Revival Meeting 072310

Deuteronomy 30:9-14 And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: (10) If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. (11) For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. (12) It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (13) Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (14) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

What is revival? We are calling these two nights revival meetings, but exactly are we looking to accomplish? We often pray for revival to come to our area and to the United States of America, but what are we looking for? And what are we willing to do?

Revival is nothing more than a renewed obedience to the Word of God and love for the Word of God. If we would just follow what God’s Word says, what a difference there would be in our lives. Leonard Ravenhill wrote: It has been well said that there are only three classes of people in the world today: those who are afraid, those who do not know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bibles. Sodom, which had no Bible, no preachers, no tracts, no prayer meetings, no churches, perished. How then will America be spared from the wrath of the Almighty, think you? We have millions of Bibles, scores of thousands of churches, endless preachers – and yet what sin! Revival is a renewed obedience to and love for the Word of God. Real revival is Heaven sent, not born by man. Real revival is brought by God when His people repent of the self-centeredness and turn back to God-centeredness. Real revival is not about you and me – it is about God. Real revival in our lives will bring glory and honor to God and we will demonstrate that revival each and every day to everyone.

What has happened? Believers in Jesus Christ should not need revival! We have His Book right here! Hopefully, everyone came here tonight with a Bible in their hand and they have opened it up. That is your responsibility, to open the Bible in front of you and double check what I am reading to you and preaching to you is true to what the Bible says! My responsibility is to preach what God has given me, but please double check me! Is Sunday the only day of the week you open your Bible? Does your Bible collect dust the rest of the week? This Book is what God has given to us to tell us about Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ. We have no further revelations today despite what the cults may tell you and we do not need further revelations (see John 20:30, 31)! This Bible is the Word of God, as Paul wrote to Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. How else are we going to come closer to God except through His Word and prayer to Him. This Bible comes directly from God and gives us doctrine – the teachings of and about God; reproof – the chastisement every believer needs when they begin to stray from God; correction – showing the believer the way back to the right path; instruction in righteousness – to live lives glorifying and honoring to God. Charles Spurgeon said: I would rather speak five words out of this book than 50,000 words of the philosophers. If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God. If we want conversions, we must put more of God’s Word into our sermons.

Please return to Deuteronomy 30.

What is Moses (under Holy Spirit inspiration) telling the Israelites in verses 1-8? When you read the previous chapters, the Israelites are on the verge of entering into the land promised to them and they have read off the blessings that they will receive if they obey God and they have read off the curses that will happen if they disobey God. Chapter 30 verses 1-8 discuss what will happen if the Israelites repent of their sins and turn back to God. Moses is talking about revival here – Revival will happen for the Israelites when they turn back to God and turn away from their sin.

Deuteronomy 30:9-10 And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: And here is the definition of revival right here in the Word of God in verse 10:(10) If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

It is so simple and yet, we make it so difficult. We get comfortable in our sin. We know we should read our Bible… BUT, there is this TV show I really want to see. I know I should read my Bible… BUT I want to go see this movie. I know I should read my Bible… BUT baseball, football, basketball, NASCAR is on right now. I know I should read my Bible… BUT it is too hard to read. That is why we are suppose to study the Bible, so we can understand it better. I know I should read my Bible… BUT it is too long to read. And yet, people are willing to sit down and read the Harry Potter books or the Twilight series of books or Stephen King books or romance novels. I know I should read my Bible… BUT… fill in your own excuse!

The worst words that a man can say is BUT… GOD. And yet, if we would open our Bibles and study them, we would see that two of the greatest words are But God – as in Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. AND Romans 6:16-17 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (17) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. AND Ephesians 2:3-5 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;) If the dust on your Bible is thick enough to write the word “foolish” on it: then that is what you should do because that is exactly how you are acting: foolish.

Deuteronomy 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Look at what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22: Mat 22:35-38 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, (36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. The question I ask you is: If the first and great commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, then would the greatest sin be the failure to follow that commandment? How are you at loving God? When you sin, how quick are you to repent of the sin? And do you truly repent or do you go right back to that sin the first chance you get? If we are truly loving and obeying God, then we should show it. If you want revival in your life, then you must get back to the Word of God. If you want to glorify God in your life, then you must get back to the Word of God. If you want peace and contentment in your life, you must get back to the Word of God. Charles Spurgeon stated: Yet, above all, we want a revival, if we would promote the glory of God. The proper object of a Christian’s life is God’s glory. The Church was made on purpose to glorify God; but it is only a revived Church that brings glory to His Name.

Something that has been impressed upon me by God lately is a better realization of Him as Father. Go to Galatians 4:

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The problem today is that too many professing Christians look at God the Father as a kindly grandfatherly old man. They want to view Him as sitting among the clouds in Heaven in a rocking chair. They read the Galatians 4:6 and view the word “Abba” as “papa” or “daddy.” God is so much more than that, and people have lost sight of who He truly is. Read the next verses Galatians 4:7-9 (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (8) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (9) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? The believer in Jesus Christ is a son of God upon the moment of salvation and any good son of God should look to please his Father and obey his Father and Love his Father. When you sin, there should be a sense of conviction about committing that sin. And with that conviction should come repentance. If the repentance is not forthcoming, then if you are a child of God, God’s chastening, as the loving Father, will come upon you. Proverbs 3:11-13 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: (12) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (13) Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

We must be sure to have the proper view of God: He IS the most loving Father any believer could ever know, however, with that love requires God to chasten the unrepentant child of God. You are in need of revival if there is little or no repentance for the sin in your life. You are in need of revival if you enjoy your sin more than you enjoy your time with God and His people. You are in need of revival if the Word of God does not move you and convict you. Real revival produces judgment of sin and brings you to the point of falling down on your face before the Lord and crying out in repentance.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. (12) It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (13) Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (14) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

God’s Word is not hidden from us today. God’s Will for us is not hidden from us today. We do not have to look up to the sky for God’s Word and we do not have to plunge to the lowest part of the ocean to find God’s Word. Moses is telling the Israelites that God’s Word was with them and the same is true today! Especially here in America – I have knocked on a lot of doors in this area and most people admit that they own a Bible. They own a Bible, but they rarely ever open it.

Let’s say you own a brand new Ford Mustang: it is bright cherry red, shiny mag wheels, high performance tires, black leather interior, tinted windows, and an excellent sound system… sounds great doesn’t it? But if you never take it out for a drive, what good is it? All you really have is a very large paperweight. The same is true with the Bible: you could have a leather bound, Cambridge made, King James version Bible, but if you never open it and read it and study it, then all you have is a very large paperweight.

Do you want revival in your life? I hope if I asked everyone in this room tonight if they wanted revival, everyone would shout, “Yes!” If you want revival, are you willing to do what it takes for God to bring revival in your life? That is a whole other story, isn’t it?

What does it take for God to bring revival into your life? It starts with the basics: read your Bible and pray to God. Start small and work your way up. When a person decides to become a body builder, do they immediately start with the two hundred pound weights? No! They start with smaller weights and, as they progress, they add more and more weights. Start by reading two chapters a day of the Bible: read one chapter of the Book of Proverbs and read one chapter of another book of the Bible, like the Gospel of Luke. Day one: read chapter 1 of Proverbs and chapter 1 of Luke. Day two: read chapter 2 of Proverbs and chapter 2 of Luke. And keep going until you finish Luke. Read one of the Books in the morning and the other in the evening – the point is that you need to read and you should do it with the goal of completing each book of the Bible. Pray a short prayer before each reading asking God for wisdom and guidance. Over time, add more chapters. If you read four chapters a day, you will finish the Bible in one year.

Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. God’s Word is right here. But you must make time for it. I know you are busy, but two chapters a day may take up twenty minutes of time, surely you can spare twenty minutes. God’s Word is a lot more satisfying than a television show.

Some folks do not read the Bible because, they say, there are so many things in the Book that they cannot understand. It is said that these things which cannot be understood trouble them. Of course these are excuses. What does one do when he sits down to a Southern-fried chicken dinner, and finds there are bones in the chicken which he is unable to chew? Does he excuse himself, and say, “I can’t chew the bony parts of the chicken, therefore I won’t try to eat any of it?” Hardly. He merely puts the bones to one side and enjoys the edible part of the chicken. Why not put at least this much effort into Bible reading?

You know the whole Armor of God as described in Ephesians chapter 6? Turn there now. The Word of God is the only weapon we have. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: If you are fighting a war and every believer in Jesus Christ should be ready for battle, as the Bible says in Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. The Word of God is the only weapon we have! You cannot win a war by only defending yourself. Wars are won by going on the offensive and the Bible is our only weapon, you need to be ready to use it. The US Army does not send it’s troops to a battle with first preparing them otherwise, they will not know what to do in battle and they will run and hide. You need to be reading your Bible and studying it so you will be ready when someone comes up to you and asks you the question you did not expect. You must be ready to stand.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. The evil day is upon us, are you ready to stand? This country needs revival, are you ready to stand? This state needs revival, are you ready to stand? The towns of Colosse, Parish, Pulaski, Fernwood, Mexico, need revival, are you ready to stand? Are you in need of revival today and are you willing to do what it takes for revival?