Revive Us Again

(S1)

New years Resolutions…not sure we take them seriously

New Beginnings—We don’t like new...means change

Revelation 21:5 “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Why Jesus didn’t say this first…

New Name—New Mission—New Vision—New Connection

Not new theology…Jesus centered—Biblical truth—Christian Love

Lots of new—Care for each other—Relationships matter more than stuff. Reviving our relationaship with God will revive our relationships with each other.

(S2)

REVIVE is more than a name……

REVIVE (anazáō)—‘to be made alive, renew, recover, flourish, spring to life, new vitality, new energy’

Biblically— reviving the human spirit…and the church for God’s purpose in the world.

“The sovereign activity of God whereby he renews his people individually and corporately in vigour, affecting both sincerity of belief and quality of behaviour.”

Lord, won’t you REVIVE us again! Sounds like a great start...

Bibles—Pray

(S3)

Israel pleading for a reNEWed relationaship with God.

6 Won’t you REVIVE us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

Context

Their recent return from captivity in Babylon—On a pilgrimage to a festival in Jerusalem—song of lament as they approach the temple for worship

Their plea—revive us again……!

They had known the life-giving presence of God, but the relationaship had changed...they had turned away from the one who had blessed them. Theirs is a plea to God for what they knew of before.

Ever experienced that—Loss of vigor, desire, or hunger, for what you once knew in your relationship with God?

“If we are honest, there are times in our own spiritual lives when its seems as if we have gone one step forward and two steps backward.”

Prayer for the year—

Lord, won’t you revive me again? Help me to re-prioritize Jesus in my life?

Revival begins in the person…renewed with the word and will of God

Ephesians 4:23–24 “let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Three ways that would lead to their being revived

I. Their reflection on God’s PROVIDENCE in the past

”Nothing happens in the world or our lives apart from God’s loving care and concern.”

God’s divine superintendency. His orchestration of it all, with the soul purpose of love towards all his creation.

Not...everything happens for a reason...but everything that happens God knows about, orchestrates, or allows for his greater good.

(S4)

God providence can be seen in three attributes of God’s goodness

Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.

God’s Blessing lead to a bountiful harvest

To be revived is to be blessed by God’s goodness in lite of our unfaithfulness

2. Forgiveness—gets us right with God.

b. Surprise! They had a sin problem

3. Mercy—saves us from God’s wrath

c. Lack of reverence for God—misplaced priorities

To be revived is to reflect on God’s providence in our lives, this church?

— times of the blessings of God’s goodness

— times of forgiveness even in our unfaithfulness

— receiving God’s restorative mercy

Their plea was to be revived and to be under God’s loving care again…

(S5)

4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. Will you be angry with us always? 5 Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?

Their revival…was not only a plea for themselves, but for generations to come.

A new beginning…isn’t just about us.

Those in the past who have served and sacrificed...

Their plea for Revival now, but they had to be willing to give into the providence of God’s love and care…

Second way that would lead to their being revived

II. Their return to FAITHFULNESS to God in the present

(S6)

8 I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people…But let them not return to their foolish ways.

9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory. 10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!

“The listening ear of God issues in a responding voice of encouragement mixed with a note of warning.” The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 2: Job–Song of Solomon

There is an assurance of ones salvation, for those who fear him. The people of God who remain faithful to the voice of God will see benefit of the the virtues of God……

…our land will be filled with his glory. Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!

So it is with the church…the truth of God and the love of God intersect in the person of Jesus

2 John 1:3 “Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.”

Loss of peace, was a realty they had experienced because of their unfaithfulness. God’s unfavorable disposition towards them was their doing...

Romans 1:25—”they traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.

In some cases , the church of today has still not learned from this...

Our new begining is not a denial to love any one person or group of people, in fact it is the opposite. To truly love as Christ is to let our faithfulness speak truth in love, in hopes of bringing all people into faithful obedience to the righteousness of God.

Righteousness and peace kiss, when followers of Jesus listen to the word of God and remain faithful.

Third way to their being revived

III. Their trusting in God’s VISION for the future

A future VISION of revival—restored relationship with God. A future so bright you gotta wear shades.

(S7)

11 Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.

12 Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. 13 Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.

The vision of God’s church is depicted as, “a plant springing up out of the earth, with his righteousness peering out of the portals of heaven.”

The church revived is the the perfect marriage of God’s judgement united with heavens mercy— Grace upon grace showered down into the sinners life—relationship restored

“All of these are good gifts of God, which cause the land to flourish. None are human products. They are furnished by God as guideposts along a way.” The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 2: Job–Song of Solomon (IV. The Wedding of Virtues (Ps. 85:10–13))

To be revived is to trust in God’s vision for a glorious future—a bountiful harvest of God’s righteousness, reviving Israel to God’s favor.

This vision is preparing the way for his appearance in the future as Christ would step into the world and…

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

(S8)

What if this year was more than a resolution, but a new beginning…

To be revived is to live into the new that Jesus brings

Reflecting on God’s PROVIDENCE in our past

Returning to FAITHFULNESS to God in the present

Trusting in God’s VISION for the future

What does this new mean for us individually and as a church?

God is not finished with us yet! Jesus is still making all things new and we get the opportunity to be a part of it…

REVIVE is more than a name, it begins in the person, renewed by the spirit of God, aligned with the word and will of God, who lives into the NEW that JESUS brings…

Lord, won’t you REVIVE us again! Sounds like a great start...