Introduction:
Genesis 1:2 (NIV)
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
As I approached the Throne Room seeking inspiration for the message God would have me share with you tonight he gave me a word… WATER! Before there was anything; light, sun or moon, earth, plants, living creatures or anything else, there was water. Having created the earth out of water, and the sky in the midst of waters, and calling forth living creatures out of water, God continues to bathe his creation with water as a sign of His care. The finale time water is mentioned is in Revelations 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
From the beginning of the Bible to the end water flows through the pages of scripture. It is full of passages that link water to Gods creating, blessing and saving work. This alone shows to me the importance of water in our spiritual lives.
But Pastor Curtis what does high quality H20 have to do with revival…and my answer is this…everything!
My question is this why are we here tonight, why has Pastor Robert called his people to revival why have myself and seven other pastors from our Pastors Alliance called all of our churches to revival??? And what does that have to do with water???
Please turn your Bibles to Psalm 107:33-34 (NIV)
33 He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
Donna and I have been serving at Friendship Baptist for just over three years now and in that time we have watched the people, businesses, jobs and the hopes of the people dry up along with Cedar Creek Lake!!! Hummm why do you suppose that happened, could it be just as the Psalmist said “because of the wickedness of those who lived there.” This lake area has become a grave yard, a place where people and churches go to die!! A place where if you wanted to succeed you had to leave! Because its people have turned their backs on God and fell into idol worship. Worshiping at the alters of sex, lust, drugs, alcohol, violence and thievery! And because of this disobedience God chose to withhold one of his most precious gift from us…water!
Psalm 1:1-6 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
For so long this lake area has laid in darkness, it has become a spiritual desert, and that is why the call for revival has been on the lips of so many of our pastors! Men of God on their faces asking God to return His people to Himself and to restore his blessings to His people… And God Heard the cry’s of his people…and He sent the Rain.
Cedar Creek has not been to a normal level in over three years and has not been full in over 5. Yet earlier this year God opened the flood gate of his blessings and showered Hos love down upon the barren desert. And I tell you it is no coincidence that the very first lake in this drought stricken region That God chose to fill was Cedar creek, AMEN!
God is always true to His Word
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Our Call for revival has been heard by th God of the universe and now is the time! God has given us His sign Just look at what he tells us in
Isaiah 41:18-20 (NIV)
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Isaiah 43:19-21 (NIV)
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah 44:3 (NIV)
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground, II will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
SO what is it we as His chosen people that we are to do to with this water…
Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
This is what real revival looks like, this is just the CALL out there is the real revival, out there is where the Gospel meets the pavement!!! Because we must remember what Matthew told us in
Matthew 5:45 (NIV)
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Conclusion:
This rain of revival has fallen on all his children the found and the lost, and if we do not take this message out to those who are still without hope they will get caught up in the flood of this blessing and be drown for eternity. So now you know what water has to do with revival, so now my question is this WHO IS READY TO GET WET!!
Because His Grace Is enough!!! Pastor Curtis Mathis
