I’ve noticed that Melissa and I have two different approaches to clothes shopping. Melissa will take out the garment and closely inspect the material and look it over a few times to see if it has any flaws or defects then finally after a close scrutinizing inspection she will give the price tag a quick look. I on the other hand take out the garment and the first thing I do is giving the price tag a long through inspection. Then I look above the rack for discount signs. After a painstakingly long inspection of the price tag I give the garment a quick look and make my decision.
There are different approaches to revival as well. Some churches believe all they have to do is get a speaker, or do a good job of promoting the revival. Or get the right people into sing or lead worship. We measure success with numbers, in attendance and converts. Not to say that the numbers don’t factor into a successful revival. But sometimes we miss the true meaning of revival by focusing on the outward results of revival. Revival is best defined by a renewed obedience to Christ. If we go through these series of meeting and have a church full of people every night and 100 converts, but we the church experiences no supercharged desire to obedience, then we didn’t have revival. Now that may sound harsh or ridiculous, but it’s true. I have heard of and been apart of revivals were as many as 90 people made professions of faith in one night. But in just a short amount of time they were totally out of church back to living the way they did before their profession.
So here we find ourselves in a good situation, poised for revival. But we must consider the cost this morning. Revival begins in our individual hearts; it begins with a hunger to change, a desire for holiness, and a strong will for obedience. Revival will only come to our hearts if we are willing to sacrifice. These next four days could change the course of not only your life but also this church and the souls it comes in contact with. It’s not only you and who you come in contact with but it’s everybody that’s a part of this church and all who will be a part of this church. Are you willing to give four days of your life? Four days to be spiritually focused like you’ve never been before. To pray, to study, to witness, and to live for God like you never have before.
I sincerely believe that we will have a good turnout as far as numbers are concerned, but my prayer is that we will have a good spiritual outcome.
·If we follow the usual priorities we won’t see revival.
The invitations have been sent. Luke 14:16-17 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.
John 3:15-16 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Today the invitation has been sent out to everybody, Jesus came first to the Jews. John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. After he was rejected by His own people the invitation now goes out to whoever is willing to believe.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-
The banquet comes with a great cost. Luke 14:17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.
The banquet that God has now provided for us comes only at the price of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. With this much invested into the banquet it only makes sense that the host would want people to come.
Illustration: It’s like someone spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a huge wedding in a large church with an elaborate reception planned afterwards. Fully catered by the best with all the trimmings and enough of everything to accommodate hundreds of friends and family and no one show up. Could you imagine the let down, the feeling of waste? All the time, effort and money spent planning and organizing all for not.
The guests go with a great loss. Luke 14:18-20 18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, `I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19"Another said, `I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20"Still another said, `I just got married, so I can’t come.’
a). They were quick to accept the invitation, but when it came party time (time to follow through with commitment) their heart’s where pre-occupied with something else.
b). This is when priorities came into play. When they accepted the invitation to the banquet it sounded good, and they probably wanted to go. But when it came down to time to go they all had other things that were higher on their priority list.
Illustration: A while back I was reading about an expert on the subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either. As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good!" Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illusration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said,"The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard,you can always fit some more things into it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all." What are the ’big rocks’ in your life? A project that YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.
c). They used legitimate business and family tie reasons for not going. No one would fault them for that. Sometimes it’s the good things that keep us from the best. One does not have to do shallow or wrong things to miss the kingdom of God. These good things can completely absorb one thoughts and affections until there is nothing left for the best.
Now the invitation goes to the less fortunate. Luke 14:21-24 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, `Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22"`Sir,’ the servant said, `what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23"Then the master told his servant, `Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’"
a). Would those who were begging for food turn down an invitation to a great feast? Would those who are hungry for God turn down an invitation for revival?
b). MAKE THEM COME IN – help them overcome their amazement or disbelief of being invited as the lowest in society by the highest. Some no doubt had to be provided with suitable garments for the banquet. When we come into God’s presence it’s only by the covering of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: The invitation that goes out today is the gospel. Those who reject the gospel reject their invitation to the feast in heaven that is prepared for all of God’s children. But in this time of renewed obedience to Christ, we looking for a deeper dedication and commitment.
Illustration: Alexander the Great and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city. Alexander, standing outside the walls, raised his voice and demanded to see the king. when the king arrived, Alexander insisted that the king surrender the city and its inhabitants to Alexander and his little band of fighting men. The king laughed, “Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!” But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff. The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths! After ten soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to commit suicide at the command of this dynamic leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.
Are you willing to be as obedient to the ruler of the universe, Jesus Christ, as those soldiers were to Alexander? Are you as dedicated and committed? Think how much power Christ could have in our area with just a portion of such commitment.
