Psalm 85:1-13
REVIVE US AGAIN
Intro: Ill.
• We know neither the author nor the background for this Psalm.
• Most scholars believe that it was written just after Israel returned from captivity in Babylon.
• Israel had been sent to Babylon for 70 years as punishment for their sins against the Lord.
• Now, they have been restored to their land, but their hearts are still not where they need to be. The nation has experienced restoration, but it stands in great need of revival.
I think Israel’s situation parallels ours to a degree. We have been saved by the grace of God and delivered from the penalty of our sins. We are on our Way to heaven!He separated our sins as far as the east is from the west and he remembers them no more. (WE ARE SAVED FOR AN ETERNITY)We are washed in the blood of the Lamb!
-No man can pluck us from our Father’s Hand – We are eternally secure.
(Song Illustration)
Saved! saved! saved! my sins are all forgiv’n;
Christ is mine! I’m on my way to Heav’n;
Once a guilty sinner, lost, undone,
Now a child of God, saved thro’ His Son.
Saved! I’m saved thro’ Christ, my all in all;
Saved! I’m saved, whatever may befall;
He died upon the cross for me,
He bore the awful penalty;
And now I’m saved eternally—
I’m saved! saved! saved!
-We have been blessed beyond words, but we are not where we need to be with the Lord. Just like ancient Israel, the church stands in need of a revival.
-Right in the very heart of this Psalm, there is a plea for God to send His people a revival.
-The word “revival” means “to refresh; to restore to live; to live prosperously”.
-Jesus said I have come to give them “LIFE and life more abundantly”
(Song Revival)
Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
We need revival! Everyone here needs revival! We need some things refreshed and some things restored.
1.Maybe some people need a restoring in their Soul-Winning
2.Maybe some people need a restoring in their FAITH!
3.Maybe you need a restoring in your Faithfulness to GOD!
4.Maybe you need a refreshing in your service . . . .
This Psalm gives us a little insight into what real revival involves.
I want to take these verses and preach on the subject of: Revive Us Again.
I want to point out the three steps the Psalmist took in his quest for revival:
I. v. 1-3 THE PSALMIST REMEMBERS THE PAST
(Ill. He looks back on where they were and what the Lord had done for them. He looks at the Blessing of GOD!
We as Christians many times get so comfortable – That many times we need to just LOOK BACK as where we were, where we were heading: BEFORE GOD!
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us!
-Aren’t you Glad that God stepped in and rescued us? -Aren’t you glad that Christ stepped in and washed away our sins
-We were heading to a Christ-less Eternity with no hope – no happiness – and no help – BUT GOD STEPPED IN!
A. v. 1 He Remembers Their Captivity – He remembers the years of exile in Babylon.
a. He remembers the hard aches – He remembers the Sorrows – he remembers the pain. Before Christ we were all slaves to SIN! – (We were captives to sin)
b. Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
c. (Eph 2:11-12) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, (Separated His Person- Salvation) and strangers from the covenants of promise, (Separated from His Promise-The Blessings of God) having no hope, (Separated from His Position-A Child of the King) and without God in the world (Separated from his Presence-You were separated from His power)
B. v. 1-2 He Remembers Their Cleansing – “brought back” – Idea of “going after and returning to rightful place”( In the garden of Eden when man sinned against God they lost a relationship with Christ – But the Lord Jesus died to BRING THEM BACK to that fellowship with God again- (There is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus)
--) God Saved you not to WAIT! But God saved you to work . . . . . .
– Ill. Good Shepherd – Luke 15:3-7. “forgiven” – “to lift up and bear away”.
--) I remember the Day that I trusted Christ as my savior (I hope you can remember when you trusted Him too) – I was ten years old when Christ washed my sins away.
C. v. 3 He Remembers Their Conversion – He remembers when God gave peace instead of punishment.
I WAS SOUL-winning ONE DAY AND A GENTLEMEN SAID TO ME “I just want to get what I deserve from this life . . . .” The Bible says you deserve DEATH Not only physical death but also ETERNAL DEATH
We say these days well “Why do bad things happen to Good people?” – The Bible tells us “Why do good things happen to bad people?” We all deserve punishment!
He remembers when God turned His wrath away!
(Note: Remembrance is one of the first steps on the path to revival, Rev. 2:1-7.)
II. v. 4-7 THE PSALMIST REFLECTS ON THE PRESENT
(Ill. While they had much to be grateful for, there was still room for improvement! Israel was back in the land, but they weren’t completely right with the Lord. The Psalmist speaks of their condition.)
A. v. 4-5 There Is A Need For Repentance – “turn us” translates the same word as “brought back” in verse 1 (REPENT MEANS TO CHANGE DIRECTION-CHANGE OUR FOCUS)
IT SAD TO SEE CHRISTIANS GOING IN THE WRONG WAY! Going the wrong way with their family (Not putting God first) – going the wrong way in their life - Not obeying the BIBLE – and Doing what God would have them to do.
I knew a man when I lived in Nova Scotia, Canada – He was a nice guy – He loved the Lord but he got involved with His JOB! And began leaving CHURCH – He traded in God for HIS JOB!
Some Christians just need a Change of Direction a refocus ---)
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
LOOKING UNTO JESUS!
A re-focus toward the Lord Jesus Christ!
The Sad Reality is We need to stop Investing:
• In the worlds desires
• In the world Pleasures
• In the World Activities
• In the World motives and mandates ~ AND WE NEED TO INVEST OUR LIFE IN SERVING GOD!!!
B. v. 6-7 There Is A Need For Revival – The Psalmist pleads for revival.
C. The Psalmist understands that revivals does not come from men, methods and messages; revivals come from God. (A revival is a sovereign move of God among a spiritually ready people. There is a need for revival in the nation, Ill. “us”. Revival will not begin on a national level; it will begin in individual hearts and lives.)
D. We need an Individual revival today – a refreshing of God’s power, presence and purpose in our lives.
--) The PSALMIST REMEMBERS THE PAST
--) THE PSALMIST REFLECTS ON THE PRESENT
III. v. 8-13 HE PSALMIST RESTS IN A PLAN
Having expressed the need for revival, the Psalmist settles on a plan of action. He tells us what he will do to seek the Lord for the revival
A. v. 8 He Will Conform To God’s Word – He will listen to the Word of God and he will live it out in his life. (That is a recipe for blessing!)
B. James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” A Heart’s Revival will come when we OBEY GOD!
C. We need to Read it and Live it!
a. Psalm 119:16-19
B. v. 9 He Will Commit To God’s Ways – God has a plan for living, those who are wise fear the Lord, find His plan and live it out!
I find it sad when Christians think they know more than GOD! They lead their family – and they lead in their life. They believe that they have all the answers and that they really don’t need the Lord. In this Society that we live in WE NEED THE LORD!
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean NOT unto thine own understandings . . .”
“As for God His way is perfect;” -) Follow God’s Plan for your life!
C. v. 10-13 He Will Consider God’s Wonders – He pledges to meditate on the Lord and His wonderful works. (Ill. Thinking about the Lord, Who He is and what He has done will stir your heart!)
1. v. 10-11 The Wonder Of His Grace – “are met together” – A hostile meeting! Mercy requests one thing; truth demands another! They are brought together by the grace of God.
2. v. 12 The Wonder Of His Goodness – “GOD IS A GOOD GOD!”
He knows the heart of God, and the heart of God is to bless the people of God. He believes the days of blessing and glory will return. He Understands that God is so Good!
3. v. 13 The Wonder Of His Guidance – God will lead His people to places of blessing, peace and power, if they will just follow Him.
