The Obstacles To Revival Series

The Obstacles To Revival

Third in the series: Revival – Reviving Me, Reviving the Church & Reviving Our Community

Perth Bible Church July 29, 2007 AM Rev. Todd G. Leupold

INTRO:

Show video: “re-fuel”

Don’t you hate it when that happens! All that power, all that beauty, all that impressive chrome and customizing . . . and it’s all stuck in a dead state? Why? Because, it has no fuel. It has all of the appearance, all the internal hardware, all the specialization to blast out of the gates and perform some truly impressive feats. Yet, it is going nowhere. For all it has been given and equipped with, this sports car lacks the one thing it needs the most to be of any use.

Come to think about it, this sounds an awful lot like some churches I’ve known. I’m ashamed to say it also sounds an awful lot like me in various periods of my life. God has blessed and equipped in ways I can’t even begin to imagine and stands by ready and eager to “supe” me up even more! But, lo, I drive my life headlong through the potholes and dips of worry, cultural pressures, personal desires and selfishness, pride and cynicism. I’ve burned out my tank hitting them all. Suddenly, I begin to feel as empty as my gas tank. I forget about all the power and potential available to me if I would just receive a fresh fill-up. With all the power and equipment to roar gloriously, I find myself instead choosing to be a Sunday afternoon casual cruiser.

PRAYER

Read Together: 2 Chronicles 7:14

re-state “Humble Themselves”

What does this mean?

Why is this necessary?

There is something which is blocking revival in our lives. Something which is somehow hindering God’s power. Something the likes of which, the only antidote is our voluntary humility!

One & Only One Thing That Hinders God’s Power & Blocks Revival:

Unconfessed & Hidden Sin in God’s people!

The late George T. Stephens declared: “There is just one thing that hinders God’s power and stands as an obstacle to revival. That is unconfessed and hidden sin in the hearts of Christian people. Sinners outside our churches are not the ones who keep back blessing; it is sinners inside our churches who do. Uncleansed and unsurrendered Christians are the greatest obstacles that block God’s way” (True Revival, pg. 44).

Isaiah 59:1-2,12

[Note: the following outline is built around those first presented by George T. Stephens in his message “Obstacles to Revival,” and Donnie Martin in his message, “Conditions That Make Revival Crucial. The ’melding’ and ’fleshing’ of these outlines is mine under their influence. My apologies if I have in any way made something lesser out of something greater!]

SIN BEGINS & GROWS IN THE HEART

What kind of heart is fertile ground for sin?

1)A Crowded Heart

- Our hearts are crowded any time that we allow other desires, concerns, dreams, worries, or

fears occupy the space that belongs to Jesus.

- 2 Timothy 2:4

To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday

life.

- 2 Timothy 4:10a

for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world

- Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.

- 1 John 2:15

Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for

the Father is not in him.

What may be crowding your heart today?

2)A Cold Heart

- Matthew 24:12

And because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

- 1 John 4:7

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has

been born of God and knows God.

- Revelation 2:4

But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.

John 14:15

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

A. W. Tozer once wrote: “Revivals come only to those who want them badly enough. The problem is not to persuade God to fill us, but to want God sufficiently to permit Him to do so. The average Christian is so cold and contented with his wretched condition that there is no vacuum of desire into which the blessed Spirit can rush in satisfying fullness.”

3)A Corrupt Heart

A corrupt heart is one that allows any impurity to seep in.

Ephesians 5:3

But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as

is proper for saints.

- Psalm 101:3

I will not set anything godless before my eyes. I hate the doing of transgression; it will not

cling to me.

- Philippians 4:8

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,