River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-10-16

three things: ID They were without
the ordinances of religion. They
were without a teaching priest, and
without law" (2) They were without
the inner experiences of religion. In
those times there was no peace TO
him that went out, nor to him that
came in" co They were without
the outward blessings Of religion.
And nation was destroyed OF nation,
and city Of city; for God did vex them
with all adversely"
Is not this the picture of church
or an individual processing Christian
ity who Is without God? The gospel
may be preached in that church, the
ordinances administered, and the
prayer meeting regularly announced,
but the whole round of exercises,
while possessing the form of godli-
ness, is without the power. There Is
no real power in the lives of Chris
tians existing in this way. no realiza-
ton of their standing in Christ, and
no JOY or gladness in their testimony
and service. They come into church
and go out of it again, as 1t is said
OF these Israelites, without peace.
Theirs is a state of moral and spirit
ual "adversity."
Now how did the revival come?
There are ten steps of progress indi
Gated to the finish.
% "The spirit of God came upon
Azariah, the son of Oded,' verse l..
The source Of every true revival IS
divine. 1t can not be worked up or
preached up, but it may be prayed up.
Ask and we shall receive" 1t be-
gan in this instance in a single indi-
vidual, a prophet, like an ordinary
Tainister or evangelist of our own day
The spirit of God fell on him, anoint-
ing him for service.
(2) He went out and said, hear We
me. the Lord is with you, while ye
be with him; and if We seek him, he
will be found Of you," verse 2. What
a simple thing TO say, how almost
childish, and yet Whit results 1t pro-
duced! All, it makes a great deal
of difference in message whether IL
comes from anointed lips or not. Now
what are we told here? Only this
self-evident truth, that we can not
be revived unless the Lord is with
us. But we are told something else
also, viz. that the Lord is with US
while we are with him. And what Is
it for us to be with him? Only TO be
living in obedience to him, that is all
90 when Asa (the king) heard
thocn words he took courage,
verse 8. The first thing the minister
or pastor wants in the work of re
vival is courage. He must believe
that God is with him and that some
thing is possible, nay, likely, to be &C
complished. The steps of the revival
now follow in regular order.
az He "put away the abominable
idols out of all the land"
(5) He renewed the altar of the
Lord" same verse.
CO. He gathered ALL the people to-
gether; "for they fell to him out of
Israel in abundance when they saw
that the Lord his God was with him. I"
The revival is now on. The crowds
are coming The church has re,
nounced her worldliness; entertain
ments and euchre parties have given
place to the prayer meeting. The
altar of the Lord" has been substte
tuted for "the abominable idols" and
it has proved "a drawing card" The
news are filling up. The world is
cold and the people are gathering
around the fire of the Lord.
Cd They offered unto the Lord the
same time, of the spoil which they
had brought" verse II. Here is a
further evidence of the revival When
the spirit of God stirs up people
the Golfers of the treasury begin to
show it. The people offer willingly
when the spirit of God prompts then
to do it, and he so prompts them
through the ministration OF his word.
80 They entered into covenant
to seek the Lord = with all their
heart and with all their soul" verse
r.
90 "And all Judah rejoiced." verse
10.
(10) "And he (the Lord was found
round about" same verse. Thus the
revival came. The preaching of the
word was with power. The command
ments Of God were obeyed. The as
surance of personal salvation was a
living strength. PeaEe with God was
accompanied by the peace of God.
There was boldness of testimony,
separation from the ungodly and I'M
godliness, power in prayer, focking
assemblies of the people, liberal CIV
ing. earnest conservation and great
rejoicing because of the people, liberal
rejoicing because of the rest and the
presence OF the Lord. This is super
natural. 1t began by the spirit OF
God coming on one man, and the God
of AZariah still livesi Why, then,
should we not ask him to help us as
he helped Israel? Why not beseech
him for the holy spirit to fall on us?
Why not seek this blessing for one
pastor? Remember the promise, ''If
two of you are agreed as touching
anything that We shall ask, It shall
be done for you Of my father which