Our Highest Motivation is to Please the Master!
4-26-13
WANT REVIVAL?
[] Want revival? Read Isaiah Chapter 53, King James Version, over and over until you can't bear it anymore and you break down in uncontrollable sobbing and darkest horror. What God did for you in "bruising" His Son on that horrific cross is worthy of everything you have to be given to Him -- everything: nothing less !! He loved you that much !!!]
[] Want revival? Take a decided stand for revival, let the consequences be what they may.
[] Want revival? Plead with God, prevail upon God, to pour out His Holy Spirit.
[] Want revival? “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) []
Want revival? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37,39)
Revival Checklist.
How high do you pray?
How deep do you love?
Have you purposed revival in your heart?
How strong is your backbone?
In what direction is your compass pointed?
Is your trumpet in working order?
How dusty are your feet?
Are you sanctified, separated, and serving?
Much of what we call revival today is a misnomer. We have meetings and call them revivals. How dare we, when no one is revived? No one is changed or even edified? No glory is given to God and the praise of men seems paramount. God help us! --- Tim Green, evangelist
The Lord Has Blessed Many Churches With Revival.
But as they have become spiritually strong, the hearts of many within those churches have become proud and self-serving. As a result, revival has been interrupted and these churches have begun to deteriorate spiritually. It is God’s will to send revival when we repent --- not just with our lips, but also with our hearts. Has your heart become puffed up? Pride is an abomination to the Lord; it kills His work and cuts off your “River of Life” from above. --- Wim Malgo
The Attributes of these Apostatizing Moralists
[] They are desirous of vain glory, wanting recognition, a pat on the back, applause, popular approval. (Galatians 5:26)
[] They have forgotten God, they have become numb to His doctrine and commandments; they look to bring strange flesh to the altar (Jude 7); they turn their attention to fables and minutia (2 Timothy 4:4); they dwell in worldly opinions and inquiries; they rely on science so-called (1 Timothy 6:20); they dissect subliminally intriguing questions of origins, intelligent thought, and contemporary culture; and they do these things to the exclusion of the mandate for true Christian charity. (Psalms 9:16-20)
[] They are immoral, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, yet seeking moral respectability. (2 Peter 2:14, 19-22; Jude 4) They love the world as shown in 2 Timothy 4 10; they are the men who rebel against the light at Job 24:13; they are the men who love darkness at ___; they are the foolish and the workers of iniquity at Psalm 5:5 and ___. They defile the flesh (Jude___)
[] They are ungodly, they seek their own righteousness, their own way of life, their own image of and access to god. (Psalms 1:4-6) They desire not the knowledge of His ways. Job 21:14 they are in revolt. Jer 5 23
[] They abide in unbelief, they do not accept the authority of the Bible, will not acknowledge Christ as their Savior, will not listen attentively to Gospel preaching, nor will they heed sound doctrine. (Hebrews 4:9-11) This is similar to spiritual blindness (2 Timothy 2:10), lying against the truth (James 3:14), resisting the truth (2 Timothy 3:7-8) and out and out rejecting the Word of God (see Jeremiah 8:9; 9:13; Hebrews 6:5).
[] They are foolish. Psalm 5:5
[] They are in perpetual deceit and self-deceit. 2 cor 11 13-15 James 1:22 1:26
God’s Pattern For Our Christian Lives May Be Thought of Simply As:
[] Come to Jesus. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (See Matthew 11:28-30.)
[] Follow Jesus. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck (“snatch”) them out of My hand.” (See John 10:27,28.) []
Abide in Jesus. “Abide in Me.” (See John 15:4.)
Abiding in Christ: the Results.
A. We are to walk as Christ walked.
“So to walk, even as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)
B. We are to love the brethren (our fellow Christians).
“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light.” (1 John 2:10)
C. We will not be ashamed at Christ’s coming.
“And not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)
D. We strive not to sin.
“Whoever abideth in Him, sinneth not.” (1 John 3:6)
F. We have the witness of the Holy Spirit.
“We know He abideth in us by the Spirit.” (1 John 3:24)
G. We possess the Father and the Son.
“He that abideth … hath both the Father and the Son.”(2 John 9)
H. We see our prayers answered.
“If ye abide in Me … ye shall ask what ye will…” (John 15:7)
I. We will bear fruit.
“He that abideth … bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 15:5)
“Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in His ways. Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” (Psalm 128:1,2)
Called to Be Holy.
The most active church in which I have ever sat wreaked with spiritual death.
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“This call to a holy life is based on the fact that God Himself is holy. Because God is holy, He requires that we be holy. Many Christians have what we call a “cultural holiness.” They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy.
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REVIVE US AGAIN, O LORD. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”
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(Jerry Bridges)
REVIVE US AGAIN, O LORD.
Send a revival O Christ, My Lord.
Let it go over land and sea.
Send it according to Thy dear Word,
And let it begin in me.
(a Christian hymn)
“In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.” (Winston Churchill)
“Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, and this be our motto: In God we trust.” (Francis Scott Key)
REVIVE US AGAIN, 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.” (Hbakkuk 3:2)
The Church Has Let Down It’s Guard.
A. “The church -- no matter it’s name -- is a band of believers, not keeping house for Christ, but multiplying for Christ.” (Dr. Len G. Broughton)
B. “There is death where there is no revival. The exalted Lord accused the church of this in Revelation 3:1. “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” This describes a Christian religion without a living substance. It is useless. A church without revival becomes detached from the Lord and exists without content or direction.
C. We need the courage to stand up to the world -- and all the churches that are in league with the world ! “In Bible times men expected to suffer for Christ when they went out to have a revival. We should expect the same kind of opposition
now.” (John R. Rice)
(1) The church has swerved when she begins to be very honorable in the eyes of the world. She must still be cast out, must still be called evil, must still be despised, until that day when her Lord shall honor her because she has honored Him -- shall honor h, even in this world, in the day of His appearing. (Spurgeon)
(2) There are still some very fine churches in our land who are faithful to their calling and their roots, but they are getting scarcer and scarcer while the great “milquetoast and puffery” churches have surged onto our vista in unprecedented numbers. The Bible makes a very good case for us being in the last days, and Jesus told us to be watching. Watch ye therefore.
A Word To The “Sinning Saint.”
A. Nothing herein should be construed as conceding to any defense of the apparent child of God who continues in bringing indignity to Christ through His contemptible behavior before the ungodly. Sadly, the Bible says that Christ is made to be a minister of sin when any of us act in this manner. (See Galatians 2:17.) The Bible indicates that we can, by our sin against the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:3) make the grace of God of none effect (see Galatians 5:4). We can blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29), lust against Him (Galatians 5:17), grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30), vex Him (Isaiah 63:10), resist Him (Acts 7:51), tempt Him (Acts 5:9), lie to Him (Acts 5:4), and quench His power over us (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
B. You do not have to have ten doctorates in theology to know that any one of those negative propositions could in any degree inhibit revival.
C. We need full-strength revival.
False Tales of False Fires.
“The Holy Spirit in the hearts of real believers causes them to be suspicious and gives them discernment that other people don’t seem to have. Don’t be fooled by false tales of false fires burning and false truth going forth. We live in the days of apostasy, departure, and chicanery. We might remain vigilant in watching for the devices of the evil one as he brings them against the true people of God.” (slightly adapted, Wes Augur)
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God Is Expecting Much From Us.
Nations and societies change when the Gospel is preached.
Humility is pride in God. Human pride is God in humility
Professing is not practicing. Little fire in the first, all fire in the second.
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7)
God wants you to serve and to serve you must be sanctified. You can’t get to the second part until you get to the first --- Jack Hyles
“Sanctified” means that you are set apart for the will and purpose of God. Those who are sanctified are committed to the truths of God and are witnesses to His power and grace.
This is the Full Power of Revival !!
A. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1)
(1) Jesus who is eternal God has come in the flesh as a man.
(2) We heard Him speak, we saw Him with our own eyes, we have looked upon His person, and we have touched Him with our own hands.
(3) He is the Word of God and has given us an understanding of the revelation of God, His will for our lives, and His redemptive plan for our souls.
(4) Jesus commanded His people to Go -- not stay, not sit, not stand.
B. “The only alternative to soul winning is disobedience to Christ.” (C W H)
C. Again, we must face the fact of a forgotten commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
"We need a Heaven-sent revival, a burning fire from on high,
A purifying passion and a forsaking of our stubborn pride. We need a vision of eternity, of Hell and the Judgement Day, A fervent love for our Savior, that will gladly serve and obey. We need a Pentecostal purging and a breaking deep within, A vision of God Almighty and a river of tears for our nations sin. We need a Heaven-sent revival, a burning fire set ablaze. Yet, we'll never see such glory, until the Church begins to pray." ---David Smithers (Courtesy, prophetic@revivalschool.com)
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The Work of Revival Through the Holy Spirit of God.
A. “Break up your fallow ground.” (Jeremiah 4:3) The Holy Spirit breaks up the clogged soil of our souls and produces in us the Christ-like fruit of joy, peace, longsuffering.
B. The power of God’s Holy Spirit can change us from old filthy garments and wicked works into a masterpiece of grace. (author unknown)
C. The Holy Spirit is truth (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:13) as is God the Father (Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16) and Jesus Christ the Son (John 14:6).
(1) We may at times forget that the Holy Spirit encourages us.
(a) He gives us hope. (Romans 5:3-5, 15:13)
(b) He intercedes on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)
(c) He provides help to us. (John 14:16, 15:26; Romans 8:26)
(d) He gives us comfort. (Acts 9:31)
(2) The Spirit speaks (1 Timothy 4:1); teaches (1 Corinthians 2:3); bears witness (Romans 8:16); makes intercession (Romans 8:26); distributes the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11); and invites the sinner (Revelation 22:17).
(3) We ought be directed by the Holy Spirit, by the Word of God, and by godly counsel to make Christ-honoring decisions. (Crown College’s encouragement to its students.)
D. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Revival is A Challenge to Christian Action.
We should not think of Revival simply in terms of spiritual ecstasy in the grace of God or social stability through the spread of righteousness. Revival, instead, is a new opportunity and a new challenge for Christian witness and work in the world. There should be a new sense of urgency in declaring to other persons the truth about salvation from sin. There should be a new passion for justice in human relations. Revival means new life and new purpose to thrust oneself into the moving stream of the world’s life as a servant of the living Christ, to help many persons to come to know Him in the forgiveness of sin, and in the hope that centers in the kingdom of God. [Points of Emphasis]
To Jesus everyone is poor and sick. He established no charity foundations, He never pushed a civil rights bill, He had no target group, He kept no file of prospect cards, He held no support groups, and He met all men at the same place - the cross of Calvary.
Revival: the rushing of the Spirit into the body that threatens to become a corpse.
The sham condition in religion in Jesus’ day had to be exposed and destroyed before Christianity could be born. It again will have to be exposed and destroyed if Christianity is to be reborn in this generation.
Do you really want to see and experience revival or salvation? Do you want God to bless you and the Holy Spirit to lead you? If so, then Christian friend, see and realize your need for revival and have a desire for revival. Lost friend, see your need for salvation and don’t stop there, but have a desire to be saved. ---Joe Shadowens
If God were to allow any rival, He would not be God. No one is equal to Him. Nothing can compete with Him. He is the ultimate Reality, the Supreme Person, the infinite and eternal Lord. He is a jealous God. This means that he will allow no rival in the affection of His people. He is jealous of their supreme devotion, because this is for their good. God will not accept divided affection, faith with reservations or worship without sincerity and single-heartedness. If God is to be God for us, He must become so real and so worthful to us that He becomes all in all to us, in all our thinking and in our feeling. (Points of Emphasis)
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4)
In today’s world, the hardest part of any revival will be getting people to remember that they are soldiers for Jesus Christ and that there is being waged a very real war for the souls of men. I myself merely laughed at my critics before, but now I’m boldly recruiting them for the Revival Army of God.
The saddest part of life is that you fight much by yourself, battles you’re called to.
I’m absolutely committed to having the attitude of “I’m not giving up, I’m not turning back, I’m not lying down, I’m not going to sound retreat, I’m not going to surrender, I‘m not going to quit.” In fact, the word “quit” ought to be cut out of the Christian’s dictionary. ---John N. Hamblin
Every Christian is commissioned by Jesus Himself as a soul winner. But few Christians really believe that and are content to let the church do the evangelizing while they sit home all day. This is where we begin revival by bringing our own selves in true humility before God.
Revival: Sound Scripture.
"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word."
(Psalms 119:25)
"I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word."
(Psalms 119:107)
"Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word."
(Psalms 119:154)
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Judgment Must Begin At the House Of God. (1 Peter 4:17)
1. No man has the right to attack the institution of the church, the physical church. Neither does any man have the right to bring it into disrepute or into being defunct. (The true church is the Body of believers.) It was established, blessed, and is now protected by Christ: and the New Testament is overflowing with the imperative to nurture it and use it to further the spread of the Gospel. The Bible has in view the local church and not major religions, false teachings, and cults.
2. But every believer does have the responsibility to maintain the integrity of that great institution, to keep it Scripturally doctrinally and apostolically staffed, organized, and commissioned.
3. When churches no longer take heed to their God-given responsibilities, when they no longer endure sound doctrine, when they invoke worldly teachings instead of the Bible, when they drift into all manner of worldly living and pleasures, when they downplay and/or mock Christ, when they ignore or cast doubts upon precious truths and sacred things, when their congregations have died in the throes of their long dead works, when salvation through the atoning blood of Christ is no longer the first priority -- then they become apostate, and every child of God has every right and mandate to stand up to the effrontery.
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) A revival exposes sin. Oh, how desperately, how bitterly, sin needs to be exposed in this country. We need a revival to expose sin. Nothing eklse will do it. Nothing else will help except the searchlight of the Holy Spirit in answer to the prayers of God’s people. --- Hyman J. Appleman
The World Needs Men:
Who cannot be bought
Whose word is their bond
Who put character above wealth
Who are larger than their vocations
Who do not hesitate to take chances
Who will not lose their identity in a crowd
Who will be as honest in small things as in great things
Who will make no compromise with wrong
Whose ambitions are not confined to their selfish desires
Who will not say “they do it because everyone else does it”
Who are true to their friends in adversity as well as prosperity
Who do not believe that shrewdness and cunning are the best qualities for success.
Who are not ashamed to stand for the truth when it is unpopular
Who can say No” with emphasis, although the rest of the world says “yes“
Dr. Shelton Smith, Editor of The Sword of the Lord His Best Advice for Christians.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 1. You had better get the mind of Christ.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 2. You had best heed the Word of God.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 3. You do not let the world dictate you. .
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 4. You must not give your flesh its way.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 5. You make yourself wise to the Devil’s ploys.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 6. You must flock around godly people.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 7. You do well to learn our history and our heritage.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 8. You take hold of Scripture based standards for your life.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 9. You had better catch the vision of going after souls for the Savior.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 10. You had best take life one day at a time.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 11. You had best learn to smile a lot.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 12. You had best decide that you will not quit on God or on what’s right.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 13. You are well-advised to surrender yourself to the Lord.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 14. You are well-served to “die daily” to self and self-interest.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 15. You had better figure out the Bible issues of stewardship.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 16. You had best fellowship in circles that practice Biblical separations.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 17. You should not forget that you have influence whether or not you like it.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 18. You are well-advised to submit yourself to the authorities the Lord has placed in your lives.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 19. You should willingly be accountable for yourself and your action.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 20. You are best equipped when you are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and thus empowered for service.
Dr. Shelton Smith’s, My Best Advice No. 21. You are well-advised if you give yourself daily to the faithful and fervent pursuit of God’s well for your life.
God’s Way of Salvation.
All have sinned. Romans 3:10, 23
Sin brings death. Romans 6:23
We cannot save ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9
We have a Savior. John 20:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8
We must come to Jesus. John 6:37; Matthew 11:28
We must personally trust Him as our Savior. John 1:12-13