Revival Sermon: Prayer for Revival
A Sermon on Prayer for Revival from Exodus 33:12-17
Scripture
12¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13 …
Sermon Description
The church today focuses too much on doing what other religions can do. Other religions can teach a person to be moral and just. Other religions can create a sense of community and friendship. Other religions can do good things in the community. Christians tend to be content with these small things; content with the unexceptional and ordinary condition of the church. They must pray for revival. In this sermon on prayer for revival from Exodus 33:12–17 titled “Revival Sermon: Prayer for Revival,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the prayer of Moses where he prays for more. God had returned to Israel and Moses is grateful for this, but he wants more. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that praying for revival is praying for something extra, something more. Revival is not ordinary. It is a special, unusual, and exceptional move of God. The Christian praying for revival is no longer satisfied with the ordinary condition of the church. They pray for God’s glory to be shown, and cries from the “depths” that God may be known. True revival cannot be manipulated. The moment one believes this can be organized, they are in great danger. Listen in as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that church needs the power of God. The Holy Spirit must fall upon His people, and they must be revived.
Sermon Breakdown
- Moses was grateful for God's return but desired more. He went back to pray for revival.
- Revival is something extra, additional and unusual. It is not the regular blessing and work of the church.
- Moses prayed for a sense of personal assurance - to know God more deeply. He wanted God to manifest His love in an extraordinary way.
- Moses prayed for power. He realized the magnitude of the task before them and their own weakness. They needed God's power and presence.
- Moses prayed for God to authenticate the church and her mission. To show they were unique and separate, God's people.
- The church today has lost her uniqueness. She seems like just another institution or organization. Supernatural power is needed.
- Examples of God authenticating the church: Pentecost, Acts 4, Acts 10, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 1:11-12.
- Men can do much through preaching, services and converts but only God can send the Holy Spirit in power.
- The prayer for revival is for the unusual, exceptional blessing of God in addition to the regular work of the church. For God to shake us and do something astounding that compels the world's attention.
Revival Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.