Veering from orthodoxy is usually what causes decline, this comes from either False or distortions of key doctrines or by extreme commitment to marginal doctrines. Divisions and contentiousness / pride of leaders can quench a revival and revival of the gospel is almost always as a battle against idols.

Preparing for revival is clarified gospel preaching and an experience of the Spirit that unmasks and gives an experience of sin, its effects, it's depths its tragedy, along with and exposure and experience of the Holiness of God. The gap between the holiness of God and our current condition is felt.

In order of revival to be a need, it means there is decline, a lack of spiritual vitality in the church. Revival fits our times - only a real move of God not miracles or wonders can pull us back from decline. Revival is an intensification of the ordinary operations of the Spirit, so you can't hold one, but you can prepare and ask for it, it begins in the church.

Daniel and the lions, 3 jews in a furnace, people who escape the edge of the sword. Others didn't escape the sword, lions teeth, or fire. The stones didn't pass by them, they hit their mark. All of them accepted that their lives were part of something bigger. Because of their faith, they were commended. They didn't receive what was promised but God has planned a day when they will receive it and that is the future of faith

When Rahab is mentioned in the hall, her job is mentioned in her title. She isn't just Rahab, she's the prostitute Rahab. She was in a town with people whose sins were different from prostitution, but all were part of the same lot. Her life was spared because she welcomed the spies. She's like all of us, whose prostitution is all different, but all part of a people who deserve death. None of us get spared or saved by first changing. The only thing we have to do is welcome/open the door.

Throughout the judgements on Egypt for their disobedience the Israelites were immune to every one of the plagues except for the plague of the first born. The destroying angel was claiming his right over every firstborn son regardless of race. The only thing that saved the first borns was the sprinkling of blood on the door. Moses encountered God, he had a personal experience with the living God who gave him calling and responsibility.

Joseph's last request was that his bones would be buried in the promised land, that he would finally reach the destination that his life was pointing toward. Joseph is like all of us, trying to make sense of the varied and surprising events in life. Joseph refused to take his future into his own hands, to compromise and shorten the distance between what he wanted and where he was, and chose to trust that God was sovereignly steering his life.

Jacob's personality is made clear even in his birth story. Pulling others down in order to get ahead was his primary MO. Pretty much everybody he grabbed a hold of and moved around complied, until Jesus visited Jacob. And when He grabbed a hold to fight, Jacob was not able to manipulate. Realizing Jesus grabbed a hold of him and not the other way around, Jacob finally embraced the posture we all struggle with.

The story of Abraham and Isaac is a father son story that has inspired, puzzled, and frustrated us. God gave Issac to Abraham as a son to be loved but also as a fulfillment to God's covenant promise for how Abraham would become the father of a multitude. Like so many good things in our lives, we are tempted to make it an ultimate thing.

For God, speaking words is the same thing as taking action. When He speaks things change. When God changed Abram's name to Abraham, because God's speech is action, God changed Abraham's nature. Based on this new nature, Abraham grew up into faith and is an example for all Christians who are born again and have to grow into our own faith.