The Preacher's Special
Subject: REVIVAL Know the Secret of Revival
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007
DEAR FOLKS,
Today I am thinking about our up-coming Revival meeting and wanted to share a few thoughts.
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psalms 85:6
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isaiah 64:1-4
THE SOURCE OF REVIVAL – Verse 1
The Prayer Of God’s People – 2 Chronicles 7:14
The Providence Of God’s Purpose – “Thou Wouldest”
The Presence Of God’s Person – Verse 3&4
THE SYMBOL OF REVIVAL – FIRE
Fire Softens – Melting
Fire Sterilizes – Boil
Fire Spreads – “Make Thy Name Known”
THE SECRET OF REVIVAL – WAITING ON GOD
Revival Is The History Of The Church
Revival Is The Help Of The Church
Revival Is The Hope Of The Church
I hope you enjoy this simple outline. May each of us seek to avail ourselves to the source of Revival, Experience the symbol of Revival, and know the secret of Revival.
I hope you are earnestly praying for our up-coming Revival and that you are preparing yourself to experience personal Revival. Please consider the following:
A DOZEN WAYS TO HINDER REVIVAL – PLUS ONE
1. Make no preparation ahead of time.
2. Take no responsibility upon yourself.
3. Find fault with the dates of the meetings.
4. Put all other interests first.
5. Spend little or no time in prayer.
6. Talk much about all the obstacles in the way.
7. Complain loudly about the visiting evangelist.
8. Do not invite anyone to the services.
9. Remember that people in this area are very difficult to reach.
10. Refuse to acknowledge a need for Revival in your awn heart.
11. Confess no sins of which you may be guilty.
12. If anyone should be saved, say that they probably will soon backslide anyhow.
I want to add one to this list and give you a few thoughts about it.
13. Have a judgmental spirit toward others.
Rom 2:1-3
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
After God describes the depravity of man and his downward spiral, He now sets the record straight about those who judge one another. God has not given the Church the job of judging others.
John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The word “condemn” in this verse means, “to be of an opinion; to be a critic.” It has in it the idea of sentencing. If God did not send His Son into the world to “judge” the world, woe unto the man who takes it on himself to do so.
GOD’S ANALYSIS OF THOSE WHO JUDGE OTHERS
The judge is without excuse.
Paul is inspired to say, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest...” This speaks of those who have a condemning opinion and state it. This is a common sin among God’s people. There are many in every congregation who are guilty of this sin. You notice I am saying SIN? Because that it what it is.
This is one of the difficulties of being a Pastor. We have all stages of spiritual growth sitting before us in the congregation. There are newly born babes, others with some spiritual growth, and yet others mature in the faith.
The Pastor knows that this sin exists in some of the congregation, so how is he to make those guilty, feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
The answer is “Preach the Word” and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. If Jesus Himself did not judge, then we should not. Let the Word of God be the judge. Unfortunately when the Word convicts, the guilty usually do not repent, but will turn their wrath on the Preacher. But he must not allow that to keep him from his duty to PREACH THE WORD!
Anyone who has ever criticized anything in anybody has thereby pronounced his own condemnation. For even the finest critic has been guilty in some degree of the thing he has judged in another.
The judge is guilty of the same thing that he judges in others.
This is a hard pill to swallow. However, it is true because God says it. The person that judges is guilty of the same sin because he is assuming the right to do that which he says another has no right to do. God has forbidden it and the critic ignores what God has forbidden and does it anyhow. When you make this judgment, you are assuming a right to do what God has forbidden.
Romans 14:4
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
This does not mean that your judgment was incorrect concerning the other man. Verse 2 says, "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."
However, he is saying that it is not our job to condemn. It is our job to pray for and seek the spiritual growth of those who do wrong.
As long as we are in the flesh, we will have to deal with the temptation to judge others. Let’s claim the victory over this sin by drawing on the strength of the One that dwells within the heart of the saved. Again, Jesus is the answer.
God help each of us to take heed to these words and make sure we are not hindering Revival.
