Impacting Our Community Series

I’m not saying there are not times when we as citizens should be politically active to save innocent lives or maintain a voice in our society. But true societal change never comes by political means. Lasting societal change comes as we win people one person at a time: one by one; heart by heart; internal change wrought by conversion.

CONCLUSION

You know, we’re living in a generation in which we’re seeing the revival of many pagan beliefs and religions. We’re even witnessing the revival of goddess worship. The normalization of premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality and promiscuity are now accepted, endorsed and ordained by political and religious leaders in our day. And with all these things—we’re seeing the rapid deterioration of the family.

Is there hope?—Can we change our communities the way the Ephesian believers did?The only way we can is God’s way—by living holy lives ourselves, not by half-hearted commitment and not through politics, activism, or civil disobedience.

The church needs to take its cue from Ephesus. They swung the sword of the Spirit and turned Satan’s kingdom upside down. And they allowed God to change hearts through the power of Jesus Christ. America needs revival; Grafenwoehr needs revival; Grace Baptist Church needs revival; I need revival, and so do you.

1) But all big revivals start as little revivals in individual hearts.

They start as Christians get GROUNDED and SETTLED in the Word of God. That’s why faithfulness to church is so important to hear the Word preached. That’s why faithfulness to daily reading and obeying God’s Word is so vital.

2) Revivals start as Christians start getting things right with God and forsaking their sins and surrendering things that keep them from experiencing God’s best.

Peter commands us in 2 Peter 3:14 to “…be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” How do you stack up to that standard—without spot and blameless?

3) Lastly, revivals start when Christians start sacrificing for the sake of the Gospel.

The Ephesians built a big bonfire and burned things of great value monetarily. What things does God want you to throw on the fire of sacrifice for God?

That’s how revival starts—when God’s people implement these three things in their lives INDIVIDUALLY—ONE-BY-ONE. And then that spreads to another believer, then another, then another, then another. There’s a hymn that used to be popular titled, Lord, Sent a Revival. The chorus goes like this: “Lord send a revival, and let it begin with me.” May we each experience a revival of repentance and commitment today.