OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2021 – WHEN REVIVAL COMES I

OPEN HEAVEN 23 JULY 2021 TOPIC: When Revival Comes I

MEMORISE: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? – Psalm 85:6

READ: Psalm 85:4-7 (KJV)

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 69-71

Open Heaven 23 July 2021 MESSAGE:

In Christianity, revival generally refers to increased spiritual fervency or renewal in the congregation of believers.

What happens when revival comes? According to our Bible reading of today, people turn away from their wickedness when revival comes. Salvation becomes a household commodity and the anger of God ceases to burn against people. One pleasant thing about God concerning sinners is that He would always warn them of the dangers of a sinful life so they may repent and escape His fiery judgement. The Bible says in Ezekiel 18:21 -23:

“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

Another thing that happens when revival comes is that God answers the prayers of sinners – contrary to the general opinion that He does not. However, it is the prayer of repentance from a sinner that God honours before any other, according to 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. Revival brings about total restoration of both spiritual and physical wellbeing as seen in 2 Chronicles 33:14-15:

“Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon… And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.”

The true sign of revival is a genuine departure from an ungodly lifestyle, both publicly and even when we are in our closet. This is contrary to what we experience in the Church today when people claim to be born-again but still maintain their sinful lifestyles. Manasseh died a penitent sinner and had peace. According to 2 Chronicles 33:18-20. Your beginning may not matter much but your end certainly will. You shall end well in Jesus’ name.

Open Heaven 23 July 2021 PRAYER POINT:

If you are a sinner, pray for the salvation of your soul. If you are a backslider, pray for revival and complete restoration.

Open Heaven 23 July 2021 HYMN 13: I’ve A Message From The Lord, Halleluyah

1. I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!
This message unto you I’ll give,
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain:
“Look and live,” my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

2. I’ve a message full of love, hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you,
’Tis a message from above, hallelujah!
Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true.

3. Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!
Eternal life thy soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.

4. I will tell you how I came, hallelujah!
To Jesus when He made me whole—
’Twas believing on His name, hallelujah!
I trusted and He saved my soul.

Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)