The Reality of Revival

Today I want to focus on the realityof revival.  Revival in its simpliest form is that you are different and your view of your role in life is different.  Gypsy Smith the great revivalist was asked the secret of revival.  He said, "Draw a circle around youself and don't come out until you are revive with God."  It is so true.  when you are revived you have a new outlook on everything.  You see life as an opportunity to tell others about Jesus Christ.  Yesterday I was delivering invitations for our church and also putting flyers in door handles.  Someone thought I was trying door handles on cars so they called the police.  All of a sudden I was stopped by three police cars and asked what I was doing.  I showed them the flyer and my i.d. and then they laugh and told me that they would relate what I was doing to the complaint person.  I realize in that moment I was revived.  I was excited to know that I was causing s stir in the community and that I was revived.  I wanted to share Christ with others.  I was making an impact and three policeman got see see my material which had a clear presentation of the gospel.  Last week I had the privilege of leading two people to Christ.  This agained help revivve me.  My exhortation for you is draw a circle around yourself and do not come out until you are revived.  Those in your world need someone who is revived and full of the Holy Spirit to show them the way.

The Power of Revival

There have been many biblical revivals.  The first real revival for the church of Jesus Crist was some 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.  Luke who wrote the book of Acts tells how Jesus gave His followers a command to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on High.  For the next ten days they waited, prayed, gather together in one place, with one purpose and one goal.  To receive the promise and get the power.  On the Day of Pentecost the Spirit came with the manifestations of wind and tongues of fire.  These tongues of fire landed on the people there and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  They spoke in 15 recorded languages.  That was a wonderful thing but the power they received changed their lives.  Peter stood up and gave a message and three thousand men came to know Christ that day.  We need that kind of power today.  We need people who are like what Daniel describes in Dan 11:32, "people who know their God and do exploits."  The secret that day for revival and a pattern for us to follow is as follows.  First, receive the promise.  The Lord wants to pour out His Spirit upon you, your family, church and community.  Secondly, tarry or wait, stay in that place of prayer until the power comes upon your life.  Thirdly, walk in unity with others.  A house divided cannot stand.  We need revival, it is the only thing that will turn our world around for Jesus Christ.  It lies in your hands so do not fail or falter.  Others need you. 

How to stay Revived!

This morning I want to give you the four ways in which you can be revived and stay revived.  First, you need to have a powerful, consistent prayer life.  Every day you need to get alone with God and pray from your heart.  Do not let your prayer time become normal.  Remember you are spending time with the God of the universe.  He wants to hear from you and you need to hear from Him.  Next you need to spend time in the Bible, the Word of God.  This like prayer must be consistent.  One day without the word can really hold you back.  The Bible is food for the soul and like food you need it everyday.  Thirdly, you need to go to church.  Many today are opting out of church or do not not go consistently.  So they have missed a very important part of spiritual growth.  Also in this area make sure you go to a bible beleivng church.  You need to hang around people who believe in the Word of God and prayer.  Lastly, share your faith.  You have the most exciting message.  Mankind can be redeemed.  Share what God has done for you.  If you do these four things they will help you stay strong and revived.

Psalm 4 - Psalms of Steel - By Robert Dean Steel

Psalm 4 - Psalms of Steel

The Lord is the righteous judge.

He sees all we do and why we do it.

The motives and thoughts behind each action.

We can justify any action in our heart.

We can lie to ourselves and others.

We cannot lie to God, He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Oh man, when you are not truthful.

Each deed is more wicked than before.

Your lies have no legs, you must tell another,

To support the one you just told.

Let the Lord expose your heart so you can repent.

Confess your sin and wickedness and renounce your sins.

The Lord will forgive and give you righteousness.

The folly of the wicked is they will not change unless forced.

They will justify excuse and blame others for their sin.

They will claim to be the victim or play the martyr,

Instead of repenting and turning from their sin.

They cling to unrighteousness like it is their life.

Not knowing the very thing they hold onto will destroy them,

The Lord counsels all who come to Him.

Give up your wicked ways and chose righteousness and salvation.

Be wise and change your heart and ways.

The way of righteousness brings no bad fruit.

It heals the heart, cleanses the mind and restores the Spirit.

Come and be healed, serve the Lord and live.

4 Elements of Revival

Today, I want to focus on the four elements of people who want revival and they are based on 2 Chron 7:14.  This scripture has been used over the centuries as a key verse on creating and bringing a revival.  Revival means to bring back to life that which has been allowed to burn down or almost go out.  The Canadian church has been relatively ineffective in the last 20 years to stem the tide of unrighteousness that has been running rampant in our land.  The church is the key for this turn around and here are the four things we have to do.  First, we need to humble ourselves.  We must be willing to put away our selfishness, pride and stubborness and get serious with God.  Next we need to pray.  Prayer is the thing that moves the hand of God.  I am not talking about pray that is meaningless or rote but prayer that cries out in desparation and says, "God we need a revival."  Thirdly, seek His face.  We must be persistent and make our requests known to God.  Isaiah in Is 62, says that we are to remind God day and night of what we want.  It is not that God is deaf but He wants to see if we really mean it or is it one of our momentary fads.  Lastly, we are turn from our wicked ways.  Unless the last is present we will never see a move of God.  Purity brings power and nothing else will.  God needs to see a serious and pure people.  Then He will move.  The promise of this verse is that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.  Today let us do this for the glory of God and for the salvation of others.

Need for Revival

This week I am going to going to leave my studies on Christ to talk about the need for Revival.  Revival is something dreamed about people who are tired of formal religion and lack of spiritual progress.  In Canada and in Alberta we are blessed because we have some of the largest Christian gatherings in Canada.  In the city of Edmonton we have Breakforth the largest music and equipping conference of its kind in Canada.  We also have YC which is the largest youth conference of its kind in Canada.  Yet even here in this province we need revival.  Recently I did a interview with James Penner a professor at University of Lethbride.  He did a study on the youth and young adult demographic and why they were leaving the churc.  He said his information showed that 2 out of every three young people who grow up in the church will leave by the age 20.  Now there is hope because of Prov 22:6, which states that when you train a child in the way they should go when they are old they will not depart from it.  But that does not keep them from years of heart ache.  Here is a reality.  Every day we do not have a revival our children get more bombarded by the power of the world.  Everyday we do not have revival the worldly influence on the church gets stronger.  It is time the people of God stand up and say no more.  We need to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.  The promise is that the Lord will hear from heaven and heal our land.  The responsibility for our nation turning around is in then hand of the Christian.  Let us not drop the ball again.  I know I have determined that I will not.  Will you join me this week in praying for a breakthrough? 

Jesus My Friend!

When one talks about Jesus Christ many of us call Him Savior and Lord but do we call Him friend.  Being a friend means that you can be trusted to stand behind and support another.  Jesus is such an individual.  You can trust Him with anything and in everything.  Jesus promised in Matt 28:20 that He would never forsake or leave us.  That means that when you need a friend to walk with through anything you are facing Jesus will be there.  When You asked Him for His help He will give it instantly and every resource He has will be avaiable for you.  That is why we can come to the throne of God with confidence knowing that in that prayer time we will be given grace and mercy.  It is so exciting to be a servant of Christ.  We have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  No matter what we are facing we are never alone.  So today put your trust in Jesus and you will never be disappointed.  Your promises today are:  Psalm 5:12, 34:7, Ps 91, Prov 2:8, 30:5, John 8:36, Rom 8:37, 1 Thess 3:3, Rev 12:11, Ps 145:20.  Your Insightful Saying is:  A life in tune with the master will play the right song for His glory.