended the church began to study the Bible. They joined weekly Bible studies and monthly Bible conferences led by the Presbyterian missionaries. Some walked more than a hundred miles on foot and joined the Bible conference at their own expenses. This spiritual revival in Pyongyang laid a foundation for Korea to become a Bible believing nation and missionary sending country a century later. UBF is one of the fruits of the revival and it is known as a Bible-loving, Bible-believing ministry in Korea today.

D) Revival starts when leaders repent. Our God is the God of order. God judges a nation according to the spiritual condition of their leaders. God blessed Israel when their kings walked faithfully with the Lord. God punished them when their kings followed other gods. God accepted David’s repentance and blessed Israel to become a powerful kingdom. But God divided David’s kingdom into two when his descendants sinned against God. It is not too much to repeat the importance and role of leaders in spiritual revival. In 1906, Jonathan Goforth, a Canadian Presbyterian missionary in China, had a conflict with another missionary. He thought that he was right and the other was wrong, but the Holy Spirit led Jonathan to go first to his opponent to be reconciled. Goforth obeyed the Holy Spirit and they were reconciled. His repentance became a momentum to empower the revival in China.

In Kwangning, China, an elder of the church asked forgiveness of sin in public. Soon a pastor confessed his sins of adultery and accepting bribes and asked for the forgiveness of sin. He tore a fur coat which he had received as a bribe and repented of his greed and selfishness. The whole church followed their leaders, confessing their sins and weeping. In Chinchow, China, a pastor was ashamed of his violent temper. He and his wife did not dare live in the same room anymore. But the Holy Spirit worked in his heart that he repented his lack of love and pride in public. There has been a great revival in that church since then.

In the Bible, Jesus rebuked Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law, because they were leaders of their people. Leaders have responsibility as well as privilege. Leaders are responsible for their followers to walk in the right path. All leaders are not perfect. But when they repent and turn to God, their people follow them and they are blessed.

e) Revival accompanies opposition and persecution Tertullian, a saint of the early church, said in Apologeticus, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” He meant that where the work of the Holy Spirit is, persecution and opposition follow. According to Acts 8:1, there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem right after the martyrdom of Stephen. Except the apostles, all were scattered throughout Judea and Jerusalem. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (Ac 8:3) The death of Stephen ignited the spiritual revival. The Reformation which started with Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin in Switzerland, Martin Luther in Germany, John Knox in Scotland faced opposition. They all were not welcomed by Catholic authority, but rather they were persecuted and even martyred by them. History proves that where is the work of the Holy Spirit, there is the work of Satan.

Whereas John Wesley’s preaching was quiet, George Whitefield’s was loud and powerful. When George Whitefield preached in England, some clergymen opposed him and hindered his preaching by distributing pamphlets against him. More people gathered around him to listen to his preaching. There were always two responses where the gospel was preached: conversion or persecution. There were great spiritual revivals in China in the early 1900’s since Jonathan Goforth arrived in China in 1887. Before the revival started, there was a great persecution against missionaries and Christians, called the “Boxer Rebellion”. Jonathan was attacked and injured with a sword. 189 missionaries and many Chinese Christians were killed. In Shansi, a town called “the martyr province” sixty missionaries and Chinese were beheaded, including children in one afternoon in 1900. Persecution follows like a shadow wherever the revival occurs.

e) Revivals produce fruit. After a fire is extinguished, there are always burnt remains. When the wind blows, there is always something blowing. In the same way, wherever the Holy Spirit goes, there is always someone who is transformed. The baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost produced the Jerusalem Church. The spiritual revival in England led by the Wesley brothers and George Whitefield produced the Methodist Church. The fire of the Holy Spirit flamed by John Knox in Scotland produced the Presbyterian Church.

In 1886 at a conference, D. L. Moody challenged students to sail for world missions and never come back. More than 100 students responded to God's call. This was the birth of the ‘Student Volunteer Movement.’ Later, more than 20,000 students dedicated their lives as missionaries after they graduated from college. The SVM indirectly influenced the birth of the China Inland Mission in America and InterVarsity Christian Union in England.

Between 1984 and 1985, the Chong Ro UBF in S Korea was packed every day with many students who came to study the Bible. The great work of the Holy Spirit was seen on many campuses in Korea through the summer Bible conferences. I was one of them who was converted at the conference. Soon, the Dong Kyo UBF was formed. The Chong Ro UBF added more chapters in those years. Many other churches in Seoul were planted by dedicated students. This reminds us of Jesus’ promise to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Ac 1:8)

6. How often, where, and by whom a spiritual revival occurs? We cannot conclude how often spiritual revivals occur based on historic records. Spiritual revival belongs to God’s sovereignty. Abraham Kuyper, the Calvinist theologian and Prime Minister of Netherland (1901-1905), said that spiritual revival had occurred once in church history at Pentecost which is written in Acts 2. He narrowed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Charles Finney and Evan Roberts believed that spiritual revival can occur anytime anywhere by anyone when God’s conditions are met. As history proves that spiritual revivals occurred wherever spiritual hunger was, and when people repented and turned their hearts to God. Spiritual revivals also occurred at the same location for many different decades like the revivals at Asbury, Kentucky. As we studied earlier, God desires revival and he initiates it.

Spiritual revival starts at a specific location, and it spreads like fire to other places. Spiritual revival also occurs in multiple places simultaneously. For example, the spiritual revival, which had started with Evan Roberts in Wales in 1858, spread to Northern Ireland, South Africa, Canada, and Australia like fire. The fire which started under Charles Finney in New York spread to other states rapidly such as Connecticut, and New Hampshire, until it consumed all areas of North America. The spiritual revival in Pyongyang in Korea in 1907 spread to all provinces of the Korean peninsula. The spiritual revival which started with the devoted students in Asbury in 1970 spread to other colleges, towns, and cities, through their testimonies and of those who had attended the revival. Media such as radio, TV, and newspapers, contributed to the rapid deliverance of the news which brought many people around the world to the birthplace of the revival.

Spiritual revivals also rose simultaneously in various places. From 1740 to 1742, there were great spiritual movements in England led by John & Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield. During the same period in 1737, a revival was started in America led by Jonathan Edward. From 1857 to 1859, great spiritual revivals occurred almost the same time in Wales, America, Canada, India, and South Africa, and so on. The revival that occurred from 1901 to 1910 is a good example of the global revival. God touched all continents of the earth with the Holy Spirit, in countries such as England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, India, China, Korea, and among many.

In John 3, Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to the wind. We don’t know where the wind comes from or where it goes. (Jn 3:8) But we feel the presence and power of the wind. In the same way, we don’t know where, when, and how the Holy Spirit works for the spiritual revival because it works like the wind. But we find the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in each generation and in each area.

7. Historic spiritual revivals after Pentecost:

a) St. Augustine’s conversion: (AD 354-430)

b) The Reformation: (AD 1517, 16^th century in Europe): Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox

c) The First Great Awakening in America: (1730-1770): Jonathan Edward, Gilbert Tennent

d) The Wesleyan Revival in England: (1742-1784): John & Charles Wesley, George Whitefield.

e) The Second Awakening in America: (1790-1840): Timothy Dewight, Charles Finney

f) The Global Spiritual Revival (1878-1910):

g) The Billy Graham Crusade: (1947-2005): Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, George Beverley Shea

8. How can we rekindle spiritual revival today after the Pandemic?

From the end of 2019 to the end of 2022, the whole world confronted an unprecedented challenge because of an extremely infectious virus, called ‘COVID-19.’ Thus far, more than 3 million people around the world were killed by the virus, and this pandemic brought a paradigm shift in all aspects of our life since 9/11. Many people left churches and temples because of social distancing measures caused by the pandemic, and they didn’t come back. More than 10,000 churches in S. Korea are closed because of financial deficits as a result. All in-person meetings were reorganized online during the pandemic. Still, many prefer online meetings because of their convenience. Because of social distancing, people lost their chances to communicate in person. Verbal conversations are either hindered or replaced by texting or other SNS. How can we set fire in the hearts of the MZ generation? How can we rekindle the flame of spiritual revival in this post-pandemic era?

First of all, we must repent before the message of the cross. The message of the cross is about the unfailing love of God who sacrificed his One and Only Son Jesus for the sins of the world. There have been so many problems in human history since Adam’s Fall. There are many ways that have been taught and introduced to solve these problems. But, there is no way which was given to us under heaven, but the message of the cross. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. (Jn 14:6) The only way for sinners to be saved from death and destruction is repenting our hidden sins before Jesus to be forgiven. Jesus shed his precious blood to complete our need. Prophet Isaiah said, “All people are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field, The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures the forever.” (Is 40:7-8) Generations come and go. Kingdoms rise and wane. Programs appear and disappear. But, the message of the cross endures forever and gives us a true answer.

Second of all, we must receive the Holy Spirit. Since the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the spiritual revival continued in each generation through those who met God’s condition. They prayed, believed, and waited. They were waiting for the Holy Spirit. God is the initiator and finisher of the revival. The Holy Spirit works to transform peoples’ hearts and life, and moves to other people and places. We must earnestly pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the apostles did in Mark’s upper room at Pentecost. We must pray for spiritual revival like John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, John Hide, Billy Graham, and many other warriors of prayer. We cannot produce a spiritual revival, but we can make a vessel for the Holy Spirit through our prayer.

9. Case study 1: Personal revival of King David based on Psalm 51

Create In Me A Pure Heart

Psalm 51:1-19

Key Verse: 51:10: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51 is David’s repentance prayer for his personal and national forgiveness. Through this psalm we study the process and content of repentance. I divided it into three parts by verse order: realization (1-6), restoration (7-12), and restitution (13-19).

First, there is the realization (recognition): (1-6). Before this psalm starts, the introduction part explains why David wrote this psalm. “For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.” David wrote this psalm right after the prophet Nathan came to him and rebuked his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. This story is written in 1 Samuel 11:1-12:13. I will summarize what happened to David at that time. One day while David’s army went out to fight his enemies, David overslept in his palace. It sounds not right for David to stay at a palace while his army was at the battlefield. When he woke up, he saw a beautiful woman, bathing. He was tempted to take her. So, he called her and slept with her, and she got pregnant. Her name was Bathsheba, a wife of Urijah, one of David’s loyal soldiers. David committed adultery. In order to cover up his sin, David devised an evil plan. He called Urijah to the palace in the middle of war and sent him home to sleep with his wife so that the baby in Bathsheba’s womb might be known as Urijah’s son. When Urijah refused to go home, David sent him to the frontline of the battle field so that he might be killed by his enemies. After Urijah was killed, David thought that everything was going well as he planned. He called Bathsheba and made her his wife. Even though he cheated the eyes of his people, he could not cheat God. God sent His man, the prophet Nathan, to rebuke David and to repent. David came to realize that he could not hide his sin anymore. He had fear of God who knew everything about him and his relationship with Bathsheba.

The story between David and Bathsheba was made for a movie which entertains peoples’ eyes. But to David, it was a terrible mistake which left a big stain on his whole life. In the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1, this story is recorded as; “David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Urijah’s wife,” (Mt 1:6) In this way, David’s sin is recorded in the Holy Bible and remembered from generation to generation as warning against the sin of adultery. People often say that it will be okay if you are not caught in the act of adultery or any other crime, but this is not true. Even though you can cheat on other people and hide it, you cannot hide from God who sees everything you do and who knows every behavior of yours 24/7. God knows and judges even the deep thoughts of your heart and the motivation of your plans. We can’t cheat God because he knows everything about us, you, and me. David came to realize this. He came to realize that he escaped from the peoples’ eyes, but not from God’s. He thought that the adultery was only between Bathsheba and him because nobody knew about their hidden secret. But there is no secret before God. God knew everything about David and Bathsheba. When David realized this, he was trembling. When Nathan rebuked him, he was shaken with the fear of God. Then, he knew that he couldn’t cheat God anymore. He confessed all his sins before God and before Nathan, the prophet.

This is the reason why he wrote this psalm. David’s story is not only for him, but also for you and me. If you have hidden a secret, do not think that you can keep it forever. Jesus said, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” (Lk 8:17) All things we did in darkness and in secret will be disclosed and exposed before God and other people. Now look at verses 1-2, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgression.” David started with his plea for God’s mercy for his sin. He asked God’s forgiveness of his sin because he trusted in God’s unfailing love and great compassion. David came to realize that he made a big mistake before God. He admitted his wrongdoings. He did not make an excuse to escape from God’s judgment. He was ready to receive God’s punishment. Still, he asked God’s mercy and his forgiveness because he knew who God is. Our God is merciful and compassionate. God knows our weaknesses and our mistakes. Our God is a God, who shows His pity on our weaknesses rather than punishes our mistakes. When we read in Exodus 20, we know who God is. Exodus 20:5-6 says that our God punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him, but shows love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. David found himself in God’s words. So based on God’s unfailing love and compassion, he came to God with confidence.

Hebrews 4:16 says that we approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace because we have Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who knows our weakness and died for our sins on the cross in our place. We call God ‘Abba Father’ and come to him just as we are because we believe in God's mercy and his unfailing love. God demonstrated His unfailing love for us through Jesus Christ. God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Ro 5:8) Amen!

Read verses 3-6. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I am sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.” David confessed that he knew his transgressions and sin. Repentance starts with realization of sin. Repentance starts with admitting that you and I were wrong. David knew that he was wrong when he took Bathsheba and slept with her. He knew that he murdered his loyal general Urijah. He knew that he tried to cover up his sins. But, he did not justify himself by saying that he had a right and the authority to do so as a king. But, he came to God for mercy. Many people justify themselves after they did wrong. They will not admit their wrongdoing by making many excuses. But, they cannot cheat their conscience which convicts their corrupted heart. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the son repented and came back to his father’s house when he came to realize that he did wrong. He said, “I have sinned against God and against my father.” (Lk 15:18) It takes time for us to confess our sins before God because we are stubborn and rebellious. We don’t want to admit our wrongdoings because we believe that we will be okay without repentance. David also thought like this when he covered up his sins by murdering and lying. But God exposed all things through Nathan, the prophet, and David could not hide himself any more. Anyway, David repented his sins. His repentance started with his realization of his sin.

Second, there is the restoration. (7-12) Let us read verses 7-12. “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” Here, David described sin in various terms such as transgressions, iniquities, sins, and so on. The word 'transgression' means the violation of the law or rebellion. It contains the meaning of the word trespass, which means ‘cross the line.’ David crossed the line by violating God’s law, especially the Ten Commandments. Iniquity means ‘perversity’ which contains words like ‘twisted’ and ‘corrupted’. David deceived his conscience and deliberately used his power and authority to satisfy his lustful desire. Sin means missing the target. David did not live for the glory of God. He did not reach God's standard by seeking his fleshly desire.

David prayed to God to cleanse all these transgressions, iniquities, and sins by his mercy and grace. He asked God to cleanse all his sins with hyssop. In the past, the high priests used hyssop plants for ritual purposes. During Exodus, the Israelites dipped hyssop plants into the blood of animals and painted them on the doorposts. When Jesus was crucified, the Roman soldiers gave wine vinegar sponged by a hyssop plant to Jesus (Jn 19:29). But now, we don’t need hyssop plants for cleansing our sins because Jesus shed His precious blood to cleanse all our sins once for all. Jesus washed our crimson like sins and made us whiter than snow. Amen.

David prayed to God to create a pure heart in him. He did not ask to heal his heart, but create a new heart because he knew that his heart was completely corrupted and useless and unrepairable. He also asked to renew a steadfast spirit within him. Because of his sin, his spirit was crushed. He asked for a new spirit, the Spirit of God who can sustain him. David knew that sin separates him from God. When Cain killed his brother Abel and did not repent of his sin, he was cast out from God’s presence. He became a restless wanderer. When we also sin against God, we are cast out from the presence of God, and the Holy Spirit cannot contend in us and with us. David knew the result of separation from God in his life. David had been protected from all his enemies, and he became a king of Israel because God was with him. God blessed David when he did right in the sight of God. But now, David is afraid of God’s absence and the departure of the Holy Spirit from him because of his sin. So, David cried out for God’s presence and the restoration of the Holy Spirit. What do you think is the most serious and painful punishment of God? It is the separation from God’s presence. This is why Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34) Jesus cried out because of the separation from God the Father when he died, even for a short period.

Let us read verse 12 again. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” When we repent of our sins, and have assurance for God’s forgiveness, the first thing we can experience is the joy of salvation. Our heart will be filled with joy of salvation and freedom from the burden of sin. Peace of God will overflow like a river in our hearts. David desired for this joy of salvation which comes from the forgiveness of sin. What is the most exciting and blessed moment in your life? It may be the hour when you are accepted by a school you wanted. It may be the moment when you see your newborn baby. It may be the moment when you buy something new which you desire. But, the most exciting and blessed moment in your life should be the moment when you meet God personally. You will feel his presence and experience the fullness of God in your heart through the forgiveness of sin. This is the day when you restore your relationship with God. This is the day when you restore your sonship where we have assurance of His presence and guidance of your life. Amen!

Third, restitution (the result of restoration): Look at verses 12-17. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” In the New Testament when Zacchaeus repent his sin, the first thing he did was to share all he had with others. (Lk 19:8) He experienced unutterable joy which he couldn’t buy with his money, which is the joy of salvation. Right after he followed Jesus, he shared his wealth with others who were in need. He expressed his joy and gratitude by sharing his belongings with others. After David experienced the joy of salvation, he wanted to teach the way of God to sinners. He wanted to use his life, his freedom to bring sinners back to God. He also wanted to open his mouths to praise God and glorify His name. Indeed, David has written many songs of gratitude since then. Psalm 51 is one of them. Suppose someone saves your life when you are threatened by death, you will appreciate him throughout your lifetime, and you will do something for him. Right after I experienced the joy of salvation, I decided to live for Jesus who loved me and died for me. So, I accepted John 21:15 as my life direction and key verse. Jesus asked me, “Paul, do you love me more than these?” I answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I love you.” Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.`”

In verses 18-19 David concludes his prayer with a request for national forgiveness (18-19) Look at verses 18-19. “May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” When we read the history of Israel, God punished his people when their leaders, especially kings, sinned against God. David knew the price of his sin and knew that someone should pay the price. In fact, because of his sin, later his kingdom was divided into two, Northern Israel and Southern Judah. David asked God’s mercy for his people. He asked for the restoration of Zion, which means Israel and the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem. As a leader for this ministry, I am concerned about my influence on others because of the price of my sin. Some might be hurt because of my harsh words. Others might be wounded by my misbehavior. I ask your forgiveness and God’s mercy. Four years ago, God saved my life from cardiac arrest, and he allowed me with an extra life. God wants me to use this grace for His name’s sake. But these days I wasted my life by doing many useless things, and displeased God with my laziness and selfishness. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my inequities and cleanse me from my sin”. Amen! When I prepared my message for spiritual revival for ISBC, one word of God touched my heart, which is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Amen! I pray that you may also come to God as you are and receive His mercy and grace and experience the joy of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Amen! May God richly bless our ISBC 2023 and enable us to see God’s glory through spiritual revival. Amen!

Case study 2: National revival by King Solomon based on 2 Chronicles 7

If My People

(Three Steps of Revival)

2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Key Verse 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

On September 11^th, 2001, America was in the national crisis for the first time after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec 7^th, 1941. These terrorists gave us a wakeup call from a long spiritual sleep. Many people began to pray for the country and returned to their church. At that time, 2 Chronicles 7:14 today’s key verse became one of the most popular and frequently quoted verses in churches. This verse gave us a spiritual awakening and a national direction. Today, I picked up this verse for my lecture for spiritual revival at ISBC 2023. This story teaches us three steps of revival: 1. repent, 2) receive, 3) respond.

First, repent (of your hidden sin). This verse was given originally not for a wakeup call or for the key verse for spiritual revival, but God’s message to King Solomon who dedicated the temple. Before Solomon built the temple of God, his father King David was eager to build the temple. But God did not allow him to build the temple because David shed many bloods in the battlefield. David was a warrior. (1 Chr 28;3) So, his son Solomon took over his mission and finished building the temple. When Solomon brought the ark of the covenant back to the temple, the glory of God filled the temple. (2 Chr 5:2-14) Solomon offered the prayer of dedication, which is written in 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. Solomon praised God who had been with his people as the covenant people and pleaded for his faithful guidance and protection. When he had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (2 Chr 7:1) The baptism of fire and the appearance of God’s glory proved that Solomon’s prayer of dedication was accepted by God as a pleasing aroma and acceptable sacrifice.

Above all, God was pleased with the return of the ark in the temple. The Israelites lost the ark of the covenant to the hand of their enemies because of their unbelief. When they tested God with their superstitious way in the battlefield, the ark was taken by the Philistines. Now the ark of the Lord came back to its original place, the temple. Returning the ark of the Lord to the temple is the sign of repentance and rededication in spiritual revival. The ark of the Lord is the symbol of God’s presence. The Israelites put the ark in the center of the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and in the temple. They divided the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place with the curtain which drew a boundary line between God and men. In the ark of the Lord there were the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandment which Moses had received from God, the gold jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff that had budded. (He 9:4) They all represent the presence of God, his faithfulness and power. Above all, the Ten Commandments is the promise of God.

There was also an atonement cover called ‘Mercy Seat.’ Once a year the high priest took the blood of animals and sprinkled over the ark so that the sin of his people might be atoned. Therefore, bringing the ark of the Lord back into the temple means to put God in the first place in their hearts. Putting God in the first place of our hearts is the act of spiritual revival. Spiritual revival is not only getting rid of all idols from our hearts, but also restoring the ownership of our lives from the hand of Satan. We bring the lordship of our lives back to the Lord Jesus. This is repentance and the first step for revival.

When the ark of the temple was put in the temple, the temple was filled with clouds. (2 Chr 5:13.14) The priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. We want to see the glory of God through this international conference. I believe that we will see His Glory when we really repent and bring the ark of the Lord back into our hearts. When we accept the lordship of Christ over our lives and submit ourselves to His command, we will see His glory. We may not continue our program because of the glory of God as the Israelites couldn’t perform their service because of the cloud.

After bringing the ark back to the temple. Solomon prayed. Above all, he praised God who had brought their ancestors out of Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. He praised the Lord who enabled him to build the temple in the place of his father David. Then, he pleaded with God to hear his prayer and the prayers of his people when they prayed toward the temple for the forgiveness of their sins. He asked God to be attentive to their prayer of repentance. He also prayed to God to hear their prayer when they prayed in the time of danger and crisis. He repeated saying, “Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.” (2 Chr 6:21,23,25,27,30,33,35,39)

Jesus is the temple of God. As the Israelites prayed to God toward the temple, so we pray to God in the name of Jesus. Jesus asked His disciples to pray to God in his name. He promised them to say, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (Jn 14:13,14) When we pray in Jesus’ name, God hears our prayer from heaven and forgives us, protects us, saves us and guides us. This is the reason why we always finish our prayer in Jesus’ name. Indeed, Jesus is the temple of God. We can come to God in Jesus and through Jesus. As Hebrews says, we can approach the throne of God with confidence through faith in Jesus Christ. (He 4:16,10:22) Amen! Let us pray in the name of Jesus. Let us pray that at the conference many people may come to God through Jesus Christ and meet Him personally. Amen!

Second, receive (the Holy Spirit). According to 2 Chronicles 7:1, when Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” God responded to Solomon's prayer with fire. This is the same as God sent the fire of the Holy Spirit when the apostles gathered and constantly prayed with one mind. (Ac 1:14) At Pentecost God sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples. They received the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised. (Ac 1:8) The fire from heaven is the power of God. The fire consumed all the burnt offerings and the sacrifices which Solomon had offered. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down like the tongues of fire. (Ac 2;3) When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

When we repent of our sins and turn away from wicked ways and accept Jesus our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit. God sent the fire into our hearts as he gave to the apostles at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has the consuming power to burn all our sins and to provide courage to testify Jesus Christ. Peter was the top disciple among the Twelve. But out of fear he denied Jesus three times. He suffered from guilt and shame until the Risen Jesus revisited him and forgave him. This fearful Peter, after receiving the Holy Spirit, became a completely different person. He had fire in his heart and preached Jesus Christ before the Sanhedrin and before 3,000 people. He was not a fearful fisherman anymore; he became a powerful fisher of men. His message was this, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Ac 2:38)

In 1948, the Holy Spirit came down to the Wheaton Bible Church in Illinois when a young evangelist Peter Joshua repented his sin of hypocrisy. Rev. Joseph followed him by repenting his own sin. Then, the pastor’s wife was moved by their repentance, and she also confessed her sin in public. Then the Holy Spirit came to all the members and their worship service continued until 2:00 am. The fire of the Holy Spirit spread to Wheaton College where the five devoted students called “the Ecuador martyrs” including Jim Elliot attended. The fire which Jim Elliot received at that time was delivered to the Ecuador jungle. Let us pray that we may receive fire at the conference. Like Solomon, we will receive fire when we rededicate our lives to Christ. God will send fire from heaven and consume all our sins and give us power to become his witness to the whole world. Amen!

Third, respond (to God’s call). 2 Chronicles 7:2-3 says, “the priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord about the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” When God sent the fire from heaven, the Israelites responded with worship and praise. They knelt with their faces to the ground and worshiped God by praising, “The LORD is good; his love endures forever.” Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. (2 Chr 7:4-5) Wow! 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats for sacrifice?

After receiving the forgiveness of sin through Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit, what should be our response to God’s grace? We don’t have to sacrifice 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats because Jesus made it once for all by His own blood through His sacrificial death on the cross. (He 9:12) We must respond with worship and praise. We must remember how God saved our lives through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and give thanks to Him all the days of our lives.

How did God respond to their sacrifice? Look at verses 11-12. “When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.” God appeared to Solomon at night and gave him a covenant-like promise. Look at verse 14. “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God gave a conditional promise because he used the word, “if”. God gave Solomon and his people a choice between blessing and curse. In verses 17 God said, “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.” This is the promise of God’s blessing when Solomon obeys God and walks with him faithfully. God promised to establish the eternal kingdom through the descendent of David. Indeed, God fulfilled this promise through Jesus Christ, who was the descendant of David. In verses 18-19 God said, “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble...” This is the promise of God’s curse when Solomon and his people sin against God and follow other gods. This was fulfilled when the kings after Solomon and his people followed other gods and worshiped idols. The kingdom of David was divided into two after Solomon died. Northern Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BC, and Southern Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The temple was destroyed at that time. Before these things really happened, God gave a choice to His people between the way of blessing and the way of curse.

God gave us and America a choice through today’s key verse: “If my people (put your name or America), who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,...” If we respond with ‘yes’, “then God will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal us and heal this land. Blessing or curse depends on how we respond to God’s promise. Are you ready to respond to God’s message with ‘yes’? Today we learned three steps of spiritual revival: repent, receive, and respond. May God richly bless you and the conference with the glory of God and with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reference: Revival Fire (Wesley Duewel,1995)

Lectures on Revivals of Religion (Charles G. Finney, 1868)

The Fuel and the Flame (Steve Shadrach, 2003)

미국교회 부흥신학 (박용호, 2012)

청년학생들의 목자 (이 사무엘 전기, UBF 2023)

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