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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

STEPS TO REVIVAL

Introduction

The first thing we notice is that the need for Revival is evident. (Vs 13)

The second thing we notice is that Revival is for the people of God. (Vs 14)

Revival takes us back to the place of forgiveness and blessing.

(The latter part of verse Vs 14 says “. . . then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”)

Revival takes us back to where we should be and to what God wants us to be. It restores us.

Tonight we want to look at “Steps To Revival”

These are not steps I came up with. They are steps revealed and illustrated in the Word of God.

So What Are The Steps To Revival:

I.         HUMILITY BEFORE GOD.

When we are broken over sin, we are willing to humble ourselves before God to seek genuine Revival. If we are not willing to humble ourselves, we will never see Revival!

            A.        Humility Includes A Personal Recognition Of The Need For Revival. (Revelation 3:14-19)

As long as we don’t see a need for change, change will not take place.

The very reason why I made the “Revival Checklist” and why I encourage each of us to use them this week leading up to our Revival services next Sunday is to help us to recognize the areas of our lives that are lacking.

                        It is for the purpose of turning the light on to sin. The Word of God is light.

                        Sin is darkness.

If we don’t recognize where we are lacking, then we aren’t ever going to do anything about those areas that we are lacking in. We will just continue on in our Spiritual mediocrity and self-will.

We all know that usually our Bible reading and prayer life are some of the first things to go when we begin to slip away from the things of God.

When a Christian is not consistently in the Word of God and prayer on a daily basis, it is easy for them to become oblivious as to how far their Christian walk has slipped.

            B.        Humility Includes Dissatisfaction With Our Sinful Condition.

It is possible to recognize the need for personal Revival but to become satisfied in a sinful condition.

                        That is because sin hardens our hearts to the voice of God.

                        Humility Includes A Personal Recognition Of The Need For Revival.

                        Humility Includes Dissatisfaction With Our Sinful Condition.

            C.        Humility Includes Brokenness Over Our Sinful Condition.

Psalm 51:17–“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Psalms 34:18–“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

                        Psalms 147:3–“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

Isaiah 61:1–“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted”

We have to be willing to allow God to break our hard hearts. If we allow Him to first break our hearts over sin, only then can He heal our broken hearts.

            HUMILITY BEFORE GOD.

II.       PRAYER TO GOD.

God is the only one who can send Revival into our hearts and into our Church.

            We can have good preaching, but that is not Revival.

            We can have good singing, but that is not Revival.

            We can try to stir ourselves up emotionally, but that is not Revival.

            We can try to put on a Spiritual facade, but that is not Revival.

We can do all sorts of things and try to call it Revival. But if the fruit that is generated comes from self-will instead of from God, it is not Revival.

God is the only one who can truly revive our hearts individually and revive His Church collectively.

            If we are not willing to pray to God about our condition, we will never see Revival!

            Turn to Nehemiah 1.

            The beginnings of Revival come out of heartfelt prayer to God that includes:

            A.        Acknowledgment Of God.

                        Nehemiah 1:3-4 = Humility before God. (What we just talked about)

                        Vs 5 = Acknowledgment Of God.

            B.        Confession To God. (Nehemiah 1:6-7)

                        Confession here means “to hold out the hands” or “to bemoan.”

                        Confession in the New Testament means “to say the same thing.”

When we see Nehemiah’s confession here we can tell that he is confessing in the New Testament sense of the word also.

            PRAYER TO GOD includes:

                        Acknowledgment Of God.

                        Confession To God.

            C.        Beseeching God. (i.e. Calling On God For Help) (Nehemiah 1:8-11)

                        We need to call on God to do that which we cannot do! To bring Revival!

III.      SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD.

What does it mean to seek the face of God?

            The word “seek” means “to search out; to strive after.”

            It is looking for God’s approval in everything we do–in His Word and in Prayer!

Proverbs 3:5-6–“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

            Nehemiah sought God’s face in prayer every step along the way in doing God’s will.

            “Seeking the face of God” is a surrender of our wills, to God’s will.

            If we are not willing to seek the face of God, we will never see true Revival!

            HUMILITY BEFORE GOD.

            PRAYER TO GOD.

            SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD.       

VII.     REPENTANCE OF SIN AND RETURNING TO GOD.

            “. . . and turn from their wicked ways.”

            That is what Revival is all about.

            If we are not willing to turn from our wicked ways, we will never see genuine Revival!

If we are quick to return to our evil ways, that is not Revival. It is what the Israelites had in the Book of Judges.

            Remember their vicious cycle:

            Sin–>Suffering and Servitude–>Supplication–>Salvation (deliverance)–>Sin 

That is not what we need. We need to turn back to God and determine by God’s grace not to allow ourselves to turn back again to the muck and mire of sin and disobedience.

That doesn’t mean we will become sinless. However, it does mean that when we sin we will keep short accounts with God and return without delay.

Conclusion

So are you ready for Revival? Let’s not wait for the Evangelist to come. Let’s begin right here, right now.

Let’s deal with wrong living. Let’s deal with wrong habits. Let’s deal with wrong attitudes.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!