Revival Was Great...what Do We Do Now?

Larry C. Brincefield

larkayb@earthlink.net

Sunday Morning, February 16, 2003

Title: Revival Was Great...But What Do We Do Now?

Text: Matthew 17:1-9

Introduction

Didn’t we have a great revival?

Mark and Janene Dubbeld sang with passion and with the Spirit.

Rev. Bruce Cleasby spoke from God’s Word and from his heart each night...

and our hearts were blessed as a result.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just stay in church...

and enjoy inspired preaching every night?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just sit back and listen to inspired music night after night?

I would love that....

In fact, I’ve known people that do just that!

after they retire...

they travel from camp meeting to camp meeting...

and from revival to revival...

contantly enjoying the spiritual blessings of being in presence of the Lord.

Wouldn’t that be great?!

I would love to do that!!

Our revival was great...but we should we do now?

Let’s look to God’s Word for the answer to that question.

Body

1. After we have experienced the incredible presence of God...

our greatest desire is to try to make that last and last.

to prolong it as long as we can.

It’s only natural.

Our kids do the same thing.

Every once in a while, we will take them to MacDonald’s for supper and let them play in the playground area.

Kay and I will just sit and visit...

or read books or magazines...

while the kids play.

But after awhile...it’s time to leave...

The lady is standing at the door with her broom and mop...

tapping on her watch and shaking it...

so we can begin to get the message that it is time to go.

So we’ll say, "Okay, kids, get your shoes on, throw away your trash...and let’s go"

And our children...being the perfect little angels that they are...

will jump up...say "yes, sir"...

and immediately do exactly what we told them as fast as they can!!

eeeeerrrrrr...uuuhhhhhh, Not our kids!!!!!

Mom...Dad...can we stay just 5 more minutes...pleaaaaaaaassssseeeeeeee!

pleasssssseeeeeeee, can we go down the slide just one more time....

Sometimes they won’t even ask...they will just take off and try to run up to the 3rd level where they hope they can’t hear me yelling at them...

our kids just don’t understand that there comes a time when you’ve just got to leave MacDonald’s and go out into the world!

I really enjoyed our revival...

the Lord spoke to me in every service.

I feel like I’ve drawn closer to Him over the last several weeks.

I hope you sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit during the revival...

but maybe...you are kind of like our kids....

please...don’t let revival be over....

can’t we just stay for 5 more minutes...?

can’t we just sing a few more songs?

If you feel that way...don’t worry..you are in good company.

In our text, "Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." Matt 17:4 (NIV)

Peter greatly enjoyed God’s presence....

it was an incredible manifestation...

Elijah was there...

Moses was there...

and Jesus was glowing like the sun!!

They literally saw the glory of God!!

There was a bright cloud...

reminding them of the cloud that represented God’s presence in the OT

and led the chosen people through the wilderness.

There was a voice...

They literally heard the voice of God!!

What an incredible, glorious experience!!

In fact, Peter was hoping to prolong it by building shelters for Elijah, Moses, and Jesus.

We experienced the glory of God’s presence during our revival...

maybe you didn’t see a cloud...

and maybe you didn’t hear the audible voice of God...

but nonetheless, you know God was with us...

because He spoke to your heart...

we might be like Peter and want to put up shelters...

one for Pastor Bruce...

one for the Dubbelds...

and one for Jesus.

After we’ve experienced the special presence of the Holy Spirit...we just want to prolong it...

But, just like Peter....

and just like my kids...

there comes a time when you’ve got to leave MacDonald’s...

there comes a time when you’ve got to go down the mountain...

There comes a time when Jesus says..."Get up," Matt 17:7 (NIV)

"Don’t be afraid." Matt 17:7 (NIV)

and verse 9 tells us that they were coming down from the mountain.

sure...it would be great to stay on the mountaintop...

but there is work to be done in the valley.

Sometimes when we get back to our routine after a wonderful week of revival...

things happen that can begin to discourage us.

Maybe you have to go back to work on Monday...

Maybe you have to pay the bills on Monday...