Revival We Need

Introduction

Due to report of successful revivals by Gipsy Smith (evangelist…knew William Booth and had many evangelistic crusades in England and the United States), a certain preacher approached the noted evangelist to ascertain the secret of his success. He was asked to explain the best method to start a revival. The answer was: "Brother, go back home, lock yourself up in a private room. Take a piece of chalk and mark a circle on the floor, get down on your knees inside the circle, pray God to start a revival inside this circle. When this prayer is answered, the revival will be on."

John 3:14-18

John 3:14–18 KJV 1900

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Satan struck when our first parents were tempted. They were poisoned when they took the temptation to heart. God raised up the serpent as them means of healing and deliverance…they people received God’s grace by means of their faith.

Jesus is God’s salvation from our sin and spiritual death…and EVERYONE who believes upon Him will be saved.

Because God loves us and it moved Him to send Jesus to save us and make a peculiar people unto Himself. Titus 2:14

Titus 2:14 KJV 1900

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Peculiar in that we are a holy people…We are different. We are born again…saved from the power as well as consequence of sin.

Are you peculiar? Are you different from the world?

40% of people under 30 call themselves a “none.” Almost 2/3 of teens who grow up in church leave the faith in their 20’s. Church membership has dropped 20% in the past two decades…Southern Baptists have lost 2 million members since 2005.

Why do they leave? Why are they not attracted to us and our God in us? I’ll tell you why…our churches have too few peculiar people!

Jesus said the world would hate His followers. They would persecute and even kill us…how much have we been persecuted in the world lately? How many believers have died for the faith in America? We think that hasn’t happened because we live in a land with the first amendment but the reality is this…we live in a land in which their is too few peculiarities about God’s people.

“God’s house is going to change the world not the White House.”

But the house of God must become peculiar again if that is to be the case.We must repent of our sins, especially the sins of omission. Our prayer-less-ness is abominable. Our lack of zeal for the Lord, holiness and good works MUST be repented of if we are to become a peculiar people again.

We must pray for boldness, put on the armor of God, trust our Christ and have faith in Him to stand. We must die to ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. We must be crucified with Christ and live by faith in Him.

Those who are not saved…who are not peculiar…the lost…they are condemned. They, right now, live as a condemned person. They are going to hell.

Conclusion

Pray and repent of any and all sin in your life. If there is some habitual sin weighing you down then lay it on the altar this morning.

Repent…turn your heart to God. Ask Him to keep you in repentance…to revive you. To believe in something beyond the status quo and normal…ask Him for a peculiar life…a life of holiness and passion for the Lord.

Roger Babson was an American entrepreneur, economist, and business theorist in the first half of the 20th century. He once said, “"Today the nation is in another unemployment pocket. As Whitefield pulled us out following 1730; as Finney saved the day following 1810; as Moody reshaped America beginning 1858; and as a score of national evangelists restored confidence following 1898, so the nation is awaiting such spiritual leaders today."

I am looking for ten men to pray, seek revival and with whom to learn the deep things of God. Will you be one this morning?

“Breathe on me Breath of God” — This hymn is a prayer.  The first line of each stanza is "Breathe on Me, Breath of God."  That phrase reminds us of the creation in which God "formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7).  It reminds us of Jesus breathing on his disciples and saying to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). 

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. 

Would you pray this morning and ask God to make you a peculiar person? A life that confuses, transfixes and persuades those living int he ways of the world? Would you ask God to breathe on you?