TITLE: DO I NEED A REVIVAL? 5/5/02
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 11:1 - 4
INTRO:
LAST YEAR I PREACHED A MESSAGE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS OUT OF THE BOOK OF LUKE CHAPTER 15 CONCERNING THE PRODIGAL SON: AND IN THAT MESSAGE I GAVE SOME 8 THINGS TO USE AS AN INDICATOR FOR WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED A REVIVAL.
AND SO TODAY, I WANT TO FOCUS IN ON SOME OTHER THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT WILL ACT AS A SCALE TO SEE WHERE WE STAND.
NOW I AM FOR REVIVAL MEETINGS. HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MEETING WITH SOME GREAT SPEAKER THAT, THAT WILL BRING REVIVAL. LISTEN, REVIVAL WILL COME AS A RESULT OF YOU AND I -
· FALLING ON OUR FACE IN BROKENESS OVER SIN
· REPENTANCE AND
· TURNING BACK TO GOD
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
NOW TODAY I WANT TO USE THE LIFE OF THE MAN DAVID AS AN ENTRANCE INTO THE MESSAGE. MOST OF YOU KNOW THIS STORY. AS WE HAVE ALREADY READ –
· DAVID LOOKED AT A WOMAN THAT WAS NOT HIS WIFE AND DECIDED TO COMMIT ADULTERY WITH HER.
· THIS RELATIONSHIP AS WE KNOW ENDED UP CAUSING THE PREGNANCY OF BATHSHEBA.
· AND SO DAVID KNOWING HIS SIN WAS HOT ON HIS HEELS - HAD TO MURDER URIAH THE HITTITE IN ORDER TO TRY AND COVER UP HIS WICKED DEEDS.
NOW TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, OVER A YEAR HAS PAST, DAVID HAS TAKEN BATHSHEBA TO WIFE AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING FINE. BUT ONE DAY NATHAN THE MAN OF GOD CAME TO DAVID, POINTED OUT HIS SIN, DAVID CONFESSED, AND REPENTED OF HIS SIN AND GOT HIS HEART RIGHT WITH ALMIGHTY GOD.
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS MAN DAVID. HERE WAS A MAN WHO STARTED OFF ON THE RIGHT TRACK – BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE HE WENT WRONG. HERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS –
· ANNOINTED BY GOD FROM HIS YOUTH
· IT WAS THIS FIERCE YOUNG LAD WHO STOOD AGAINST GOLIATH AND TOOK OFF HIS HEAD
· IT WAS THIS FIERCE YOUNG LAD WHO STOOD AS GENERAL OVER SAUL’S ARMY.
· IT WAS THIS FIERCE YOUNG MAN THAT THE WOMEN SANG – “SAUL HATH KILLED HIS THOUSANDS & DAVID HIS TEN THOUSANDS.”
· DAVID WAS A MAN MIGHTILY BLESSED OF GOD
· FURTHERMORE DAVID WAS A MAN AFTER GODS OWN HEART
NOW AS I THOUGHT ABOUT DAVID, I WAS REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT, THE EASIEST THING FOR YOU AND I TO DO IS TO GET SAVED AND START DOING SOMETHING GREAT FOR GOD, BUT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER WE ALLOW SOME SIN TO ENTER INTO OUR LIVES THAT ENDS UP LEADING US DOWN THE WRONG ROAD – AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT OUR LIVES ARE ALL IN A MESS.
SO THE QUESTION I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF TODAY: IS DO YOU NEED A REVIVAL?
* HAVE I DEPARTED FROM GOD AND WENT ON MY OWN WAY?
* HAVE I ALLOWED SOME SIN TO ENTER INTO MY LIFE,
SEPARATING ME FROM MY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
* HAVE I GROWN COLD TOWARDS CHRIST IN SOME AREA OF MY
LIFE?
I BELIEVE THE GREATEST NEED FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN IN AMERICA TODAY IS THE NEED FOR REVIVAL!
AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME THINGS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES, A MEASURING STICK IF YOU WILL, THAT WILL HELP YOU TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED A REVIVAL.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED REVIVAL WHEN -
I. SALVATION NO LONGER BLESSES YOU!
THINK ABOUT IT! BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED, YOU WERE –
· ON A ONE WAY TRIP HEADED FOR HELL
· TAKEN CAPTIVE BY SATAN AT HIS WILL
· BOUND BY CHAINS OF SIN
· UNABLE TO HELP YOURSELF
· NO ONE ELSE CARED FOR YOU – BUT JESUS DID!
SONG: I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN….
DAVID REMEMBERED THAT TIME –
PSALM 40:1 – 3
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
NOW THINK ABOUT THE DAY YOU GOT SAVED –
· DOES IT STILL BLESS YOU?
· DOES IT STILL BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYE?
· ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THE WAY THAT GOD REACHED WAY DOWN AND LIFTED YOU UP?
· IF YOUR SALVATION DOESN’T BLESS YOUR HEART ANYMORE – YOUR IN NEED FOR REVIVAL!
ILL. I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT I GOT SAVED JUST AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY! I REMEMBER THE KIND OF LIFE I WAS LIVING, I REMEMBER THE LACK OF JOY AND THE VOID I HAD DOWN DEEP IN MY HEART. AND I REMEMBER READING A BOOK BY DR. CURTIS HUTSON AND THAT NIGHT – I BOWED MY HEAD AT MY DESK AND ASKED JESUS CHRIST TO SAVE MY SOUL AND GIVE ME A PEACE AND ASSURANCE THAT I WAS SAVED – AND A PEACE SWEPT OVER MY SOUL THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN! IT WAS LIKE A 200 POUND WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED UP OFF MY SHOULDERS – AND I KNEW I WAS SAVED – AND I’VE BEEN SAVED EVER SINCE!
ILL. YOU SAY DID YOU FEEL IT – YEAH AND I STILL FEEL IT TODAY! GLORY TO GOD – I’M GLAD I’M SAVED, I KNOW I’M SAVED – AND I WANT EVERYONE AROUND TO KNOW I’M SAVED!
WHAT ABOUT YOU? DOES YOUR SALVATION BLESS YOUR HEART LIKE THAT?
· DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE SAVED?
· DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE WHEN GOD FOUND YOU?
· DO YOU REMEMBER THE PIT OF SIN YOU WAS LIVING IN?
· DO YOU REMEMBER HOW GOD SAVED YOU?
· THAT OUGHT TO EXCITE AND STIR YOUR HEART!
ILL. I READ THE STORY OF JOHN NEWTON SOME TIME AGO. JOHN NEWTON BEGAN FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHERS FOOTSTEPS AND BECAME A SAILOR AT 14 YEARS OF AGE. HIS LIFE INSTANTLY PLUNGED INTO A WORLD OF VIOLENCE AND SIN. SOON AFTER BECOMING A SAILOR, HE BEGAN DRINKING BOOZE, WHICH FINALLY LED HIM TO BECOME A FULL BLOWN ALCOHOLIC. WHEN HIS SHIP WAS DOCKED, JOHN NEWTON WOULD RUN TO THE BARS, FIND THE POPULAR WOMEN ON THE STREET AND LIVE HIS LIFE IN SIN.
THEN ONE NIGHT AS JOHN NEWTON WAS ON A SHIP, A STORM AROSE AND WASHED HIM OVERBOARD – THE NIGHT WAS BLACK AND JOHN NEWTON THOUGHT FOR SURE MY LIFE IS OVER. AND THERE IN THE BLACK OF NIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA HE CRIED OUT FOR THE LORD TO SAVE HIM AND A WAVE WASHED HIM BACK ON BOARD – AND THAT NIGHT JOHN NEWTON WAS GLORIOUSLY SAVED!
AND JOHN NEWTON GAVE UP SIN AND BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST PREACHERS ENGLAND EVER KNEW!
ILL. IT WAS JOHN NEWTON THAT WROTE THAT GREAT SONG WE ALL SING: AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND…
AND JOHN NEWTON HAD A SALVATION THAT BROUGHT A CONSTANT BLESSING TO HIS SOUL!
WHEN IS IT THAT YOU NEED A REVIVAL? WHEN YOUR -
II. PASSION FOR JESUS NO LONGER DRIVES YOU!
AS YOU STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, YOU WILL FIND OUT IN EVERY CASE WHEN A PERSON GOT SAVED – INSTANTLY THEY BEGAN SERVING THE LORD. WHEN –
· ZACHEUS WAS SAVED – HE BEGAN TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE’S NEEDS
· POSSESSED MAN WAS SAVED – HE RAN FROM TOWN TO TOWN TELLING PEOPLE OF THE GREAT THINGS JESUS DID FOR HIM
· SAUL WAS SAVED – INSTANTLY HE CRIED OUT – LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?
· DISCIPLES GOT SAVED, INSTANTLY THEY DROPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND BEGAN SERVING THE LORD
I BELIEVE WHEN YOU GET SAVED – GOD WANTS YOU TO GO TO WORK FOR HIM. AND I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN HERE TODAY HAS A SPECIAL JOB THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.
I GET A LITTLE DISTURBED WHEN I FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE HAVE NO DRIVE TO SERVE THE LORD! YOU ALMOST HAVE TO TWIST A PERSONS ARM TO GET THEM TO –
· PREACH IN A NURSING HOME
· DRIVE A BUS
· TEACH A CLASS
IF THAT IS YOU – YOU NEED A REVIVAL!
ILL. I REMEMBER RIGHT AFTER I GOT SAVED HOW GOD BEGAN TO MOVE IN MY HEART! IT WAS NOT LONG UNTIL GOD CALLED ME TO PREACH, WITHIN A MONTH OR SO AFTER THAT, JULIE AND I STARTED A NURSING HOME MINISTRY. SOON AFTER WHEN WE MOVED BACK TO KANSAS, I STARTED THE PRISON MINSISTRY AND THEN A COUPLE YEARS LATER - THIS CHURCH.
NOW THE WHOLE POINT I AM TRYING TO GET AT TONIGHT IS THIS:
· NO BODY HAD TO TWIST MY ARM
· NO ONE HAD TO BEG AND PLEAD WITH ME TO TRY AND GET ME TO PREACH
ILL. YOU SAY ARE YOU SPECIAL? ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU ARE SOMEBODY? NO, I AM JUST SAYING THIS. WHEN GOD SAVED MY SOUL – HE GAVE ME A LOVE FOR CHRIST AND A DESIRE TO WANT TO SERVE THE LORD.
LIFE VERSE: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR CHRIST THAT DRIVES YOU TO SERVE HIM – YOU’RE IN NEED FOR REVIVAL!
YOU’RE IN NEED OF REVIVAL -
III. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT NO LONGER CONVICTS
TO MANY TIMES WE SIT AND LISTEN TO THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND VERY SELDOM IS THERE ANY CONVICTION IN OUR HEART. YOU SEE WE HAVE HEARD THE BOOK SO MANY TIMES THAT WE HAVE BECOME CALOUSED TO THE TRUTH!
EPHESIANS 4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
AND WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS SOWN INTO A HARDENED HEART – THEN COMES THE DEVIL AND STEALS THAT SEED AWAY. AND A CHRISTIAN’S HEART WILL GET HARDER AND HARDER UNTIL HE’S NEVER CONVICTED AGAIN.
HOSEA 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD…
HEBREWS 4:7
To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
THERE PAUL WAS WRITING THAT TO THE SAINTS!
ILL. PREACHER
YOU SAY WELL THE PREACHER’S MESSAGE REALLY DIDN’T CONVICT ME TODAY.
WELL LET ME SAY THIS: IT IS NOT MY WORDS BUT HIS WORDS THAT BRINGS CONVICTION INTO YOUR HEART. IT’S THE HOLY GHOST OF GOD!
* WHEN PETER PREACHED AT PENTECOST THEY WERE PRICKED IN
THEIR HEART (BY THE HOLY GHOST) AND 3,000 WERE SAVED.
* WHEN STEVEN PREACHED IN ACTS 9 THEY WERE ALL PRICKED IN
THEIR HEARTS (BY THE HOLY GHOST) AND THE PEOPLE COULDN’T
STAND IT SO THEY STONED STEPHEN TILL HE DIED!
HEBREWS 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
THE PROBLEM IN MOST CHURCHES ACROSS AMERICA TODAY IS THAT WE CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN SO HARDENED FROM LIVING IN SIN THAT WE CAN NO LONGER HEAR FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
* THAT’S WHY SOME NEVER HEAR FROM HEAVEN ANYMORE!
* THAT’S WHY SOME NEVER FEEL CONVICTION ANYMORE!
* THAT’S WHY OUR FACES ARE DRY DURING INVITATION TIME.
* THAT IS WHY THE ALTARS ARE EMPTY – WE HAVE HARDENED OUR
HEARTS TOWARDS GOD!
LISTEN, THE REASON WE CAN SIT THROUGH SERVICE AFTER SERVICE AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS IN OUR HEART IS BECAUSE - WE ARE SO FULL OF PRIDE AND SELF THAT WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE US WEEPING AND SHEDDING TEARS.
THERE OUGHT NOT EVER A SERVICE GO BY THAT YOU DON’T COME DOWN TO THE ALTAR TO DO BUSINESS WITH GOD!
ILL. YOU SAY WELL I DON’T HAVE A FEELING
ALRIGHT YOU COME TO THE ALTAR WITHOUT A FEELING AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU ONE WHEN YOU GET THERE!
WHEN IS IT THAT YOU NEED A REVIVAL?
IV. WHEN YOU FEEL YOURSELF SLIPPING AWAY
I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION TONIGHT? WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHEN YOU WAS -
A. MORE FAITHFUL TO THE HOUSE OF GOD THAN YOU ARE TODAY
B. CLOSER IN YOUR COMMUNION WITH CHRIST THAN YOU ARE TODAY
C. FELLOWSHIPPING WITH THE SAINTS MORE THAN YOU ARE TODAY
D. MORE CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE DYING AND GOING TO HELL
E. READING YOUR BIBLE MORE THAN YOU ARE TODAY
F. PRAYING MORE THAN YOU ARE TODAY
LISTEN, THE VERY MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELF BEGINNING TO SLIP AWAY FROM GOD, FROM CHURCH, THE SAINTS, READING YOUR BIBLE AND PRAYER – STOP RIGHT THERE, FALL ON YOUR FACE BEFORE THE LORD AND TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR NEED!
LISTEN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HEART BY SAYING THIS: WHEN YOU FEEL YOURSELF STARTING TO STRAY AWAY FROM THE LORD – YOU BETTER RUN BACK TO HIS SIDE BECAUSE YOUR LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN WILL BE FILLED WITH HEARTACHE AFTER HEARTACHE THE FURTHER YOU STRAY AWAY FROM CHRIST.
· PETER COULD HAVE SAVED HIMSELF A LOT OF HEARTACHE IF HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND REPENTED THE VERY FIRST TIME HE DENIED CHRIST.
· LOT COULD HAVE SAVED HIMSELF A LOT OF HEARTACHE IF HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND REPENTED THE VERY FIRST TIME HE LOOKED TO THE WELL WATERED PLAINS
· SAMSON COULD HAVE SAVED HIMSELF A LOT OF HEARTACHE IF HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND REPENTEDD THE VERY FIRST TIME HE LOOKED AT DELILAH
AND YOU AND I WILL SAVE OURSELVES A LOT OF HEARTACHE IF WE WILL STOP, CONFESS, REPENT AND TURN BACK TO JESUS THE VERY MOMENT WE FEEL OURSELVES STARTING TO STRAY.
SO I ASK YOU AGAIN – DO YOU NEED A REVIVAL?
HERE’S HOW TO GET IT
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
