Time for Revival

INTRO: Psalm 85:6 (NKJV)  Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? What does revival mean? It means to restore to life something that is almost dead.

Revival comes when we realize we have lost our zeal for God. When we realize we have become self-satisfied in our worship and we begin to cry out for the Spirit of God to have His way in us. Revival is when God does awesome things in our lives that we have not even looked for. As He revives us it changes those around us. Why doesn’t God move this way now? Why doesn’t He Just come and straighten things out. Why does revival tarry? It's because revival is waiting on you and me. We are the ones to blame. The Lord's just waiting on you and me. Revival is waiting on me and you, and that's why revival tarries. I. REVIVAL IS DEPENDENT ON US CHRISTIANS. I believe this great revival and change in America that all us Christians are waiting for is a lot more dependent on us than we realize. With any real revival, we understanding that we are not where we should be. Whether it be in our lifestyle, our effectiveness for God or our love relationship with Jesus, we recognize that things need to change and that it needs to begin with us. We need to start with some deep soul searching. We are no longer satisfied with the status quo of our spiritual life and start seeking God from a deep-felt need within our soul. Revelation 2:1-5 (NKJV) ¹  "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ²  I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³  and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. ⁴  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
So often, our prayers for revival consist of us asking the Lord to change everyone else so that revival will come. And, don't get me wrong, those prayers are needed for revival to truly happen in other people who need to be changed.
But there's something that the Lord's Holy Spirit brings into the light. It's the idea that revival - this big, huge wave of change in our nation where people turn back to the Lord uncompromisingly and permanently - starts with me. Revival starts with you. It starts with us. Revival has to come to us as individuals before it can (or will) ever touch others. Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. We must arise and let the light of Jesus shine in us so bright we can lighten this dark world by our good works that bring glory to the Father. Only we Christians can help change this world as we live and witness for Jesus.

II. REVIVAL BEGINS WITH ONE. Gypsy Smith, a British evangelist in the early 1900's, was once asked how to start a revival. He answered: "Go home, lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of your floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start the revival inside that chalk mark. When He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on. 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. ²¹  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. If we entered into a personal revival first, (a "revival of one") it would change things around us. Just like it did with Israel thru Hezekiah. If each of us were to become even a little closer to the Lord and become more obedient to Him, the fires of revival would burn that much brighter. There is not a one of us that have perfected our relationship with the Father. If each of us decided to follow after the Lord with a passion to where our actions, attitudes, and appetites were changed - to where we actually follow and chase after God instead of just talking about it – we would change the atmosphere in our church and nation to the place where the Lord might release revival in our land. King David gives us an excellent example of a personal revival in: Psalms 63:1-8¹ A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. ² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. ³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. ⁴ Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. ⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. ⁶ When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. ⁷ Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. ⁸ My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. Sixteen times David used personal pronouns to describe his fervent desire for a revival in his relationship with God. Verse 8 shows us David's surrender to God and his determination to follow Him. He would chase after God and the things that pertain to Him depending on God to uphold him in his efforts.

Conclusion: Revival has to start somewhere. And the best place for it to start is with me and you! With us. Then our personal revival spills over into the lives of those around us, until “the whole world comes to the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab 2:14). So revival is waiting on you and I. How sincerely do you really desire a revival of God in your life? If you feel satisfied with your relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son then you will never have revival in your life. You must have a hunger and a thirst for God.

INVITATION: Have you ever taken time to ask Jesus to forgive your sins against God. Have you invited Him to be your Savior and Lord? If you will salvation will come to you. Will you Christian stop right where you are and ask Jesus to forgive you for your disobedience, unconcern and lack of love for Him? Then you can rejoice in the Lord your God! Then revival will come to you and those around you.

A Touch of Faith

Scripture Text

Mark 5:25-34

The bible says in Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1.  Faith in Christ shouldn't be last resort. Mark 5:25-26 (NKJV)²⁵  Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

The woman had been hemorrhaging for twelve years; it was uncontrollable. No one could touch her or anything she had touched. This particular woman had tried all she knew. She had seen "many physicians" and "spent all that she had," and yet she "grew worse." She was to be totally cut off from society and religious worship. Her last resort was to turn to Jesus!

2.  By faith we activate the presence and power of God. Mark 5:27 (NKJV) ²⁷  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
Even though she couldn’t go to God’s house, by her faith she activated the very presence and power of God in her life and situation. We can activate our faith wherever we are. It's not the place but our faith and trust in God.

She had a shy, embarrassed, unworthy attitude. Note the woman made her way through the crowd and came up behind Jesus. She wanted to touch Jesus without being seen or noticed because she was embarrassed and felt unworthy. Her hemorrhaging was a personal, intimate matter for her, something she did not want to be known and discussed. She was considered unclean; therefore, she felt unworthy to approach Jesus but she had an expectant, believing attitude. Maybe you feel unworthy, but don't let that stop you from touching Jesus. The poor woman believed what "she had heard of Jesus." (V:27) She believed the gospel that Jesus loved and cared and would make her whole.

Mark 5:28 (NKJV) For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

She believed in her mind, heart, and soul, with her 

whole being. She cast off all doubts!

She believed two things: the gospel (what she had 

heard about Jesus) and the power of Jesus to make 

her whole. By her faith she activated the power of God in her life. We all must use our faith to activate God's power to answer each prayer that we have. When she touched Jesus' power in her life the answer came. Mark 5:29 (NKJV) Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

3.  Her faith touched Jesus. Mark 5:30 (NKJV) And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"

There was no way Jesus could have felt the touch to His robe. He was being pressed and thronged by the crowd, yet when she stepped up behind Him and touched His robe, He knew. How?

It is faith that touches Jesus. Faith will never go unnoticed nor be ignored by Jesus.

4.  BY faith we activate the purposes of God.

a. Others must know of God's power. Mark 5:33 (NKJV) But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. Jesus had made the way easy for her. He had allowed her to be healed without embarrassment, but it was not enough to believe in secret. The secret disciple had to be brought to the point of confessing her faith so that everyone could know God’s purpose for mankind. God's purpose is to bring glory to Himself through His salvation, love, care for His people. We are to let others know what God wants to do.

When a person or a group of people place their faith in Jesus and His power, it touches Jesus, and Jesus infuses His power and presence into that situation.

Thus the purpose of God was activated by this woman who was an outcast by society.

Others must know God’s purpose for mankind is eternal life and salvation. It's also the infusion of His power, and abundant life and healing into the spirit, soul, and body of mankind.

b.  Mark 5:34 (NKJV) And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

 Conclusion: She was given comfort, joyfulness, courage, confidence, and boldness in her faith and healing.

She was assured that she was whole permanently. Her deliverance would last.

 She became a daughter of God. She was given physical healing, soul salvation and peace with God. We all need something from God! It’s crisis time for your faith.

Invitation: Have you put your faith in Jesus for the salvation He provides?

He provides salvation from the penalty of sins, just confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your heart to take charge of your life and you will experience the saving power of Jesus.

Be Still

Scripture Text Psalm 46:10

Intro: We live in a time of chaos today. Everything seems to be totally out of control. Sin is rampant. There is deception and lies everywhere. Divisiveness rules our land right now. There is little stability in our world today as we look around us but God speaks to us from His word. Let us be encouraged by God’s word. He is our only stability no matter what! He is in control of every situation and circumstance.

I. God says in His word to “Be still.” – That means to be tranquil, silent, quiet, and at rest in your heart and mind. No matter what's going on, we should have peace.

a. This is a challenge for all of us. We must work at it. There is Sickness, Political unrest, biased media, looting, rioting, covid-19 everywhere. There is no substitute for time alone with God. We are to read His word, meditate on it and we pray about everything. Stillness before the Lord in quiet time allows Him to prepare us for the unexpected challenges and opportunities in life. We should focus on Him rather than trying to figure out every problem we face and wondering what will come next or grieving over past things. God says we are simply to “be still, be at peace” as we acknowledge His Lordship over our lives and Surrender to His will.

II. Then God says to “know” something. Know means to recognize and discern.

a. We are to know, recognize and understand that He is God and has everything under control. He has everything covered, nothing takes Him by surprise.

He’s already in our future working things out on our behalf and for our good.

Let there be no doubt whatsoever that He has a perfect plan for all of us.

We can put our complete trust in Him in every situation and circumstance we face.

We just need to wait quietly and simply let Him work in us so He can work through us to accomplish His will in our lives. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

III. God says “I will be exalted.” [Habakkuk 2:14] [Psalm 2:3-12]

a. God will be raised in rank, honor, power, character, glory among all the nations of the world. God’s lofty position over all will be made known to all nations who live on the face of the earth. ^{Habakkuk 2:14 (NKJV)  For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.}

All the idols of the world will be burned up by God’s wrath when Jesus comes to rule and reign. All the other religions of the world that have sent many to hell by their false teachings will be destroyed by the fire of God’s wrath and He will be exalted as His word proclaims.
God in all His glory will rule supreme on the earth over all through His Son Jesus Christ, the Anointed One. Psalm 2:1-12 (NKJV) ¹  Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? ²  The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ³  "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." ⁴  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. ⁵  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: ⁶  "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." ⁷  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ⁸  Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. ⁹  You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " ¹⁰  Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. ¹¹  Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. ¹²  Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Those burning God's word which is the truth that guides us and our flag which stands for freedom!

b. God will have His salvation proclaimed in every nation, among every people, and in every tongue. The nations abroad that do not worship Him, but worship idols, shall see that He alone is the true God, and that He is worthy of universal adoration and worship. God has declared all the peoples on earth will bow before His Son.

Philippians 2:9-11 ⁹ God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Our Safety,sanctuary, hiding place. Selah Stop and meditate on that!

Conclusion: If you have not developed the habit of quiet time to still your mind, daily prayer and bible study, why not begin now so you will draw closer to God and realize He is sovereign over all the earth. When you do you will have rest and peace in your mind and soul.

Invitation: Do you have a relationship with this all powerful God? Have you gotten still before God and confessed your sins to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over? If not now is the right time!