[ ] 10/24/2010 #905
STEPS TO PERSONAL REVIVAL
James 4:5-10
INTRODUCTION: Henry Blackaby said, "Too many of God's people do not clearly and passionately see the desperate need for a mighty return to God by the people of God. Many do not realize they have departed. They still 'practice religion' and assume their activity is a relationship with God. Religious activity, no matter how faithful, is not necessarily a relationship with God. This has been the tragedy of God's people throughout the Bible.”
After 1962 when prayer was taken out of schools, we have been under a constant barrage for the removal of all things Christian in the public arena. As the 10 Commandments got canned from public placement and Nativity scenes were put into corporate warehouses, our nation has slipped into an absolute state of ignorance, oblivion, and utter despair.
Former President, Theodore Roosevelt, once stated, "The teachings of the Bible are so interwoven with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure what life would be if those teachings are removed."
Since this movement in 1962 occurred to remove all things Christian, there has been a 560% increase in violent crime; a 419% increase in illegitimate births; a quadrupling in divorce rates; a tripling of the percentage of children living in single-parent homes; more than a 200% increase in the teenage suicide rate; and a drop of almost 80 points in SAT scores (college entrance exams).
The government has spent an tremendous amount of money and time in an attempt to reverse our social ills. Since 1962, the government's inflation-adjusted spending on welfare has increased by 630%; spending on education by 225%; and social programming has increased five-fold, all while morality and societal issues have continue to disintegrate.
I. PERSONAL RESOLVE
A. SUBMIT TO THE LORD.
Submission is an act of the will. We must submit to God’s will. The word “submit” is a military word meaning “to obey.” Revival begins in the heart of the person who submits to the Lord and obeys Him.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
B. RESIST THE DEVIL.
We can only resist the devil after we have surrendered to the Lord. We can resist the devil in the strength of the Lord. The word “resist” means “to take your stand against.”
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. 6:10-11
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
If we resist the Lord we have turned to the devil. Satan has no authority over the child of God except what we allow. We cannot resist Satan in our own strength.
C. DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD
As believers, we can draw near to the Lord. Jesus is our High Priest. We have the privilege of coming into God’s presence because of the blood of Jesus. We can worship and fellowship with the Lord.
“ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “ Hebrews 4:16
“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Isaiah 29:13
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
II. PERSONAL REPENTANCE
A. COMMAND FOR REPENTANCE.
1. Repent of one’s action.
The priest in the Old Testament had to wash themselves before they could approach God in worship. God rejects the efforts of those who presume to worship him in their unrepentant condition.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.” Isaiah 1:15-16
2. Repent of one’s attitude.
The double-minded person is trying to love the Lord and the world at the same time This person will not experience the grace of God.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4
Repentance is the sinner agreeing with God concerning his wretchedness and sin. A repentant person recognizes that his heart is evil and rebellious against God. He accepts the fact that he is condemned by God’s holy law. He desires to turn from a life of sin to the Savior.
B. CHARACTERISTICS OF REPENTANCE. (v. 9)
The sinner experiences the guilty of his sin. The word “afflicted” means the sinner is miserable because of his sin. Genuine repentance is characterized as brokenness over one’s sin against God and His holy law.
The sinner’s heart is grieved because of his sin. He mourns because of his sin against God.
Weep: Peter wept because of his betrayal of his Lord.
Heaviness (casting down of the eyes): “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
“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.” 2 Chr. 7:14
III. PERSONAL REWARD
A. GREATER GRACE. (v. 6, 10b)
The word “humble” means “lowly.” Like Isaiah, the person who experiences genuine revival will recognize the holiness and greatness of God and his own spiritual condition. He will humbly walk with his Lord.
B. GREATER GLORY. (v. 10; 1 Pet. 5:5)
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt. 23:12
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. A doom and gloom attitude should not control a believer’s life, but mourning over one’s sin is the path to godliness and revival.
2. Revival will only come if we:
· Humble ourselves before God
· Pray like we have never prayed before
· Turn from every sin
· Seek the Lord sincerely
· Surrender to the Lord completely
3. If we honestly want to see the lost saved, we must have revival in our homes and churches.
4. The lost have this choice: repent and turn to Christ by faith or reject Christ and perish in hell. What is your choice?