Sermon: The Challenge Of Real Revival

Sermon: THE CHALLENGE OF REAL REVIVAL Scripture: Scripture: Psalms 85:1-7 “LORD, thou hast been favorable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.”

The Psalmist does not blame God for their condition. He knows unrepentant sin and wayward living is the culprit. He also knows the tendency of the people to sin. He desires a revival that is powerful enough put away sin from among the people and that will rebuke and restrain their enemy. “LORD, thou hast been favorable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.”

INTRODUCTION: The Psalm selected tonight is a plea for revival. This is one of the few texts of Scripture in which someone has properly assessed their condition and cries out to God in prayer. Throughout the Scriptures, there are hundreds of times when God sent his messengers to inform the nation of their needy condition. Most were blind to their condition. Even the seven churches of the book of Revelations did not know their condition. The Church of Ephesus had lost their first love. The Church of Smyrna thought they were poor, but God said they were rich. The church of Pergamos were holding on to God, but they had erred in their doctrine. The church of Thyatira had not denied the faith, but they had allowed Jezebel to set up a stronghold in the church. The church of Sardis had a name that they were alive, but they were dead. The church of Philadelphia seemed to be the best church among them. Finally, the church of the Laodicea had become lukewarm and ineffective without the presence of Christ but were not aware of it.

The Psalmist of our text understands that his people had experienced revival. First, God had brought them out of captivity. Secondly, He had brought them back to their homeland and given them the rest. His prayer for revival is that God will complete the good work He has started. The Psalmist does not blame God for their condition. He knows unrepentant sin and wayward living is the culprit. He also knows the tendency of the people to sin. He desires a revival that is powerful enough put away sin from among the people and that will rebuke and restrain their enemy. God had given Israel victory many times. Notice the psalmist uses the phrase “revive us again.” The people of God are sometimes prone to turn to “folly” the Bible calls it. The definition of folly is the state of being foolish or the lack of good sense. He prays for God to turn us! Only God can turn us. Only God can send revival. You see, True Revival is renewing our Walk, renewing our Worship, and renewing our Work. It's effective but also elusive. At one time Israel had the refreshing of His presence, the realness of His power and the reassurance of His promises. But now they turned to folly! David knew from personal experience what it was to walk in the refreshing presence of God, to experience the realness of his power, and to receive the assurance of His promises, but he also knew rebuke and reproof of God, the remorse of sin and separation. He knew the joys of restoration.

What is the challenge of revival today? Why is revival so elusive? Why is there no lasting revival? Why does the church seem on fire one Sunday and lukewarm the next?

Revival is a challenge because:

1. People Desire Movement Without Repentance. Real revival begins with repentance that will change us. Revival is not something that will work only inside the Church. It transforms the church from being a reservoir into being a river. A reservoir holds everything for our personal use while a river allows us to bless others. Real revival breaks up the Dead Sea mentality. Revival is a challenge because many want the benefits of His blessings without repentance. Repentance changes our hearts and moves us from wanting a blessing to being a blessing to others. Without repentance there is no charitable spirit, no giving of ourselves. First, Revival is a challenge because many want a move of God without repentance. We want shouting and singing with joy bells ringing without personal repentance and personal involvement: We are satisfied being spectators not partakers.