Revival can be found at the place you were made alive -- the cross. Does the old rugged cross still have a "wondrous attraction" for you? If you seldom meditate on the cross, how great is your love for the Saviour?
Psalm 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Real revival is not primarily about getting our dirty lives cleaned up or transforming the wicked world around us, but it is "that thy people may rejoice in Thee".
Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God The Lord will speak . . . .
That is the result of revival. This means we receive God's Word, we rejoice over the Word, and we respond to the Word.
Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again because of the cross.
Remember when you were captured by God's great love for you. It was at the point of faith where the Holy Spirit filled your heart with a love like you had never known before.
Many believers have left that "first love", dismissing it from the center of their lives. This happened to the church of Ephesus in Revelation.
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou has left thy first love.
They left the love of God's Word -- the love of the lost -- the love of other believers.
This "first love" points back to the time when they were introduced to the saving message of the cross where Jesus suffered and bled and died for their sins. Where He stood willing and ready and able to forgive us when we received Him as our Saviour and Lord.
Your 'first love" will be revived when you rededicate your life to God
I'f you've never known the love of God, accept His forgiveness when you receive Him as your Lord and Saviour.
The idea that God will only forgive people through one Person -- The Lord Jesus Christ; and through one means -- the cross; and on one condition -- repentance and trusting entirely in Him; that idea is foolishness to the world.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
If we attempt to accomodate the world by removing the preaching of the cross, the blood sacrifice, we are removing the only message that saves from hell.
The cross delivers us from the penalty of sin through salvation, from the power of sin in our daily life through sanctification, and will one day deliver us from the very presence of sin in our glorification in heaven.
Since salvation is an expensive gift bought with the blood of Jesus, you cannot pay for it, pray for it, or perform for it. You just thankfully and humbly receive it.
Believers are just passing through this life, bound for the promise land. One day we will walk out of this valley.
Psalm 84:6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
The word "Beca" means weeping or sorrow or tears. There have been and will be more valleys in our lives. If we keep our minds on our destination, it will help us to endure our tribulation.
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
JOB'S BECA: How do you like it on the ash heap? "Well, I don't like it that much, but I am just passing through. For I know my Redeemer liveth . . . . though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."
Don't waste your sorrows in the valleys. Dig out a well of blessing. The apostle Paul dug some wells in his valley: Prison Epistles Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through.
God talks to us through the Holy Spirit. He uses preachers, teachers, sermons, sorrow, sickness, setbacks, and scriptures. Its not a suggestion or an option.
Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be distroyed and that without remedy.
Hardening his neck is putting off coming to Christ. Some come under divine conviction. Their souls are stirred to salvation, and then pride steps in. They think they are as good as others. They don't want to be embarrassed.
Some reject God because they love pleasure more than God. God onlys asks us to give up the things that hurt us. Who wouldn't trade hell for heaven, dirt for diamonds, pain for peace?
God may not give those who reject Him another chance. Their destiny is bleak.
Genesis 6:3 My Spirit shall not always strive with man . . .
Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Now is the time for salvation.
People were created for relationships -- first with God then with other human beings. Relationships offer us the most intense pleasures in life. But when we are rejected, betrayed, criticized, falsely accused, misunderstood, overlooked, ignored, unloved, and unappreciated, we feel the deepest hurt possible. We seek relief in self-help books, counselors, and some in a bottle or pill.
The Bible gives great advice about how to improve relationships.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Kindness does not return evil with evil. It is not mean-spirited, rude or unfriendly.
We are going to be offended, but God forbids grudges and fighting back. As God has forgiven us, we are to forgive others who have wronged us.
Forgiveness means that you will no longer regard the wrong doer as indebted to you, that you are more interested in moving ahead in your life than being controlled by the past.
God will give us strength when we are faced with spiritual, mental, emotional, domestic, and even financial emergencies. Some people become despondent and "burn out" in God's work. Many just "back out" without courage and hope.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
Most of us have a waiting problem. "Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now." Waiting upon The Lord means searching the Word of God, seeking the fellowship of God, and surrendering to the will of God.
God wants to give us strength to soar like an eagle, not simply be a barnyard turkey. We can rise above this world and take our place in the heavenlies. We can have strength to do the impossible.
Teach me, Lord, to wait.
