Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

As we approach revival in three weeks, let me ask us this question?

How desperate are you for God and the things of God?

Desperation is defined as a state of being in a serious situation, typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior.

Are you really desperate for God?

So much so that you are willing to do whatever it takes to be in His presence?

Too often I believe that we are not that desperate for Him.

Instead we treat God like the latest gadget, game, book, or tv.

Show.

We got to have it but quickly the desire for it wears off.

We put Him on the shelf for later use.

If we want true revival to take place, we must realize that we have to be desperate for the only One who truly loves us, who is the only One who can save us, the only One who gives us eternal purpose.

And for us to be desperate for Him, it means that we have to let go of whatever holds us back from having the life He desires us to have.

Illustration

On April 6, 2003, Aron Ralston went rappelling down a cliff in Utah.

He was by himself and no one knew where he was.

In his descent down a 800 lbs boulder crushed and trapped his right hand.

He waited and waited several days for help and none came.

He came to the realization that if he wanted to get out of there alive he was going to have to cut off his arm.

All he had was his dull pocketknife.

The man was desperate enough to live that he cut off what was holding him back from living.

Because of that rash behavior he is alive today.

Passage

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

God says that for true revival to happen, His people must humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and what?

Turn from their wicked ways.

I.E.

Repent.

Real repentance is turning away from our sins and turning to God.

Could it be that true repentance has a measure of desperation to it?

For us to come to God, we must get free from the chains of sin.

That freedom only happens though Jesus.

However, how many times do we return back to and place the chains of sin on our life and we don’t think anything about it?

, NIV

21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

Is God pleased with that?

Are we showing desperation for God in our life if we choose those chains?

How can God bless us and send us revival if we are unwilling to truly repent of our sin?

Are we truly desperate for Him?

How do we get there?

How do we get desperate for God?

How do we get to the point in our life that we will choose God above all else even if it means we have to pay a steep price for it to happen?

How do we become desperate for God and the things of God?

1.

We must listen to the Holy Spirit.

The job of the Holy Spirit is to point us to God and point out the things that keep us from God.

It is the Holy Spirit who points out our sin.

8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The Holy Spirit is our counselor from God.

He is the still small voice in our life that points us to God and points out the sin that keeps us from experiencing God in the best way.

Way too often our American Christian culture turns off the Holy Spirit in our hearts, because we don’t want to deal with the consistent sinful behavior that is in our life.

We turn off the Holy Spirit because we would rather rationalize our sin that deal with our sin.

If we are truly desperate for God, and for Him to bring revival, we must listen to the Holy Spirit in our life.

2. We must respond to the Holy Spirit.

We must acknowledge what the Holy Spirit reveals to us.

Those bad decisions we make.

Those wrong words we say.

Those destructive attitudes that we hold on to.

We must respond correctly to the Holy Spirit when He reveals the sin in our life.

Sin is not just breaking a commandment (doing bad stuff), sin is also the refusal of doing the right stuff, the good stuff that God desires for us.

Sin is literally missing the mark.

Yes, that thing you are showing me is sin and does not belong in

my life.

Yes, God wants me to have this in my life, but I have refuse.

My refusal is wrong.

The first part in any recovery of addiction is to admit that there is a problem.

Are you willing to admit that you have a sin problem that is affecting you from being all that God wants you to be in relation to Him?

, NIV

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

3. We must follow the Holy Spirit.

In other words, we must become obedient.

If the Holy Spirit reveals sin in our life, we have to choose to let go of the sin and obey God.

We lack true revival, because of our unwillingness to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and truly repenting of sin.

Obedience means to follow the Spirit’s lead in our life no matter what.

The Holy Spirit will never lead us astray, because He always obeys the Father.

So if we are willing to be taught by the Holy Spirit, and then follow His teachings by faith, we will be where the Father wants us to be.

, NLT

26 All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am.

And if they follow me, the Father will honor them.

Conclusion

Are you truly desperate for God?

Are you truly desperate for Him to revive you?

Are you truly desperate for Him to bring revival to our church and town?

This is a true statement,

“For revival to happen, it must begin with me.”

Are you desperate enough for revival that you are willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in faith and repentance?

As He leads you follow Him.