Three Questions About Revival January 8, 2012 Psalm 85 Read text Political season caucuses, primaries republican candidates,

s, tea partiers and talk radio shows are saying that this Novembers election is the last chance to turn America away from socialism. America has been blessed. Founded on the principles of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Americans have enjoyed more freedom and shared more freedom than any other nation. A reporter was doing a man on the street interview. Asked everyone Whats wrong with America? One man who didnt want to be bothered blurted out I dont know and I dont care. That sums it up. The polling shows that a majority of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, but there are diverging opinions as to what needs to be done politically, socially and morally. What America needs is revival. In fact, Jesus is the answer for the world today, above him theres no other. Jesus is the way. Early in the history of our country were two great Awakenings that had profound influences on American culture. If ONLY WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER GREAT AWAKENING IN AMERICA TODAY. What is revival? Revival is not Evangelism Revival is not a series of programmed meetings Revival is Gods work among His people. True revival always leads to effective, passionate, gospel centered change. READ Vss. 1-3

They had returned from exile to the land of promise. They were home, but something was missing. They longed for more than just material, blessing. They wanted something more. They wanted spiritual vitality. You can have everything that opens and shuts, fat wallet, nice house, friends and regular pew in the church house. It wasnt enough for Psalmist and it isnt for us. We need Gods fellowship, not just His blessing. The Bible speaks of Three levels of revival: Personal The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. Romans 13:12-14 Each of us stand on our own two legs. The call to revival is to us individually. Congregational But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5 Rev 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock Jesus spoke to a church. National if my people, who are called by my name, will 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 Chronicles 7:14 NIV84 We cant expect change to come from Washington DC, Wall Street, or Hollywood. Some years ago I heard Tony Evans preach at a Promise Keepers conference in Houston. He introduced his sermon with a powerful litany on the importance of reaching men if we hope to effect spiritual change. His premise was, "As goes the man, so goes the world." Too often we focus on the large institutions the world, the government, the Convention. But heart change is never from the top down. Follow Evans' line of thought. As goes the man, so goes the family. As goes the family, so goes the church. As goes the church, so goes the neighborhood. As goes the neighborhood, so goes the community. As goes the community, so goes the city. As goes the city, so goes the county. As goes the county, so goes the state. As goes the state, so goes the nation. As goes the nation, so goes the world. So, he asked, how do we reach the world? We change the world by reaching the nations. We change the nations by reaching the states. We change the states by reaching the counties. We change the counties by reaching the cities. We change the cities by reaching the communities. We change the communities by reaching the neighborhoods. We change the neighborhoods by reaching the churches. We change the churches by reaching the families. We change the families by reaching the men. Lasting change always starts with the individual.

Why do we need revival? Gods people are prone to drift and wander. We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. Hebrews 2:1-3 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1Timothy 6:10 Read. Vss. 4-7 4 Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon Your displeasure with us. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger for all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your faithful love, LORD, and give us Your salvation. Return to us Luke 15 lost sheep shepherd seeks out Revive us fresh life Vs 7 show us Your faithful love (renew vows, Give us Your salvation (hymn I Need Thee every hour What are the marks of revival? Vss. 8-13

I will listen to what God will say; surely the LORD will declare peace to His people, His godly ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways.
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Repentance not let them go back to their foolish ways

His salvation is very near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.
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Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. 11 Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven.
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Victory joining of love and truth join. Righteousness and peace embrace. George Mendoza and Edith Shame are names you most likely dont know. On April 4, 1945 George was in a movie theater when someone shouted that WW2 was over. The young sailor ran out into the street, where the celebration was beginning. Edith, a nurse who had just gotten off duty joined the crowd. George grabbed Edith, a total stranger, bent her over and laid the most audacious kiss he could muster. A photographer from Time magazine caught this image and it became the picture of victory. The war was over and a hard peace was won. Jesus, on the cross won an even greater victory. He took your sin and mine. He took our separation. He took our humiliation. Between heaven and earth. Mans sinfulness and Gods righteousness met on the cross and at the cross and the empty tomb the victory was won and we can celebrate the victory.

Also, the LORD will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. 13 Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.
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Blessing - God Blesses and Provides what is Good. and My people who are called by My name humble

themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chron. 7:14 1904, Evan Roberts, 22 year old had been praying for revival since he was a preteen, was moved by God to identify four areas: 1. Put away all unconfessed sin. Confess it, Get it out, Come clean. 2. Put away all doubtful habits. Sin is Sin, but there are disputable things that we can get hung up on. What Evan Roberts said was, I suggest that if you have a habit that is doubtful, give it up! For the glory of God, set it aside. If its not big of a deal, then dont let it be that big of a deal. 3. Obey the Holy Spirit. Whatever the Spirit prompts you to do, do it. The Holy Spirit wont contradict the Holy Scripture. We want to play it safe, when God is calling us to a life of radical love and radical obedience. 4. Confess Christ publicly. Everyone else is emboldened to come out of the closet. The Welsh revival was a national revival that was sparked by a young man who prayed for revival and a nation was changed by the power of God.