Sermon: Revive Us Again!

I am pleased to share with the readers of my blog an audio and a video of a church service I led March 12, 2017.  It is always a blessing to share what God has placed on my heart with His people.  The reason I do what I do here on the blog and when I preach and teach is God empowering me through the Holy Spirit.  On my own, I simply could not do what I do! 

Revival is from God; it is not something that anyone of us can generate!  In this way, God gets the glory, not man.  This is good to keep in mind when we pray for revival or hear about revival.  Keep in mind, there is a “cost” to revival—listen to hear what the cost might look like.

If you would like to read the text of this sermon, please search the archives of this blog—a few weeks ago, I shared this message in a slightly different form over two weeks. 

To listen to the audio (it is clearer than the audio on the video), please click here:  

Revive Us Again! (audio)

To view the video, please click here:  

You can also find the audio and video on the right side bar of this blog.

What follows is a description I provided with the YouTube video:

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Sermon delivered March 12, 2017, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia, Iowa.  Video is from the traditional service.

Hymns included (not all are on the video): O Spirit of the Living God; Spirit Song; and Revive Us Again.

Scriptures:  2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:1-12; Psalm 85:4-13

Currently, I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church; my status is such that I can preach in my church and others when called.  (I am one of several lay members who are called by the Lord to lead worship and preach the Word of God when our pastor is away.)

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Let us all consider what it means to pray for revival and to expect revival in our own lives!

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Revive Us Again!

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  

(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

From https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Chronicles-7-14_Inspirational_Image/

Note:  On March 12, 2017, I was blessed to lead worship at my church—the title of my sermon was Revive Us Again!

This is the first post in a short series sharing a heavily edited version of my sermon by the same title.  In the future, there may be an audio or video of this sermon which will enhance what I will be sharing in writing. 

Personal photo

What is revival?  As expected there are a variety of definitions.  For the purposes of this post, I am sharing only two:  Pastor Greg Laurie, who was saved during one of the more recent revivals—the Charismatic/Jesus People Movement defines revival in this way:  “…revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God.  It’s a church word…  It is not for the nonbeliever.  Revival starts with the church and then affects the world.  The world does not need revival; the church does. The world needs evangelism.”[1]

As C. H. Spurgeon stated:  “To be revived is a blessing which can only be enjoyed by those who have some degree of life.  Those who have no spiritual life are not, and cannot be, in the strictest sense of the term, subjects of revival.”[2]

With these definitions and understanding in mind let us consider revival more fully from the Word of God and from history.  This is a sizable undertaking and cannot be covered in great depth in one short sermon.  However, I believe, it is important to learn about it and to pray for it, if we feel God placing it on our heart.

Beloved, we are not alone in seeing the need for an awakening, a revival from God.  Not only do we see this in our country’s history; we can also see it throughout the whole of history.  In reading through the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, we read about the following revivals:  there were revivals under the leadership of King Jehoash (2 Kings 11-12), King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18), King Asa (2Chronicles 15), King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), Zerubbabel (Ezra 5-6), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 8-9, 13).  In the New Testament we read about the revival of Pentecost in Acts 2-3.[3] 

One of the greatest revivals in human history occurred when Jonah, God’s “prodigal” and reluctant prophet ultimately obeyed God and went to Nineveh proclaiming God’s message of destruction if they did not repent.  This was a nation-wide revival from the king down to the lowest—repenting and turning to God happened and the society was changed, if for a time.[4]

God’s faithful people throughout the ages have cried out for mercy, for revival.  Sometimes these prayer warriors lived to see their prayers answered, other times their prayers came to fruition only after their death.  Therefore, it is proper for us to seek it, to pray for it.  However, we do need to be aware of what we are getting ourselves into when we pray for revival.

Revival is a completely God-given time of refreshing and renewing—a sovereign act of God.  IT IS NOT something we can work up in our flesh.  Revivals are not manufactured or generated through human efforts.  All the programming, the special services—sometimes termed “revival services” are not the true revivals that are God-sent from Heaven.  Revival gives life to dry, dead spiritual bones—through the breath of the Holy Spirit—like Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 37.  It is all God and God alone!

Revival starts with God’s people—being convicted of their sins and of the sin around them—causing them to fall on their faces—literally and metaphorically before God, repenting of their sins.  In revival our lukewarmness is revealed for what it is—lukewarm faith is revived, becoming hot once again.

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And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  

(Revelation 3:14-20 KJV)

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Like the church in Laodicea, we have left our first love—the result is a weakening faith—a faith where we are rather content to go through the motions, instead of being willing to risk the cost and the change necessary when God shows up.  We would be wise to heed Jesus’ warning to this church.  

 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  

(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

What would happen IF we follow 2 Chronicles 7:14?  If my people… Notice the if …then construction:  if this happens; then this will happen.  If my people (that is us!) humble themselves (rend hearts and not our garments, see themselves as they really are—crying out for a clean heart), pray, seek God’s face (desiring God above all else), and turn from their sins (confess sins with a contrite or repentant heart).  Then God will hear His people’s (that is us!); He will forgive their sins (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9); and He will heal their land. 

There is a diligence, a dedication for God’s people in what they need to do, turning the focus back to God and His righteous standards.  It is important for us to be genuine in our behavior—we may be able to fool others or even ourselves, however, we cannot fool God.  This Scripture is one of many revival oriented Scriptures we can pray.  I encourage you to search the whole of God’s Word for other Scriptures to pray regarding revival.

I invite you to return next week for the second part of this series.  Until then consider the thoughts and Scriptures on revival shared above.  Remember, above all else, revival is a sovereign act of God—God alone brings about revival—it is not something that He is obligated to do.  Nevertheless, we can pray for and seek it with every fiber of our being.

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Lord, Enhance our spiritual vision to see our own sin and need for personal revival.  Move us to cry out to You and to seek You for the renewal our spirits need.  We see how we have grown lukewarm in our worship and service to You.  Please send refreshment through the winds and fire of the Holy Spirit.  Many of us have grown tired and perhaps even bored with the emptiness of our worship services and have started to simply go through the motions.  Remind us that worship really is all about You and not about anyone else.  Rekindle our faith, so we can once again be hot, on fire for You, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

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[1] From https://www.harvest.org/devotions-and-blogs/daily-devotions/2016-01-23

[2] From https://www.harvest.org/devotions-and-blogs/daily-devotions/2016-01-23

[3] From Preacher’s Sourcebook of Creative Sermon Illustrations by Robert J. Morgan (2007), Thomas Nelson Pub. Pg. 673

[4] A very short summary of Greg Laurie’s sermon series on Jonah (revival)

Scriptures and Quotes on Revival

After taking last week off from blogging; I am back with a new post.  At this point last week I was at work on a sermon for Sunday.  Revival was the topic the Lord led me to study; the title of my sermon was Revive Us Again!  Therefore, I thought it might be interesting to consider some Scriptures, as well as some quotes on revival (which may or may not have appeared in my sermon text).  In the future, I may share my sermon; for now, I offer these thoughts.  Many of us are praying for and longing to be revived and refreshed.  Revival starts on the individual level and then spreads.  I encourage you to prayerfully read through this post. 

Image from Pixabay

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

  (Psalm 51:10-12 KJV)

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. 

(Psalm 85:6-7 KJV)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 

(Habakkuk 3:2 KJV)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you… 

(Acts 3:19-20 KJV)

Image from Pixabay

They tell me a revival is only temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good. 

~Billy Sunday[1]

A revival does two things. First, it returns the Church from her backsliding and second, it causes the conversion of men and women; and it always includes the conviction of sin on the part of the Church. What a spell the devil seems to cast over the Church today! 

~Billy Sunday[2]

I believe there is no doctrine more dangerous to the Church today than to convey the impression that a revival is something peculiar in itself and cannot be judged by the same rules of causes and effect as other things. 

~Billy Sunday[3]

When is a revival needed?  When carelessness and unconcern keep the people asleep. 

~Billy Sunday[4]

When may a revival be expected? When the wickedness of the wicked grieves and distresses the Christian. 

~Billy Sunday[5]

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“…revival is nothing more or less than a new beginning of obedience to God.  It’s a church word…  It is not for the nonbeliever.  Revival starts with the church and then affects the world.  The world does not need revival; the church does. The world needs evangelism.”[6] 

~Greg Laurie

Personal Photo

With these Scriptures and quotes in mind, I invite you to pray with me and others for revival—personal and within our churches.  America is clearly in need of a revival before things get worse.  God may bring us a revival or He may choose to not bring revival.  Nevertheless, revival is a sovereign act of God. Many have written a great deal on the topic of revival.  Reading has its place; however, it is in experiencing revival that we are changed, renewed, refreshed, and made clean. 

What Scriptures would you add to this list?  

What is your favorite quote on revival listed above or one that you have read elsewhere?

Please join with me in prayer:

Loving Father, Thank You for the gift of spiritual hunger and desire for more of You.  Encourage us to fan the flame of Your light within us, so that we will continue to burn and shine brightly for You.  We cry out for revival, our dry spiritual bones need reviving; just as those old, dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision came to life through the breath of the Spirit—we seek fresh wind and fresh fire of the Holy Spirit.  Please be gracious to us and revive us once again.  Thank You for the desire You have planted within the hearts of Your children to seek revival from You.  We understand this is a special gift from You for us, Your people.  Prompt us to take what we receive from You and share with those around us—first with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ and then with those around us in evangelism.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

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[1] Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billysunda183039.html?src=t_revival

[2] Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billysunda325870.html?src=t_revival

[3] Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billysunda325880.html?src=t_revival

[4] Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billysunda325897.html?src=t_revival   

[5] Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billysunda325898.html?src=t_revival

[6] From https://www.harvest.org/devotions-and-blogs/daily-devotions/2016-01-23

Rend Your Hearts: The Journey Continues

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:   And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  (Joel 2:12-13 KJV)

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/02/18/09/51/in-640517_960_720.jpg

Today, we continue to consider Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, as we prepare to celebrate Easter—what Jesus did for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Most of what follows is an edited and slightly abridged version of a sermon I developed in 2008.  To read the first post from Wednesday, please click on “Ash Wednesday” in the first line of this paragraph. 

Ash Wednesday is a time to consider our mortality as well as a safe place to commune with God—allowing Him to search our hearts—confessing our sins or hurtful, unjust actions—as He shines the light of His precious Holy Spirit upon us.  God forgives us, when we humbly repent, may we accept His wonderful forgiveness and gift of a “new start”, during this time of preparing for Easter.    

From http://www.blc-denver2.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-Lent-Cross.png

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:   And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  (Joel 2:12-13 KJV, emphasis mine)

The Old Testament prophet, Joel, states in verses 12-13 to return to God with all of your heart and to rend your heart and not your garments.  To me, returning to God with all your heart is to be totally in love—passionately in love with God and having the humility to admit that we are in dire need of forgiveness and that we cannot save ourselves.  We are so in love with God that nothing else matters; our eyes are on Him alone.  Our relationship with Him is our first priority.  Ideally, He should be the first person we think about when we wake-up and the last person we think about when we fall asleep. 

If we return to God with all of our heart, we admit our need for what He has, we also show our humility.  We know from 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) that: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  God is ready and just to forgive us and to heal us.  Yet at the same time, we cannot return to God without rending our hearts.  After all, God is holy and due to His holiness, He cannot be around sin.  Yet, when we are truly humble and confess our sin, seeking forgiveness, He is quick to forgive. 

From  http://livegreaterfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/lent.png

Joel’s words should call us to action today, as we journey through Lent.  God wants us to grieve our sins but not so much in an outward way but in an inner way as we truly take stock of our inner life.  By rending our hearts, instead of our garments (in the OT rending garments was a sign of great grief and mourning) we are able to focus on what our hearts are telling us.  It also is done in the sanctity and privacy of an “inner room” or our “prayer closet”.  It is there that we can truly commune with God and receive our reward from Him much like the humble tax collector in contrast to the pious Pharisee (see Matthew 6:1-6). 

Therefore, I encourage you to use some quiet time during this season of Lent to allow God, the Holy Spirit to search you, to know you, and to try you—shining the light of His love and presence in your heart—pointing out to you your sinful, hurtful ways and a time for seeking forgiveness.  This taking stock should be done more than just during Lent; it should be done regularly…rather like cleaning house!

What is your heart telling you?

From http://live-from-the-heart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ashes-heart.jpg

Please join with me in prayer:

Forgiving and Loving God, We admit that we are sinful people in dire need of forgiveness.  We confess that we need Your forgiveness and Your healing touch in our hearts and lives.  During this season of preparation for Easter, guide us to open our hearts to Your spotlight searching out the sin, the yuck in our hearts and lives; allowing you to cleanse our hearts and spirits.  As we become aware of our sin, may we be quick to seek Your forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  Thank You for Your forgiveness that cleanses us and frees us to be Your people in an increasingly dark world.  In our freedom, guide us to speak healing words to those all around us who are in need of freedom found only in You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim