When Revival Comes
Notes
Transcript
Revival Comes when God Chooses (4-5)
Revival Comes when God Chooses (4-5)
The first thing we must notice about Revival is found in the plea of v. 4-5.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Revival cannot be schedule. Revival cannot be manufactured. Revival cannot be ordered. Revival is the sovereign work of God. It’s not something we can do, it’s something God can do, and as such, revival requires us to plead with God for revival.
The Psalmist is begging God to revive them.
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Revival Comes when You See God Clearly (1-3)
Revival Comes when You See God Clearly (1-3)
I think one reason that we aren’t seeing revival is because we don’t clearly see God. Its only when we see God for who he is, high and exalted.
Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
The Psalmist is recognizing the goodness, the faithfulness, the forgiveness of God. Revival is not about us, its about God high and lifted up.
Revival happens when we truly see God.
When’s the last time you saw God? I mean really saw God? When was the last time you went to scripture are did more than just attempt to complete your daily reading plan?
When was the last time you went to prayer and truly sought more than your laundry list of afflictions? When’s the last time you went to God wanting nothing more than to see God? When’s the last time you went not to make him love you more, not to get more from him, but because he was good and holy and worthy?
You will never be revived until you quit seeking things from God and start seeking God. Revival is the move of God in his people, for his glory.
When’s the last time you basked in the truth that the God of the universe moved heaven and earth to love and save you? That the God of the universe desires you?
Revival Comes when You Repent of Your Sins (v. 5-7)
Revival Comes when You Repent of Your Sins (v. 5-7)
Revival requires repentance.
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Listen to me, we will never see revival. You will never see revival unless you repent. I think God is moving right now in our nation. This might be the last great awakening in our national history, I don’t know. But I know this, in your life, if you don’t repent then revival will not come.
Revival without repentance is just good feelings, great vibes, a neat experience, but it has no power to change without repentance.
I don’t know what’s going on at First Baptist Flora, or Pinelake, or Mississippi State, or Ole Miss, or Asbury College or Crossgates. But I know this, if you do not genuinely repent of your sins you will never experience true revival.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Listen to What James is saying: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you! Yes! But then he commands them to repent!
Revival comes when people repent of their sins and trust Christ.
Revival Comes when God’s Word is Heard (v. 8-9)
Revival Comes when God’s Word is Heard (v. 8-9)
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Next, and this is important, true revival leads to true love for the word of God and biblical doctrine.
Listen to the warning of Paul to timothy
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
God’s people a true revival will lead to a true hunger and thirsting for the truth of God’s word. It’s not about emotions. It’s not about unction. It’s not about worship services or prayer meetings. Yes these things may be the thing that God uses to bring about revival, but true revival will lead us to love God’s word.
God’s glory is found in the word of God.
Revival Comes when God’s People Seek Righteousness (v. 10-13)
Revival Comes when God’s People Seek Righteousness (v. 10-13)
Finally, true revival leads us to love God’s righteousness and not our own. True revival will lead to true holiness.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
God’s desire is not just to save our souls but that we might live holy lives.