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WHY THE NEED FOR REVIVAL?
ZECHARIAH 1:3
Introduction
Why do we have Revival services? After all, many Churches rarely, if ever, have them any more.
Some folks may think that a Pastor has Revival services because he trying to get out of preaching himself. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love to preach. I miss it when I’m out of the pulpit. Even when I’m out of town on vacation, I like to be asked to preach. And, by the way, I have to work harder when we have special meetings than I do at any other time. There is more to do leading up to the Revival, more to do during the Revival, and more to do after the Revival. It is not a week off.
Some folks may think that a Pastor has Revival services just to help his Preacher friends out.
Understand that I had never met any of the preachers that I’ve had in for Revival services thus far before I came to this Church. It is true that I have become close friends with some of the men I have had in, but that is not why I have them in.
Some folks may think that a Pastor has Revival services just to make his people miserable.
To these people Revival services are major imposition on their time. Its true that we live in busy times. I’m at least as busy, if not more busy, than most anybody here. Special meetings like this mess with my routine too.
Why then do we have Revival Services?–To meet needs among the people of God that I don’t believe can be met otherwise.
What is the greatest need in the Church today?
1. Some might say it is for more and better ministries.
2. Some might say it is for more money to do the work of God.
3. Some might say it is for Churches to cater to what the members want. (Burger King)
4. Some might say it is for more people to get saved.
5. I believe the greatest need in our Churches is for there to be genuine Revival among the people of God.
a. When God’s people get right, we can have more and better ministries.
b. When God’s people get right, we will have more money to do the work of God.
c. When God’s people get right, they will come to Church and get what they want, because God will change their wants–they’ll want what God wants.
d. When God’s people get right, we will have more people getting saved.
Revival is not only the greatest need in the Church today, but I believe it is the greatest need for:
1. Our world
2. Our country
3. Our community
4. Our families.
5. Our own personal lives.
I. REVIVAL IS NEEDED WHEN WE TURN FROM GOD.
A. When We Turn From His Ways.
Jeremiah 6:16–“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”
Jeremiah 7:23-24–“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 24But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
B. When We Turn From His Worship.
When our worship becomes a matter of going through the motions rather than from the heart, we need Revival.
1 Samuel 15:22–And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
Isaiah 1:11–“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? Saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.”
John 4:23-24–“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
C. When We Turn From His Will.
Have you told God “No!” lately?
Ephesians 5:17–“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
D. When We Turn From His Word.
Where is our faith? Many say they believe God’s Word to be true but then live their lives as if God’s Word is not true.
Isaiah 55:11–“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Jeremiah 23:29–“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
John 8:31-32–“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
E. When We Turn From His Warnings.
Does “Thus saith the Lord” mean anything to us anymore?
Some folks reject the messenger so they reject the message too. Wrong move.
That’s like “throwing out the baby with the bath water.”
By the way when the messenger is rejected, it is usually because someone doesn’t like the message! (Moses; Jeremiah)
Jeremiah 6:17–“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”
II. REVIVAL IS NEEDED WHEN GOD TURNS FROM US.
Don’t get me wrong. We can’t lose our salvation. God is never going to leave us or forsake us. But as we turn from God we leave the path of His blessings.
A. He Turns From Our Prayers And Petitions.
1. Because Of Our Perverseness And Pollution.
Isaiah 59:1-2--“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
2. Because Of Our Pride And Prominence.
We refuse to get broken over sin or even admit that we have a sin problem.
a. Pride.
I’ve not found one positive thing that God has to say about pride.
Proverbs 11:2–“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Proverbs 29:23–“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
Proverbs 16:18–“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 13:10–“Only by pride cometh contention:”
Luke 14:11–“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
b. Prominence.
Some folks want to be lifted up as being somebody.
Some are seeking for the glory of men.
Some do what they do to be seen of men.
Some do what they do for appearance sake.
1 Peter 5:5-6--“God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
3. Because Of Our Principles And Priorities.
When we have the world’s principles and our own priorities, we need Revival. God wants us to have his principles and his priorities.
4. Because Of Our Pomp And Programs.
When we put on a pious outward show when deep inside we know things aren’t what they should be, we need Revival.
We try to replace the power of God with our programs and it shows.
5. Because Of Our Presumptions And Plans.
We presume upon God’s goodness and longsuffering and grace and put off getting right with Him.
We go with our own plans and ask for God’s blessings.
B. He Turns From Our Protection And Provision.
1. We Live Outside Of The Hedge Of God’s Protection And Wonder Why Our Lives Are A Mess.
God leaves us to suffer the consequences of our sin.
2. We Put Our Money Into Bags With Holes In It And Wonder Why We Can’t Get Ahead.
Instead of confession and repentance, we add another job, or rob God or take some other avenue to alleviate our condition–none of which are anything but a temporary fix because the problem is spiritual.
Conclusion
Look at what God says again in Zechariah 1:3.
Turn ye unto me. . .and I will turn unto you.
The first move is ours. We need Revival. Lets not be like the Church at Laodecia–Not hot, not cold, just lukewarm. (Revelation 3:17–20)
The question is, do we want Revival? Do you want Revival? God won’t send it if we don’t turn to Him.
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!