To Revive Or Not To Revive

1. These people had sinned a great sin.

2. In Fact: The very sin they committed was the VERY FIRST commandment given to Moses on Mt. Sinai– “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me”

3. They had put a golden calf in the place of God!!

4. Interesting Fact: Exodus 20:18-19,

a. They were in AWE of God’s power.

b. Ex 20:23 God had just told them not to worship any gods of silver or gold, yet they didn’t listen.

c. They weren’t in Awe of God any more.

d. What about you? Remember when you were saved? You were in awe of God.

i. What about This church? This community?

I. There Was A Need for Revival.

a. When Moses came off of the mountain do you think he saw a need for revival.

b. How do I know the church needs revival? How do I know that I need a revival?

I know I need revival when:

 I become discontented with the way things are going. (shows that I have stopped looking to God) – (I’m not listening any more)

 I start looking to other gods and I push God aside.

 I’m too busy doing my work or playing with my toys and I don’t have time to get together with God.

 I begin to make excuses for my Sin.

 I begin to make decisions or do things that hurt or hinder the spiritual life and relationship of other people

 I begin to have a disregard for the relationship that I have with the God

 I need revival when I realize that my salvation no longer blesses me because my heart has gradually become hardened to the things of God.

Young boy loved to fish so one afternoon he went fishing. He began looking for worms but couldn’t find worms. Finally turned over a log and found several slithering around. He put them in his one gallon coffee can and started off to his favorite fishing hole. As he began baiting his hook, something pricked his fingers. He bagan catching fish - big fish! He would rebait his hook but still would feel a pricking on his fingers. He continued to catch fish until he caught his limit of big fish. He left and along the way home, he showed a policeman how many fish he had caught. By the time he got to the policeman, his arm was swollen up. The officer noticed there was something wrong. He rushed him to the hospital but the young boy died on the way there. Why? Why would you die from catching fish? He had been bitten by baby copperheads that he had mistaken for worms. Sin catches us with us one small bite at a time until we are so deep into it we don’t notice any more. The fish looked good. Our sin looks good for a while. Eventually, it will kill us.

SONG: I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN…Far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.

But the master of the sea, heard my disparing cry

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

That’s revival. When God lifts us out of the mire and sin of our lives and places us in His arms again.

Why do we need revival today? Because we had a need. We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

WE NEED TO BE REVIVED!!!!

II. There Was A Decision for Revival. V. 26 "Who is on the Lord’s Side?"