Sermon Central
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Revival, Reform, Renewal
Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: For Reformation Sunday, and a followup to a week of revival services: revival is good, reformation is better, but renewal is what God is really aiming at.
The Lord, your God, will renew you in his love. Renewal. Redemption. I live and breathe for the day when we will focus on those who need redemption. Substance abusers. Bored young people. Families where violence takes over. I pray for the day when we will penetrate the high school, the junior high schools, the nearby college, and reclaim young lives. Partnerships with health professionals, with the police, with others who care about this community. I dream for that day.
For the word of the Gospel is, “Hope never disappoints.” Hope never disappoints. Zephaniah, we hear you, “The Lord our God will renew us in His love.” If we but trust Him, He will renew us in His love. If we but take on a little holy boldness, He will renew us in His love. If we but move out into the highways and byways of life, where many are weary and sad, He will renew us in His love. If we but get into high gear and do what the designer creator made us to do, He will renew us in His love.
Somebody told me a tall tale the other day. It seems that on one and the same day Pope John Paul, Billy Graham, and Oral Roberts all died and went to heaven. Well, with dignitaries like these, heaven was suddenly very crowded, and so the Lord called up the other place and asked the Devil if he would take Pope John Paul, Billy Graham, and Oral Roberts for just a short while, until suitable mansions could be completed. The Devil agreed, and down they all went. But in only a day or two the Devil called up the Lord, and said, “I wanted to do you a favor. And I have tried. But you’ll have to take these guys back. I can’t have this. John Paul is forgiving everybody. Billy Graham is preaching to and they’re all getting saved. And that Oral Roberts is the worst: he’s down here selling air conditioners.”
It’s good to reform and forgive. It’s better to revive and to save souls. But it’s best of all, to market air conditioners and blow away the very fires of hell, best of all to renew and redeem every broken life.
The Lord our God will renew us in His love.
