The Roar Of Revival Series

The Roar Of Revival

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

Perth Bible Church August 19, 2007 AM Rev. Todd G. Leupold

INTRO:

Show video: “Go Start A Fire”.

Whatever our choices in life, the reverberations they make will always and inevitably gather and build until they are ultimately and forcibly expelled as a great roar!

What kind of roar will it be? Will your roar destroy or will it provide? What will it sound like? What effect(s) will it produce? All of these results are shaped and determined by our individual and collective choices.

The only doubt, the only uncertainty, the only question before us – then – is what will we choose? What kind of a roar will our lives produce?

PRAYER

Recite 2 Chronicles 7:14 (and repeat)

We each have a choice as to how we will respond to the Lord’s call for and offer of revival in our lives.

Knowing our human tendency to over-complicate things, God has clearly presented us with just 2 simple choices. Both are ’roars.’ Both have powerful consequences. Both are ours to freely choose. But both are NOT equal!

What Will Your Choice Be?

I.) A ROAR OF REJECTION?

- Jesus called us all to be “salt” of the earth. That is, he is called us to add to life around us

and in way that is tasteful and that preserves purity and goodness.

- Sometimes, we may reject this call outright – reasoning that “it’s not our job,” or this

world/community doesn’t “deserve” to be seasoned, or because it’s too much ’work,’ or

because we simply don’t care.

- Other times we really mean to be “salt of the earth” but, despite what we consider our

meaningful efforts (going to church, praying, reading the Bible, giving financially), we fail. I

would suggest this morning that, while in a very different way, this too is a form of rejection!

We accept the principle of His call, but we refuse to actively live it out! When we do not,

not only are we really rejecting His call, but we are hypocrites as well.

- Confused? Consider: sometimes we can spend so much time and energy accumulating salt,

but we never serve as salt. In other words, if we’re not careful we can work so long and

hardy to be ’salty’ that our lives become useless – or, worse, toxic!

- Allow me to illustrate: The Dead Sea is so salty that it contains no fish or plant life. The high

salt content has killed the Sea’s life! How? Why? The problem is that the Dead Sea has no

outlets! Great quantities of water and salt pours into this area, but nothing flows out. It is a

law of nature that anytime something has many inlets but no outlets it will produce death.

- In the same way, this world is full of well-meaning, active, busy and even full Christians who

nevertheless exhibit a dead faith! As James, inspired by the HS, reminds us: “For just as the

body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

- Friends, according to God’s Scripture, we are to be filled with godliness in order that we may

in turn overflow with godliness. Simply learning godliness, learning Scripture, going to

Church, attending Bible Conferences, listening to Christian radio, etc. is NOT being “the salt

of the earth.” To listen, learn, ’go through the motions,’ and ’talk the talk’ without actively

and noticeably living and applying those things to our everyday lives is exactly what Jesus

refers to as salt that has lost its taste. Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. But if

the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything

but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.”

- Jesus is more simply summarizing the warning that the LORD had given to Solomon

after he finished building the temple. 1 Kings 9:1-9. A warning that it is still true for us

today!

Is This The Path You Will Choose . . .

OR,

Will You Choose . . .

II.) A ROAR OF REVIVAL?

IF, rather than reject His offer, we – who are called by His name – embrace and live it, then

we and those around us will experience a wonderful, healing, restorative and powerfully regenerating roar of revival! IF we humble ourselves, pray, seek the LORD’s face, and turn from our evil ways, THEN we are promised a glorious roar of revival – powerfully emitted from the gaping jaw of the Lion of Judah (Jesus Christ) Himself!

When we choose this path and do what is asked of us, we can know without a shadow of doubt that the Lord will respond in Three Amazing Ways: He Will . . .