He Has Been Faithful...He Can Do It Again!

Have you ever just thought, God knows what He is doing?

Psalm 126 ESV

A Song of Ascents. 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Some 6 years ago I started the Doctoral program @ NOBTS...I had a dual major: Expository Preaching and Church Revitalization.

In my first class call church revitalization, I quickly discovered that this term was coined to speak of the corporate renewal of a body of believers.

In essence, this term means revival in a way, renewal in a way, awakening in a way, and complete reboot in another.

So we began to ask our professor, after reading all of the materials before the seminar:

“In your assessment, how many churches are in need of revitalization?”

He replied:

“ALL OF THEM!”

When processing those words, men looked around at each other wondering how far we had fallen or why would he say “all of them.”

And then he said, that is the point...we always need to be reforming.

There was a reformation, but we are always in need of reforming...towards the upward calling in Christ.

So the question then rests as follows:

“If we need to be revitalized, renewed, reformed, revived, or even rebooted...where do we begin?”

God Revitalized In the Past!

Psalm 126:1–3 ESV

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.

Nehemiah 12:43 ESV

43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

God Can Revitalize Today!

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Pursue Revitalization!

Psalm 126:4–6 ESV

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Galatians 6:9 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Blackaby

John 4:37–38 ESV

37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

But today, our text leads us to labor.

Walking Away, But In...

Acknowledge His Work -Praise Him

Believe His Work-Trust Him

Seek His Work-Strive