The harried housewife sprang to the telephone when it rang and listened with relief to the kindly voice in her ear. "How are you, darling?" it said. "What kind of a day are you having?" "Oh, Mother," said the housewife, breaking into bitter tears, "I’ve had such a bad day. The baby won’t eat, the washing machine broke down, I haven’t had a chance to go shopping, and besides, I’ve just sprained my ankle and I have to hobble around. On top of that, the house is a mess and I’m supposed to have two couples to dinner tonight."
The mother was shocked and was full of sympathy. "Oh, darling," she said, "sit down, relax, and close your eyes. I’ll be over in half an hour. I’ll do your shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I’ll feed the baby, and I’ll call a repairman I know who’ll be at your house to fix the washing machine promptly. Now stop crying. I’ll do everything. In fact, I’ll even call George at the office and tell him he ought to come home and help out for once."
"George?" said the housewife. "Who’s George?"
"Why, George! Your husband! . . . Is this 284 1373?"
"No, it’s 284 1376."
"Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I have the wrong number."
There was a short pause. Then the young woman asked, "Does this mean you’re not coming over?"
Sometimes we all need revival - Idea of revival is mixed up - we think that revival is simply an escape or cover from the stresses and strains of every day life - it is so much more than that - remember -Revival is spiritual healing brought about by humility of spirit, fervent prayer, seeking God’s face, and confession of sin
1. 2 Chr 7:14 - "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Ex. 3
I. GOD’S PROVIDENCE IN REVIVAL
a. Moses – a name that even those who have never stepped a foot in a church have heard – and a name that those who follow God cherish as a leader and a hero.
i. Born at the worst possible time for a Hebrew male
ii. Pharaoh – all Hebrew babies be thrown into the Nile
b. God, in his providence brought baby Moses up out of the water into the very house of Pharaoh.
i. As Moses grew, he spied one of his people being mistreated and he intervened and killed the Egyptian taskmaster. As a result, he found himself running for his life.
ii. He spent the next forty years as a Bedouin Shepherd. God was preparing him to lead his people through such a terrain.
c. 40 years later, God called Moses to ministry by way of a burning bush. Through this bush God told Moses that he had seen the affliction of his people and had heard their cries. He had determined to deliver his people and Moses was to be an instrument of that deliverance.
d. Yet we see in Moses what we see in many of us. We are thankful for God’s care, but reluctant to answer his call. In Moses’ response we see the pillars and pitfalls of revival.
Read Ex 3:1-10
II. PILLARS AND PITFALLS
a. Pitfall #1 – Discouragement
i. Read 11-12
ii. PILLAR – Promise of Presence
iii. Jesus – Lo I am with you
b. Pitfall #2 – Fear
i. Read 13-14
ii. PILLAR – Power of Purpose
iii. We fulfill his purpose when we share our faith – Eph 3:10
c. Pitfall # 3 – Skepticism
i. Read 4:1-5
ii. PILLAR – Presence of Power
1. This power became even for evident when Pharaoh turned down Moses request to let his people God. Moses gave him a ten lesson Bible Coor. Course called the plagues
2. God’s power has not diminished
a. Through out the bible – God’s power is not only seen in the supernatural, but more importantly in his
iii. Power of God to change lives
1. He changed a prostitute into a princess
2. He changed a doubter into a deliverer
3. He changed a kid to a king
4. He changed a pouter into a preacher
5. He changed a murderer into a missionary
iv. The power of God is not in your ability to proclaim it – but in his power to produce change through it!
d. Pitfall #4 – Self Doubt
i. Read 4:10-17
ii. PILLAR – principle of people
1. Not meant to do this alone
iii. Different gifts…
iv. Eccl. 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
1. He gave Paul - Silas
2. He gave John Mark – Barnabas
v. He gave us the church
1. Acts 2:44
Do you see the point of this lesson? God longs to bring us revival – but often – instead of doing what it take to receive it – we get hung up on the pitfalls and offer excuses. But for every pitfall, God gives us a pillar we can stand on.
• Pitfall of Discouragement - PILLAR – Promise of Presence
• Pitfall of Fear - PILLAR – Power of Purpose
• Pitfall of Skepticism - PILLAR – Presence of Power
• Pitfall of Self Doubt – PILLAR – Principle of People
Where are you standing today – God is offering revival – are you in the pit or on the pillar?
How do you know you’re in the pit and not on the pillar.
Determining Statements:
“It’s just not my nature”
“I’m just not that way”
“I’ve always been like this”
“It’s doesn’t feel comfortable”
“I wasn’t raised like that”
“That’s just not my bag”
“I’m satisfied with where I am spiritually”
What will happen when we allow God to light the fire?
Ps 85:4 13
