Halfhearted Revival

I’ve noticed that Melissa and I have two different approaches to clothes shopping. Melissa will take out the garment and closely inspect the material and look it over a few times to see if it has any flaws or defects then finally after a close scrutinizing inspection she will give the price tag a quick look. I on the other hand take out the garment and the first thing I do is giving the price tag a long through inspection. Then I look above the rack for discount signs. After a painstakingly long inspection of the price tag I give the garment a quick look and make my decision.

There are different approaches to revival as well. Some churches believe all they have to do is get a speaker, or do a good job of promoting the revival. Or get the right people into sing or lead worship. We measure success with numbers, in attendance and converts. Not to say that the numbers don’t factor into a successful revival. But sometimes we miss the true meaning of revival by focusing on the outward results of revival. Revival is best defined by a renewed obedience to Christ. If we go through these series of meeting and have a church full of people every night and 100 converts, but we the church experiences no supercharged desire to obedience, then we didn’t have revival. Now that may sound harsh or ridiculous, but it’s true. I have heard of and been apart of revivals were as many as 90 people made professions of faith in one night. But in just a short amount of time they were totally out of church back to living the way they did before their profession.

So here we find ourselves in a good situation, poised for revival. But we must consider the cost this morning. Revival begins in our individual hearts; it begins with a hunger to change, a desire for holiness, and a strong will for obedience. Revival will only come to our hearts if we are willing to sacrifice. These next four days could change the course of not only your life but also this church and the souls it comes in contact with. It’s not only you and who you come in contact with but it’s everybody that’s a part of this church and all who will be a part of this church. Are you willing to give four days of your life? Four days to be spiritually focused like you’ve never been before. To pray, to study, to witness, and to live for God like you never have before.

I sincerely believe that we will have a good turnout as far as numbers are concerned, but my prayer is that we will have a good spiritual outcome.

·If we follow the usual priorities we won’t see revival.

The invitations have been sent. Luke 14:16-17 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.

John 3:15-16 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Today the invitation has been sent out to everybody, Jesus came first to the Jews. John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. After he was rejected by His own people the invitation now goes out to whoever is willing to believe.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-

The banquet comes with a great cost. Luke 14:17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.

The banquet that God has now provided for us comes only at the price of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. With this much invested into the banquet it only makes sense that the host would want people to come.

Illustration: It’s like someone spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a huge wedding in a large church with an elaborate reception planned afterwards. Fully catered by the best with all the trimmings and enough of everything to accommodate hundreds of friends and family and no one show up. Could you imagine the let down, the feeling of waste? All the time, effort and money spent planning and organizing all for not.

The guests go with a great loss. Luke 14:18-20 18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, `I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19"Another said, `I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20"Still another said, `I just got married, so I can’t come.’