sf1004 - God Revives His Repentant People (Ephesians 3 20-21)
Ephesians 3:20-21
Introduction
Summary Statements
Individuals and churches cannot continue to do business as usual when God is calling them to revival.
Repentance is the ultimate requirement. Without repentance, revival will not take place.
The way to know if we have returned is to see if God has returned to us.
Spiritual awakening is a by-product of God’s people getting their hearts right with Him.
1A. Revival Is God’s Work
1B. When God comes in revival, He comes as a refiner’s fire.
Malachi 3:1-2, 5 Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, Says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap… 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien -- Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts.
2B. When God comes in revival, He comes in judgment.
Luke 3:16-17 John answered, saying to all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
3B. When God comes in revival, you cannot remain neutral.
You must either obey Him or suffer the consequences of rebellion.
Jeremiah 8:5-7 Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. 6 I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle. 7 "Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.
4B. Revival is a sovereign act of God.
Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.
Ø We cannot cause a revival to take place.
Ø God wants us revived more than we do.
Ø God is the one who causes us to want to be revived.
2A. The Role of Prayer in Revival
1B. Great prayer movements have preceded every great revival in history.
However, not every prayer movement has resulted in revival.
2B. Prayer is not just a religious activity.
Prayer is a relationship with God. We pray because God has initiated a relationship with us.
3B. Prayer alone is not the key to revival.
Without repentance, revival will not take place!
4B. Prayer is a relationship with God through which we respond to Him, come near to Him, and find Him.
3A. How to Know when Revival has Come
1B. We know we have returned to God if God has returned to us.
Malachi 3:7 …Return to Me, and I will return to you, Says the LORD of hosts…
If you are still missing out on His presence and power, you have not yet met God’s requirements.
If you are still the same, whatever you have done, you have not encountered God.
2B. Revival will bring about radical changes in your life.
Your character will change.
Your heart will change.
Your love for Christ will change.
Your obedience to Christ will change.
Jeremiah 24:7 'Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
4A. Possible Objections to Revival
1B. Some will discount the truth of the Old Testament, saying, “God is not like that anymore.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2B. Some are offended to think of God as a God of discipline and judgment.
Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
3B. Some refuse to deal openly with sin in the church.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
4B. Some choose to rely on human wisdom and reason even when it is in direct opposition to God’s Word.
Romans 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar….
Application
Seek personal revival. Meditate on the following passages:
Psalm 139:1-4; 23-24 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether….23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Ask the Lord to encourage you to remain faithful in pursuing revival until He returns with revival to your church.
Pray for a willingness on the part of the church members to join together in repenting and returning to the Lord.
Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your life that might be a hindrance to revival.
Pray for the various denominations in your community that God would send revival on all of them. Pray that pastors and leaders would begin praying together for revival.
1. How does God get glory for Himself through the church?
2. How should we respond to people in our church who scorn and ridicule a call to revival?
3. What are some of the greatest barriers to revival?
4. What are some aspects of the revival process that would be difficult for individuals and churches?
5. What are the benefits of going through God’s revival process?
6. How can we know when revival has taken place?
7. What are some ways that we can do a better job of praying for revival individually and as a church?
8. What is the best evidence that repentance has taken place? Why?