Revival through Intercession: Return

Vision 2018: Forward Revival through Intercession Deuteronomy 30:1-3 Introduction: I. America needs Revival – First the Church must Walk in Revival. A. Revival, a proper, short definition or explanation of revival is a "Return to God." a. Jesus was asked, “which is the great commandment in the law?” His reply was a quote from Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” b. Deuteronomy 6:5 is an exhortation to keep your focused love on the LORD, not allowing it to waver to the spirit of the world. While Deuteronomy 30 is instruction on your way back from straying & backslidings from the LORD. B. It is time for the Body of Christ to “Return to God,” it is time for Revival. a. Loving God “with all our might” means being devoted to Him beyond what we consider “normal,” i.e., beyond what makes sense logically. b. Repentance, requires that we forge a stronger relationship with God than our present one. That relationship with God, was too weak to keep us from wrongdoing and therefore from needing to repent. We therefore need to deepen our feelings toward God, in order for Him to mean more to us than the indulgences that we have learned to rationalize. c. The Word of God instructs us to repent by making what used to be “beyond” us into our new “normal.” 1 John 1:8-10 (BIBLE) 1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NKJV II. Return So, what is “in” repentance, returning to God? The term Teshuvah  (pronounced teh-shoo-vah) has a critically important meaning. In Hebrew, the word translates literally as "return," and describes the return to God and with our fellow human beings that is made possible through repentance of our sins. Remember the application: Life is not a game of no consequence. There is an eternity wherein your soul will dwell forever. Heaven. Hell. The Hebrew word Teshuvah, the first Hebrew letter is “T,” Tamim. A. Sincere Deuteronomy 18:13You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. a. Tamim means, “Be sincere with the Eternal, your God.” The first steps of a “Return to God.” Repentance, is be sincere. True repentance, crying out for a “Return to God” is found here as the highest form is wholeness of heart - called "earnestness" b. The life of Peter demonstrates this “earnestness.” {Peter’s denial & return} Jesus told Peter, Luke 22:32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” NLT NEXT Page - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c. In our relationship with God, tamim means being wholehearted, resolute & entirely committed to walking “with” Him in this world. The Word strongly discourages from the distraction of living “double-minded.” A double-minded life is one who wants two things simultaneously, you want peace with God while demanding your “rights.” Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. The next letter in Teshuva is Shiviti. B. Awareness "I have set God before me always." Psalm 16:8I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. a. We see “things” by an act of will, & we “know” things through the faculty of making decisions.i b. You must determine to believe in the truth of the LORD’s presence & resolve to believe He is at your right hand – THEN you rest assured “all things work together for the good…” c. Slipping away. Backslidings come when you overlook the LORD relying on your own resources. THAT is when you find yourself moved, shaken, afraid & overthrown in your walk with Him. NEXT Page - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - However! When you “choose” to consciously decide to put the LORD first & defer to Him as the True Source of Strength acknowledging He is at your right hand, you shall NOT be moved. Like a tree… Setting the LORD first – in Him you live & move & have your existence! III. Conclusion A. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST