Psalm 73 - Part 5 - Revival
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1) INTRODUCTION
1) INTRODUCTION
A). Quotes on Revival
A). Quotes on Revival
“Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.” J. I Packer
“In revival, God is not concerned about filling empty churches, He is concerned about filling empty hearts.” Leonard Ravenhill
“A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, and making God and His love triumph in the heart and life.” Andrew Murray
B). Our Journey
B). Our Journey
Asaph was a mighty man of faith who nearly collapsed under the weight of false perceptions. The cornerstone of Asaph’s false perceptions was looking in the wrong direction. Instead of looking unto God, he looked unto the world. He saw the here and now, and forgot about the then and there.
His state of mind became so polluted that he envied the foolish and wicked:
Prosperity
Power
Pleasure
He questioned God’s love, investment and intimacy in those who have a clean heart.
His perception changed when he went into the sanctuary of God:
His perception of the world - One day soon they will be consumed with terrors for an eternity.
His perception of God - God has a plan - eventually God’s plan will bring about the soon return of Jesus Christ, His Son.
His perception of himself - Probably the most difficult change. No one likes to examine themselves. Often we stop at a and b without ever going to c.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my reins and my heart.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
C). Conditions for revival
C). Conditions for revival
We can’t expect revival, if we are not chastened and rebuked.
“Reformation is a return to the sound doctrine of the Bible. Revival is the practice of that sound doctrine under the power of the Holy Spirit. “ Francis Schaeffer
2 Chron
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We look at verses like this without ever considering the sobering truth that we are the reason revival is not happening.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
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We do not fear God anymore.
2). DEPENDENT V.23-24
2). DEPENDENT V.23-24
Nevertheless I am continually with thee:
Thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
A). We need the Lord
A). We need the Lord
We live in a nation that boast of her rugged individualism but Christianity’s boast is her absolute and complete dependence upon God for survival.
Asaph was not dependent upon the Lord in the same sense as a teenager on a parents taxes; rather a newborn who would never survive without outside help.
There is a contrast
Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was pricked in my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant:
I was as a beast before thee.
Asaph was continually with the Lord:
Continually - Carries the idea of stretching
“Thee” - Goes back to v.20 - Speaking of the Lord
Owner and Master
God is the rightful Owner and Master
God’s mercy - in spite of Asaph’s sin, he was still allowed to continue with the Lord.
Why was Asaph continually with the Lord? Because the Lord would not let go!
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
All of us have been Asaph but upon our confession we are restored back into fellowship with the Lord.
Asaph was continually with the Lord:
Why was Asaph continually with the Lord? Because the Lord would not let go!
Continually - Carries the idea of stretching
“Thee” - Goes back to v.20 - Speaking of the Lord
Owner and Master
God is the rightful Owner and Master
B). The only way we can stand is the Lord
B). The only way we can stand is the Lord
Why was Asaph continually with the Lord? Because the Lord would not let go!
The Lord had a hold of Asaph
Notice the Lord held Asaph’s right hand. In ancient times the right arm was symbolic of strength. The idea is in all of Asaph’s strengths he could not keep himself from falling.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
C). Led by God’s counsel
C). Led by God’s counsel
Asaph’s confidence in God:
In spite of his fall, He would
God’s purpose that he should
We are not led by our feelings. emotions, philosophies, or experiences.
Three things to see about God’s counsel
There are a lot of different voices out here and if our ears our bent in the wrong direction, God’s counsel will be clouded.
Where was Asaph in v.2?
Blessed is the man
That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor standeth in the way of sinners,
Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Blessed is the man
That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor standeth in the way of sinners,
Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm
God’s counsel oftentimes takes an unconventional approach.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
God’s children will hear from the Lord
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
God speaks to us through His word - His words are spirit and life!
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
D). Receive me up into glory
D). Receive me up into glory
Asaph cannot get to Heaven on his own. He needed God to receive him. The basis of this reception is grace.
3). DESIRES V.25
3). DESIRES V.25
Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
God is the key to Heaven - There is a song entitles Welcome to Heaven that fully describes Asaph’s point:
“Jasper walls, golden streets, mansions bright
And crystal rivers will sparkle with light
Heaven's beauties we'll share
But they'll never compare to the moment
He welcomes me there
Glory's angels will all step aside
When He greets me with arms open wide
He'll step down from His throne
just for me alone,
Face to face He'll welcome me home.”
He should be our chief desire here - Do you know God the Father’s chief desire is His Son!
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
When God becomes our chief desire than what pleases God will please us.
Unfortunately, we have made please and desiring God subordinate pleasures.
4) DRAW NEARER TO GOD V. 26-28
4) DRAW NEARER TO GOD V. 26-28
My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:
Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
But it is good for me to draw near to God:
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may declare all thy works.
The closing verses recap his change in perception.
Understands his weakness - Him
He understands his strength - God
He understands the destination of the foolish and wicked - destruction
Therefore, his chief goal is to draw near to God:
He put his trust in the Lord God
So that Asaph can declare all His works.