Revival #1.

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As we look forward to the next two weeks prior to our renewal service with Community Bible Church,

we are hoping to have our hearts prepared by God’s grace that we might experience renewal as the body of Christ.

This exhortation to repent is accompanied by the assurance that all God’s punishments—even death—would be reversed.

After a short time in exile, Israel would be resurrected.

Prior to this passage we have the evil that these people were involved in.

Let’s see their CORRUPTION.

What you see in chapter 5 is that their sin were snares to others (v1).

v2 God calls them “Rebels” and God tells them that He’s going to punish them.

God knows them, they are not hidden from Him (v3), they are promiscuous! (v3).

Pride and arrogance keep them from repentance (vv4-5).

God has withdrawn Himself because of their sin!

"They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find him; he has withdrawn from them.” ()

Their souls are distracted by their duties of tending to their flocks and herds!

Many often change their duties from day-to-day but they don’t change their hearts!

The term ‘flocks and herds’ are actually referring to their sacrifices.

Except He doesn’t give them the name sacrifices but only flocks and herds because they’re not worthy of the name.

Then the horn of judgment is to be sounded:"Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the war cry in Beth-aven: Look behind you, Benjamin! "Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel.” ()

When God judges He will overcome all!

Let everyone here be prepared to meet with God!

Those who die in their sin, their damnation is sure!

This isn’t mere talk or seeking to frighten you, but it’s an irrevocable sentence!

It’s God’s mercy to us that this is made known to us so that we might flee from the wrath to come!

We must flee as they because like them we too participate in v11, being determined to follow that which is worthless.

This is their corruption!

Then we see the CONSEQUENCES.

Corruption

"So I am like rot to Ephraim and like decay to the house of Judah. "When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent a delegation to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.” ()

Focus in on the words rot, decay, sickness, and wound.

These are less judgments sent by God as a consequence of sin!

These judgments sometimes work silently and are not alway picked up by our senses.

Perhaps you take a look at your life closely and find that it’s wasting and decaying!

Rotting and decay happen slowly over long periods of time because God is giving you space to repent!

Gradually God comes upon sinners with less judgment so as to prevent greater judgments.

Be wise and take His warning!

He comes upon you step-by-step but there’s no stopping His progress if there’s no repentance!

The decay speaks of the moth destroying the fabric and the rot speaks of the rotting of wood.

The unrepentant person supplies all the fabric and fire from their own kindling!

Consequences

Conclusion.

What shall we do as we consider God’s hand being stretched out against our nation?

ONE. 1.) Humble our souls before God, go forth to meet this mighty God with repentance.

1.) Humble our souls before God, go forth to meet this mighty God with repentance.

Let us cry mightily to Him, that, if it be possible, His wrath may be appeased before it fastens upon us.

"“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? "If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” ()

It is said of those that are wise, when a great king came out against them with twenty thousand, they sent ambassadors to desire conditions of peace,

when he was yet a great way off.

Mark it, when he was a great way off.

So, we must not stay till God is come to our gates,

till he be just upon us;

but while this great King, the Lord God, is a great way off, at a distance,

we must send to Him, and meet Him by repentance, by

humbling our souls, and making our peace with Him.

2.) God’s wrath is dangerous! For the sinner, you should meet with that danger before it comes!

It’s easier to keep an adversary at a distance than to repel him when he closes in on you!

When God comes in judgment, you’ll never have the strength to fend Him off!

"Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to blow fire on them and melt them, so I will gather you in my anger and wrath, put you inside, and melt you. "Yes, I will gather you together and blow on you with the fire of my fury, and you will be melted within the city. "As silver is melted inside a furnace, so you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my wrath on you.”” ()

As you look around at the judgments of God that fall all around us, you, lost one, cut off from Christ,

You may be next! Take it to heart that soon, your turn will be up next!