Sermon Tone Analysis

WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS

INTRODUCTION:

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN AED WEBSITE – A WEBSITE THAT MARKETS DEFIBRILLATORS – THE MEDIAN RANGE OF SHOCK REQUIRED TO DEFIBRILLATE A HUMAN HEART IS SOMEWHERE 120 AND 360 JOULES OF ENERGY…

A JOULE BEING A UNIT OF ENERGY EQUAL TO THE WORK DONE BY A FORCE OF ONE NEWTON ACTING THROUGH A DISTANCE OF ONE METER…

ALSO ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, A HUMAN HEART THAT HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IS TYPICALLY UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED BY A DEFIBRILLATOR, BECAUSE THE TERM DE-FIBRILLATION MEANS TO STOP FIBRILLATION, OR STOP AN IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHM.

YOU’RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY I AM SHARING ALL THIS WITH YOU, AND I PROMISE I HAVE A POINT.

THINK ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF THE HEART ENTERING FIBRILLATION – ENTERING A STATE WHERE IT GETS OUT OF RHYTHM.

THE HEART, IN THIS CONDITION, IS NOT PROPERLY DOING WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, WHICH IS DELIVER WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT – BLOOD – TO THE REST OF THE BODY.

YA’LL SEE WHERE I’M GOING WITH THIS?

SOMETIMES THE CHURCH GETS INTO A STATE OF SPIRITUAL FIBRILLATION.

AND THE CHURCH, IN THIS CONDITION, IS NOT PROPERLY DOING WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, WHICH IS DELIVER WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT – THE GOSPEL – TO PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.

AND ONE THING THAT CAN SERVE AS A DEFIBRILLATOR FOR THE CHURCH IS IF THE CHURCH EXPERIENCES REVIVAL.

JUST LIKE THE HEART THAT GETS BACK INTO RHYTHM WHEN THE SHOCK OF THE DEFIBRILLATOR AFFECTS IT, THE CHURCH GETS BACK INTO RHYTHM WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS.

BUT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS IN THE CHURCH.

SO LET ME SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS WITH YOU FROM PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY, WRITTEN UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN REAL REVIVAL HAPPENS.

WHAT ARE THE INDICATORS THAT REVIVAL IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS AND IN GOD’S CHURCH?

THREE THINGS – IMAGINE THAT!

HERE’S THE FIRST.

1. WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS, BELIEVERS RECOVER AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE GODLESS DIRECTION OF THE CULTURE.

a. THIS PAST WEEK, WE WITNESSED AN HISTORIC MEETING THAT REMINDS US OF JUST HOW FAR THE CULTURE CAN PULL EVEN THE CHURCH, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL.

b.

THIS PAST WEEK, THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, MEETING IN A SPECIAL CALLED CONFERENCE, NARROWLY VOTED TO MAINTAIN ITS COMMITMENT TO SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES, AT LEAST IN ITS OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

c. BUT THE FACT THAT SUCH A VOTE WAS EVEN NECESSARY IS AN INDICATOR OF THE DANGEROUS DIRECTION OF THE CULTURE.

d.

IN , VERSES 2 THROUGH 5, PAUL GIVES WHAT IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT A VERY DETAILED LIST OF THOSE THINGS THAT DESCRIBE A CULTURE MOVING AWAY FROM GOD.

i. – 2 FOR PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF SELF, LOVERS OF MONEY, PROUD, ARROGANT, ABUSIVE, DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY, 3 HEARTLESS, UNAPPEASABLE, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, NOT LOVING GOOD, 4 TREACHEROUS, RECKLESS, SWOLLEN WITH CONCEIT, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, 5 HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING ITS POWER.

ii.

19 DIFFERENT QUALITIES THAT DEFINE A CULTURE THAT HAS DIVORCED ITSELF FROM THE GOD WHO CREATED IT.

e. HERE IN 2 TIMOTHY, PAUL SPEAKS OF A DAY WHEN THE CULTURE AT LARGE WILL SHIFT TO A SELF-CENTERED ATTITUDE, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BEGIN TO FOLLOW.

i. SELF WILL BE THE ULTIMATE OBJECT.

ii.

IT IS NO MISTAKE OR COINCIDENCE THAT PAUL MENTIONS THE LOVE OF SELF FIRST IN THIS LIST OF EVIL ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS.

iii.

BECAUSE PAUL UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING THAT EACH OF US WOULD DO WELL TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES.

1. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MOMENT ANYONE MAKES SELF-WILL THE CENTER OF LIFE, BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS ARE DESTROYED, AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND LOVE TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE BOTH BECOME IMPOSSIBLE.

iv.

WHAT REVIVAL DOES IS REMIND THE BELIEVER THAT THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT THE ENTHRONEMENT OF SELF, BUT THE ELIMINATION OF SELF.

f.

REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN AND 24? - 23 AND HE SAID TO ALL, “IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW ME. 24 FOR WHOEVER WOULD SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL SAVE IT.

g.

SO WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS, BELIEVERS WILL REGAIN A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURE.

i. WHICH HELPS US TO KNOW HOW TO MINISTER IN THE MIDST OF THAT CULTURE.

2. WHEN REVIVAL REALLY HAPPENS, BELIEVERS RECOVER AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES.

a. PAUL , PAUL ENCOURAGES THIS YOUNG CHRISTIAN AND PREACHER TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE REALITIES OF HIS OWN POSITION WITHIN THE CULTURE.

b.

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE REVIVAL, THE RESULT IS WHAT PAUL ENCOURAGED IN THIS YOUNG PREACHER.

i. WE WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INCOMPATABILITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WITH CULTURE, WHICH OFTEN MANIFESTS ITSELF IN PERSECUTION.

1. – 12 INDEED, ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL BE PERSECUTED,

2. WHICH WE REALLY DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

3. BUT IF THE CULTURE CONTINUES TO RUN TO THE LEFT, THE DAYS MAY COME WHEN WE BECOME MORE ACQUAINTED WITH PERSECUTION.

4. KEVIN DEYOUNG WRITES THIS ABOUT PERSECUTION IN AMERICA:

a. “FROM STIFF FINES, TO FAMILY SHAME, TO BEING KICKED OFF COLLEGE CAMPUSES, TO LAWS AGAINST SHARING OUR FAITH, TO UNJUST TRIALS, TO PUBLIC MOCKERY AND SCORN, TO ARREST AND BRUTALITY, IF WE FAITHFULLY FOLLOW JESUS IN THIS WORLD WE ALL WILL FACE PERSECUTION AT SOME POINT IN OUR CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP.

EVEN AMERICAN CHRISTIANS—IF THEY ARE REALLY CHRISTIANS—WILL HAVE CROSSES TO CARRY.”

5. REVIVAL REMINDS US THAT THE WORLD IS AGAINST US – ABOUT WHICH WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED – AND THAT PERSECUTION, ALTHOUGH WHAT WE FACE IS IN NO WAY SIMILAR TO WHAT SOME OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTER AROUND THE GLOBE, IS STILL A REALITY FOR THE AMERICAN CHURCH.

6. AND UNDERSTANDING THIS ALSO HELPS US KNOW HOW TO PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE FACING HEAVIER PERSECUTION.

ii.

WE WILL UNDERSTAND BETTER THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS OF CHRISTIANITY.

1. – 14 BUT AS FOR YOU, CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HAVE FIRMLY BELIEVED, KNOWING FROM WHOM YOU LEARNED IT…

iii.

WE WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO GOD’S WORD.

1. – 15 AND HOW FROM CHILDHOOD YOU HAVE BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH THE SACRED WRITINGS, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

2. NOT JUST IN THE SENSE OF “I BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD,” BUT “I KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.”

3. WHEN REAL REVIVAL HAPPENS, THE CHURCH WILL MAKE A KINGDOM IMPACT ON ITS COMMUNITY.

a. – 1 I CHARGE YOU IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND OF CHRIST JESUS, WHO IS TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD, AND BY HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM: 2 PREACH THE WORD; BE READY IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON; REPROVE, REBUKE, AND EXHORT, WITH COMPLETE PATIENCE AND TEACHING.

3 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, 4 AND WILL TURN AWAY FROM LISTENING TO THE TRUTH AND WANDER OFF INTO MYTHS.

5 AS FOR YOU, ALWAYS BE SOBER-MINDED, ENDURE SUFFERING, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY.

b.

CHARLES SPURGEON, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “THE PRINCE OF PREACHERS,” SAYS THIS ABOUT EVANGELISM AND THE CHURCH.

i. “IT IS THE WHOLE JOB OF THE WHOLE CHURCH TO PREACH THE WHOLE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD.”

c. AND HE’S NOT WRONG.

d.

EVERY BELIEVER IS RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

e. WHY?

i. BECAUSE EVERY PERSON HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

ii.

LEFT TO THEMSELVES, EVERY PERSON GOES TO HELL.

iii.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

f.

THEREFORE, THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE CHURCH, OUR CHURCH OR ANY CHURCH, IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES.

i. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

ii.

SOMEBODY HAS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THEM.

g.

WHO’S GOING TO DO THIS IF THE CHURCH DOESN’T?

h.

A CHURCH WHO’S MEMBERS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT GOSPEL WITNESS WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON ITS COMMUNITY.

i. AND REVIVAL REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF KINGDOM IMPACT.

CONCLUSION:

REVIVAL IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE ALIVE (ETERNALLY) IN CHRIST JESUS.