Sermon Central
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Revive Us Again Series
Contributed by Richard White on Sep 18, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: We want God in America again. We want God to revive our land, we must first be revived personally.
Revive Us Again
Two weeks ago we began a series talking about bringing America back to God. We vowed here that day that we want God in America again. We said we want REVIVAL to sweep our land. Once a man asked an evangelist “how can we have revival?” The evangelist answered by asking “Do you have a place where you can pray?” Yes the man replied. Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle around you and pray for God to send revival on everything inside that circle. Stay there until He answers, and you will have your revival.
To have National Revival it has to start with individual or personal revival.
2CH 29:1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
Harold Morris is featured in the book and film, Twice Pardoned; the account of his conversion to Christ after time spent in prison. Several years ago, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and the swelling was so severe that even drinking water was a suffering ordeal. Twice daily he had to insert a medical tube down his esophagus to inhibit the closure of his throat. When asked about the obvious pain, he replied, "This is my survival. It’s what keeps me alive."
The believer who longs for personal revival clings to what can be personally painful and difficult in the cross of Christ. Carrying a cross confronts ungodly attitudes, carnal living, and selfish motives. It keeps us in line following Jesus.
The most important word in the language of Christian living is obedience. Andrew Murray says, “The secret of true obedience is the close personal relationship to God.” All our attempts after full obedience will be failures until we get access to His abiding fellowship. It is God’s Word continuously abiding in us that keeps us from disobeying Him. We must consciously include His Word in every thought, activity, and conversation until an obedient lifestyle takes form. The Word of God will keep us holy. Open it. Read it. Study it. Live it. Obedience to the Word of God leads us…
Sometimes it is painful to be completely obedient. Why, because we are so use to doing it our way, that any change brings pain. God is not like Burger King, we cannot have it our way. God has told us what we need to do to have our lives revived. He has given us his Word. We need to read and heed. Then we can have personal revival. Some of us don’t like to read because it may make us uncomfortable, we may see the sin that we are in and don’t really want to change. One co-worker of mine who claimed to be a Christian was carrying on an affair. When we confronted him he admitted to it, but instead of being repentant he said, “But I am having so much fun.” He was then asked if it would be fun if his wife found out. You see we have this idea, as long as I keep it to myself no one will know. Let me tell, sometimes we already know. But always God already knows. And God will do whatever He has to do to bring repentance. NU 32:23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
National Revival requires a cleansing:
2CH 29:3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the LORD and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side 5 and said: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. 6 Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the LORD’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. 7 They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. 10 Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense."12 Then these Levites set to work:
