Preparing For God's Blessing

Preparation for Revival

In A Christian’s Heart

DISCUSSION:

Have you ever had a time where you really grew as a Christian? Tell us about it.

How does God want us to prepare for Him to speak to us?

1. Soften what has hardened. Hosea 10:12

Ho 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

How?

…going to a person that you have held something against.

…making a restitution.

…telling God you want to be softened.

Evangelist Mordecai Ham was struggling with the call of God on his life. As he sat in a service, he heard the preacher say, “If you’re not willing to do the will of God, are you willing to be made willing?” Ham decided he was willing for God to change his desires, and he became a well-known evangelist.

My dad and his gardening. Breaking up the ground with the vibrating front-tine tiller, dragging the hoe to lay off the rows. . . followed all that hard work by a great harvest!

2. Do all we can to prepare for his blessing. II Kings 3:16-18

2 Kings 3:16-18 “And he said, "Thus says the LORD: ’Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the LORD: ’You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.”

How did the Israelites prepare?

- Obeying when it seemed foolish.

DIG DITCHES? I came here to fight

Is there anything God is talking to you about that might seem foolish?

- Obeying when it seemed difficult. This ground is too hard And I didn’t bring my shovel.

Is there anything that God is talking to you about that might seem like it’s difficult to obey?

- Obeying completely. They obeyed so completely that God used the overflow to win a great battle.

How can we prepare for God’s blessing?

…by setting aside time to go to youth camp or revival.

…by taking extra time to seek God’s guidance.

…by breaking down barriers that might be between you and other Christians.

... by “finishing the job” obeying in some area that we’ve been putting off.

I cannot bring revival.

My dad cannot bring revival.

You cannot bring revival.

But you can prepare for it, and God will bring it!

3. Agree to obey without knowing what is required. John 7:17 - "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”

Here’s a powerful principle for knowing the will of God!

“when your spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree” …do we mean that??

Most people want God to speak to them in revival. The catch is that they’re not sure what God is going to talk to them about. You know what I mean?

Well, I sure hope God speaks to me, (**But I hope it’s not about THAT.)

I remember job postings where I worked at college. They would post a job description on the bulletin board. I never signed up for any of them, because the last line was always this: “Other duties determined by management.” I knew what that meant! Anything they wanted you to do was in your job description.

God wants you to sign on the bottom line, and let him fill in the other duties.

4. Do an ___obedience__ check on what you already know.

Ge 24:27 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren."

The Lord leads people who are already doing what they are supposed to be. God revives people whose hearts are already prepared. . . they’re not disobeying in any way!

If you’ll walk in the light you’ve already got, God will show you how you can move closer to him in the next few days!

SO WHAT?

Fill in the blanks in your own mind:

One area in which I need to soften my heart is:

A ditch I could dig to prepare for God’s blessing is:

One area where I need to agree to obey God is:

HANDOUT

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Preparing Our Hearts for Revival

How to get ready to be blessed by God. . .1. Soften what has _______________. Hosea 10:12