Been asking in this series:
What do we want to see God do in OUR GENERATION?
This whole series has been about how to PREPARE OURSELVES for God to move
- Don’t want to miss it
So far…
- Being SET APART (Consecration)
- Living on Mission
- Legacy Matters
Today is about planting the SEED OF REVIVAL
Let’s talk about the word Revival…
- Many grew up GOING to revival, but few have EXPERIENCED Revival
What is Revival?
Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness.
This means that Revival:
- Isn’t planned
- Isn’t controlled
It’s a breaking out of the Spirit of God in a NEW, FRESH way that changes Christian believers and calls non-believers to repentance
In simple terms, Revival is…
Intensification of the ORDINARY operations of the Holy Spirit
Always includes:
- Repentance of sin
- Conversion
- Giving of assurance
- Sanctifying (making us holy)
I bring this up because a few weeks ago, while driving in my truck
- Praying to God
- Heart concerned about His people
Many who love the Lord have prayed this…
- Prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 64:1
1 If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence—
This was a plea for God’s presence and power to be brought in a new way!
- But God doesn’t waste his glory
2 Chronicles 16
9 For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him.
So, as we pray for REVIVAL, How can we prepare?
BY BECOMING GOOD SOIL
Luke 8
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
Luke 8
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
4 types of Soil
1: Path
Those who hear the message of Jesus and choose not to believe
2: Rocky Soil
Shallow Christian believers who fall away when life gets difficult
3: Thorns
Believers who do not live life in Christian Abundance (Authority, faith, trust) because of the concerns and temptations of the world
- In the garden but no fruit
4: Good Soil
Those who genuinely place their hopes and concerns on Jesus and see Him as life’s ultimate purpose.
We should desire to be GOOD SOIL in which the SEED OF REVIVAL can be planted
How can we be good soil?
- 2 things
1: True Repentance
Good People…
- But who determines the Good?
The Bible has a different view of good…
Romans 3:23a
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
All of us are guilty, and the penalty for sin is death
Romans 6:23a
23 For the wages of sin is death…
Repentance begins with understanding that it was/is OUR SIN that held Jesus to the Cross
- That is what kept him there
This is the miracle that is the GOSPEL
Let’s finish that verse…
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
True Repentance:
Literally a change of mind, not about individual plans, intentions, or beliefs, but rather a change in the whole personality from a sinful course of action to God
A NEW WAY OF:
- Thinking
- Acting
- Feeling
- Believing
What does TRUE REPENTANCE look like
1) True repentance involves a sense of awareness of one’s own guilt, sinfulness, and helplessness (Psalm 51:4–10; 109:21–22).
2) True repentance apprehends or takes hold of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ (Psalm 51:1; 130:4).
3) True repentance means a change of attitude and action regarding sin. Hatred of sin turns the repentant person away from his or her sin to God (Psalm 119:128; Job 42:5–6; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
4) True repentance results in a radical and persistent pursuit of holy living, walking with God in obedience to His commands
Becoming Good soil requires a HEART that is no longer hardened against God…
2: Righteous Living
Righteousness is not LIVING PERFECTLY… It’s LIVING, HONESTLY
- Honest about your struggles
- honest about your mistakes
But also:
- Honest about How God has forgiven you
- How you are a NEW CREATION
Old struggles – Thing of the past
Old Mistakes – Slate wiped clean
Righteous living is not just accepting forgiveness but also choosing to live in the LIGHT OF THAT FORGIVENESS
1 Peter 2:24
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
You don’t have to go back to what you were
- You don’t have to live among the thorns
- Worrying, fearful, lustful
- You don’t have to be shallow, insecure, defeated