Reinforcing And Cheering up the Church
Have you ever fainted? My little brother had a fear of needles and back when they did Small Pox vaccinations I was asked to hold him in case something happened. It did and he all of a sudden was held up only because I had put my hands under his shoulders. He came back to us and that is known to us as reviving.
In the church the word “revival” has in the past meant special meetings that lasted a week or two. The word means what someone did for you to bring you out of your fainted state of unconsciousness and restore to you to full alertness. So I wonder how many Christians and entire churches today have been in a fainted state and are in need of reviving. It has been a long time since they were aware of God’s presence or His power. They go through the activity of living, worshiping, and ministering, but they were exhausted. They feel no joy and are distressed in the spiritual realm. They have become insensitive to the needs and prospects all about them. They are in a fainted state and in need of reviving.
The Lord Jesus once sent a love note to a church in the little Asia Minor town of Sardis. He spared no blows as He told them the truth about themselves: “I know your works. You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you.” REV 3:1-3. Could this be written to our church? Let us look at some signs to be aware of.
1. The ground of the heart has grown hard and resistant. The Bible says we are to break up the ground. HOS 10:12 “I said, ’Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek (investigate, explore, search) the Lord that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” JER 4:3 “This is what the Lord says “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.” "Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.” This is our job not God’s.
2. Our light has grown dim. The Bible says we are to let our lights shine. MT 5:14-16. “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” EPH 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. If our lights are dim our reflectors needs adjustment.
3. Our fire in our soul has grown weak. The Bible says it is our responsibility to stir it up. 2 TIM 1:6, 7 “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. (Gifts are not given in full bloom; they need to be developed through use.) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
4. The work has grown weary. The Bible says we are not to grow weary. Gal. 6:7Do not be deceived (mistaken): God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary (exhausted, fatigued, overworked, distressed) in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Do you need refreshment?
5. The world has grown in its attraction. The Bible tells this world will pass away. I JN 2:15. Don’t love the world (which is controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness) and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” We must let go of the things of this world.
6. The time we worship has grown stale. The Bible tells us we need to brighten it up. John 4:24. God is a spirit. Those who worship (true worship must be in keeping with God’s nature, which is spirit) him must worship in spirit and truth." What do you do when you come to church to make this a lively place?
7. Our souls have grown unhealthy. The Bible says let’s clean up. I JN 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive (provide the forgiveness that restores the communion with God that had been interrupted by sin) us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 2 TIM 2:21 “If you keep yourself pure, you will be an instrument God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” There is always room for God’s forgiveness and that is our only way to being clean and fit for heaven.
8. Our eyes of our hearts have grown dark. The Bible tells us to open them up. EPH 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand (instructed, learned, informed) the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. (Assurance of eternal life guaranteed by the present possession of the Holy Spirit). “Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see you.”
9. Many hearts have gone astray. The Bible says to Give all of our heart to God. ROM 12:1. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” Jesus Christ has to be Lord of every area of life.
10. Our prayers have grown emotionless. The Bible says we are to pray from the heart. MT 6:5, 6 “And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you that is all the reward they will ever get. When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.” How long or hard do we need to pray for God’s presence?
11. To give is a misery. The Bible says we are to give to test God. MAL 3:10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Luke 6:38 “Give and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you." Are your pockets running over?
12. Our faith is feeble. The Bible says to power it up. Hebrews 11:6 “So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” We have to spend time with Him in prayer and in His word to have faith that pleases Him.
God sees our lack of spirituality and the absence of life as a serious matter.
Vance Havner used to remind God’s people that “revival is not an abnormal state for the Lord’s church, but the way things ought to be all the time. In fact, he said, we’ve been subnormal for so long, if we ever got normal again, we’d think we were abnormal.” Are we Normal in God’s sight?
Today let’s pray for the Lord to revive His people and His church. Starting with me and beginning with this church.
