Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones described revival as the Holy Spirit working through the ordinary means of grace in an extraordinary way. In other words, revival is not some far out thing, rather a powerful working of God through the means of grace He has already established, namely: the preaching of the Word of God, prayer, and the sacraments. In order to appreciate Dr. Jones’ assessment, we should first review what our confession says about the way that God ordinarily works in our lives to bring us the fullness of blessing, assurance of salvation, and power by which we live a life that is pleasing to God.

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Shorter Catechism

Q88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?
A.      The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Larger Catechism

Q154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A.      The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.

The Scriptural references in both the Shorter and Larger Catechisms list the following scriptures to go along with the answers above.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Let’s unpack the common means of grace, how they each bring us the fullness of blessing, and what it would be to experience these common means of grace in an extraordinary way.

Preaching Of the Word Of God

The preaching of the Word of God is God’s way of bringing salvation, in that the preaching of the Word brings or uncovers faith that the Holy Spirit has worked in the life of a sinner, instructs the sinner to look to the Lord Jesus Christ, and brings glory to God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Romans 10:13–17 (ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Notice the miracle working power that the Holy Spirit displays in the response to the preaching of the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 & 5 (ESV) For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

When the power of the Holy Spirit is experienced in the preaching of the Word of God there is great assurance of God’s electing grace as we are convicted of our sin and drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ for help. Since preaching of the Word is a miracle, according to the Word of God, then every time we experience God speaking to us in the preaching of His Word, then we have experienced a miracle. That is to say that preaching is more than a talk or lecture, it is a mere man preaching the Word of God by the power of God to the glory of God. When revival from the Holy Spirit arrives, the preaching power is accentuated to the place where people are moved and affected in a great way.

Needless to say, when the Word of God becomes great in corporate worship in the preaching of the Word, times of personal study for which the Bereans were commended becomes even more meaningful.

Acts 17:11 (ESV) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Personal time in prayer will prepare the ground of our hearts in an even greater way to receive the Word and produce even greater fruit which will in turn lead to greater times of personal study which leads to an even better reception of God’s Word in preaching. Wouldn’t it be great to see the congregation moved by the Holy Spirit to enjoy this cycle of blessing? Will you pray with me for that to be part of our church?

Corporate Prayer

The early church did quite a bit of praying in response to Jesus’ admonition to continue in prayer, to avoid temptation, and to enjoy His presence. The first church activity involved the gathering in the upper room to pray as they waited for the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1 & 2 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Luke 22:40 (ESV) And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Matthew 18:20 (ESV) For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Prayer is a vital part of the church so that Paul taught the Corinthian church who was hung up with the gift of tongues to make sure they prayed in an intelligible way so people could say, “Amen.”

1 Corinthians 14:14–16 (ESV) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

Saying “amen” while someone is praying, rather aloud, in a whisper, or even silently is a term that not only expresses agreement but involves the mind and heart in the prayer that is being spoken by another so as to cast the care before God by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Amen of God.

1 Peter 5:6 & 7 (ESV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Corinthians 1:19 & 20 (ESV) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Matthew 18:19 (ESV) Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

The experience of the active presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, through the working of the Holy Spirit in corporate prayer is something special experienced by those who exercise the self discipline to be part of the joining together of other believers to seek the grace and favor of God. There are blessings found in private prayer and that is something that should be part of every believer’s day.  However, there is something found in corporate prayer time that cannot be experienced aside from the body of Christ.

Therefore, spiritual growth and assurance can be found from communing with God privately in prayer, but we need to be an active part of corporate time of prayer where we find the blessing and power of the Holy Spirit in a unique way. This can be found in the corporate worship of God when the congregation is led in prayer. Instead of just checking out, the believer who receives great blessing participates with the Holy Spirit as they follow the one leading by saying, “Amen.”

In times of revival, corporate prayer becomes even more meaningful as the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in leading the one praying and connecting those gathered become as one. This, of course, will lead to a greater and more meaningful personal prayer life which in turn will lead to greater times of refreshing in corporate prayer. Wouldn’t it be great to see our church unified in every prayer as the Holy Spirit binds us together? Will you join with me that God will move all of us to pray on a personal level but be led by God’s Spirit to make time for corporate prayer for the great times of refreshing?

Acts 3:19–21 (ESV) Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

The Sacraments

The Lord’s Supper and Baptism are described by the writers of the Westminster Confession of Faith as a sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace.

Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter 27: paragraph I: Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and His benefits; and to confirm our interest in Him: as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word. 

Paragraph III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither does the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that does administer it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.

There is something special that happens when we participate in the Sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism that the Lord Jesus Christ has given to the church. This is a great mystery, nevertheless as the Confession describes there is the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst bringing assurance of our union with Christ as we follow in obedience in the sacrament.

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Shorter Catechism

Q91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A.     The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Q92. What is a sacrament?
A.     A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
A.     The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

Q94. What is baptism?
A.     Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Q95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?
A.     Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Q96. What is the Lord’s Supper?
A.    The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Q97. What is required for the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?
A.     It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Matthew 28:19 & 20 (ESV)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 26:26–28 (ESV) Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

John 6:51–58 (ESV) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Galatians 3:27 (ESV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:16 & 17 (ESV) The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Participating in the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism is meant to encourage each believer as we receive confirmation by the Holy Spirit that we belong to Christ and that God’s covenant of grace is real to us. Each time we are part of the corporate body of Christ when a child is baptized, we are able to rejoice in God’s covenant of grace not only in the obedience of the parents but also reflecting on our own baptism. Each time we take of the Lord’s Supper, we are able to experience the same blessing of God’s covenant renewal as we are at each sighting of a rainbow.

Genesis 9:14–16 (ESV) When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV) For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

God promised He would never flood the earth again and said the bow in the sky would remind Him of His promise. Not as though God needed reminded of anything, rather it is a reminder to us that God will never forget His promise. Likewise, each time we “show forth the Lord’s death ’til He comes” in the Lord’s Supper we have a reminder of God’s everlasting covenant of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It’s not just our doing the right thing, rather it’s the power of the Holy Spirit that makes the obedience in the sacraments a time of great refreshing as He floods our soul with assurance of our connection to the Lord Jesus Christ, making real His death on our behalf while He builds up our faith.

In times of revival, the sacraments become even more precious and the assurance and power of the Holy Spirit in the times of participation become even stronger. This was so important to the early church revival that they participated in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper daily.

Acts 2:46 & 47 (ESV) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Wouldn’t it be great if we were revived by the Holy Spirit in such a great way that we’d not only desire to take part in the sacraments of the Lord Jesus Christ but experience the blessing of God in them?  Do you think we would be satisfied with just once a month?

Conclusion

As we think about the call for prayer in seeking God for revival for our church, let us seek the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the reality of the ordinary means of grace in an extraordinary way resulting in the salvation of those who are not really Christians, the waking up of those who are sleepy Christians, and the bringing in of many to the Kingdom of God. Revival is described as a time of great refreshing as the Holy Spirit brings life and liberty. Will you join me in prayer for revival?

Godspeed,
Pastor Bob
727-539-1434 (home) or 727-612-3976 (cell) or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it