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INTRODUCTION
Message on REVIVAL - Start with the Bible - Psalm 85:1-7
To aid our research and to illustrate - Give Credits: Thanks to the J.D. and Lori
Smith family for the video. On YouTube. Disclaimers: I am a Conservative Baptist
Pastor and this is a Conservative Baptist Church. Visitors this is not normal. The content does not
necessary bear the endorsement of FBC or its Leaders. I have been preparing you for this. I did find
on internet a radio pastor in Ohio devoted a radio program to this song.
1. The Sins of a Self-Righteous Church
- Back to the past. “antebellum world”
- Old South culture - Antebellum world - prior to civil war, glory.
- The church was locked in the past, those where the glory days.
- Want to return there, relive, fond memories, selective, forget bad.
- Problem is - impossible and not wise Ecc. 7:10
- Bored.
They looked bored in the “sleepy little town...”
- They are there, not too excited, routine is comfortable, looked bored
- Nothing dramatic is going to happen, after a long week, nice to sit back and
think of nothing. Same order, nothing changes. Tradition.
- Church starts at 10:30 sharp and ends around 11:30 dull. Mark 7:6
- Better than others. “Sister Bertha-better-than-you”
- Love to compare, Better than other churches, I am better than you.
- Look at me. Like the Phraisee and tax collector Luke 18:9-14
- Bickering and gossiping. “told of gossiping and church
dissension”
- “Did you hear. Tell me more, I already told you more than I know”
- “Did you see what she wore?”
- “Pastor needs a hair cut?”
- Always have to share the bad news
- Remember last week sin of gossip same verse as murder Rom. 1:29
- Have an opinion about everything. Stir up trouble, twist facts a little bit, add
our own slant. Can’t let sleeping dogs lie.
- Backbiting, complaining - some think it is a spiritual gift.
- Phil 2:14 grumbling = private; disputing = public.
- Blight of secret sins. “confess to sins that would make a sailor blush”
- Behind closed doors, secret lives of the “saints” - Soap Opera. Our
own dramas of Desperate Housewives and Family Guy. Luke 8:17
ILLUS: Every community I have lived in, surprised by secrets revealed. Good
marriages that went bad, double lives, addictions, abuse.
- On the surface a self-righteous church looks normal - even righteous.
- Can put on a good front, dress nice, pews occupied, smiles - but get to know
them a little better and you will find a self-righteous church - holier than
thou, but really not that holy after all. Do we have any of these?
- Jesus’ strongest words in the Gospels were NOT against sinners, but
against the religious people. Entire Matthew chapter 23 - key verse 28.
QUOTE: A.W. Tozer Rut, Rot, or Revival. p 22-23
2. The Signs of a Spirit-Revived Church
- The Spirit needs to get a hold of us. In revival there is evidence of presence of God in
midst. Is there evidence that God is here at FBC?
- Personal Confessions. “Lord, have mercy on me.”
- Confess our sins before God and others if necessary: “I am
sorry”
- Times we publically do this, most times privately to another.
- We can’t let sin eat at us, shouldn’t come to the
Lord’s Table.
- In any study of history of revival - when God reveals Himself,
repentance and confession of sin is always a first response.
QUOTE: 2005 Erwin Lutzer: History of revival, every Great Awakening
in America included “Humility and brokenness,” deep
sense of sin.
QUOTE: Jonathan Edwards First Great Awakening 1734 in Northhampton,
Mass. “Intense conviction of sin was nearly universal... Deeper
sins like pride and envy were the focus. Some were even convicted
that they were not more convicted.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:14; James 4:16
- People get saved and baptized. “seven deacons and pastor
got saved”
- I shouldn’t ever assume everyone in the room is saved, gospel
needs to be preached people need to be saved - even church people.
- Acts 10 Story of religious Cornelius saved and baptized vs.
43,47
- God saves souls. Romans 10:13 “whoever will call...will be
saved”
- Then baptisms. Some of you have even been re-baptized.
- Pockets and Purses are emptied. “$25,000 was raised”
- Money is given sacrificially, God saves our finances too.
- We can’t out give God. - Malachi 3:10 2 Cor. 9:6-7
QUOTE: George Barna: “Among all born again adults, 9%
contributed one-tenth or more of their income.” If we would
tithe - plenty for our ministry, and missions, staff and a building
project.
- Passion for Ministry. “50 volunteered for missions, 500
rededications”
- Recommitments and calls to serve God. Go out and set world on fire
- Gospel brings us to life, out of gratitude we want to tell others
ILLUS: My call to ministry Psalm 56:13. “Pass it
On” Acts 1:8
- Revival awakens God’s people to the needs of the church, world.
- Revival moved D.L. Moody to ministry
- Praising God. “Shoutin’ Hallelujah” we are
Baptists, shout ballgames
- We are not in the pew jumping scene, BUT - shouldn’t keep quiet.
- Excitement not boredom, rejoicing in present and future
- Psalm 71:8, 14, 22; Hebrews 13:5
QUOTE: An Alive Church vs. Dead Church
CONCLUSION
Humor can be serious. Unconventional message to get us back to Psalm 85:6 Do we need
revival to break out here at FBC? YES!!!
Pray for Revival - it can begin with you and me.
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