REVIVE US AGAIN
- Sun 22nd January 2012, 6:03 am
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
I visited Brother Fred Archer in the hospital Saturday a week ago. He said the Lord had laid a word on his heart, and he shared that word with me. The word he had been thinking about is “REVIVAL”.
Many, many years ago, Revivals were also called “Protracted meetings”. When we heard the word “REVIVAL” as kids, we would know it was almost time to go back to school because revival services always came in August. Usually Mom and/or Dad would load us up and take us to Greenbriar Mall, to Rich’s and J.C. Penny’s to shop for school clothes. We would get blue jeans, the kinds that were really blue and really stiff so that you had to walk around like Frankenstein. We would always get to wear these to Revival meetings, because Revival meant going to church every night for a week. Revival ran Sunday through Friday night. We had some great preachers down through the years….Myron Taylor, Ray Bennett, Bob Mahon, Reggie Thomas, Duke Jones, Jack Ballard, Autry Jackson, Wendall Baggett, Larry Musick, Bud Gentry, Roy Miller, and many, many others. There would be great singing as we would have special music every night. We would have contests like Fill a Pew night to see how many people could fill a pew with their guests. The word of God would be preached and the Holy Spirit would touch lives.
Dr. J. Edwin Orr was a well known revival speaker who lived from 1912 to 1987. During his life he traveled to 150 countries preaching revival and renewal. He was one of the five original board members of Campus Crusade for Christ. One day a student asked him “Dr. Orr, besides praying for revival, what can I do to help bring it about? Without a moment’s pause, Dr. Orr replied “You can let it begin with you.” That is the crux of the message today. Revival must begin with you and with me.
This Dr. Orr was the same man who visited New Zealand in 1936 and heard 4 Aborigine girls sing a song entitled “The Song of Farewell.” Unable to get the tune out of his mind, Orr started singing it with the words from Psalm 139. He jotted the words down on the back of an envelope while standing in line at a Post office there in New Zealand. The words are the song we know as “Search Me, O God.”
Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.
Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me;
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
Revival is more than a series of meetings. It is spirit ignited realization that our personal relationship with our heavenly Father is not what it once was, is not what it should be, is not what it could be.
Brother Bob Morgan from the 1st Baptist of Cliftondale, who passed away recently, said in a prayer: “Father, we can’t work revival up. We have to pray it down.”
G. Campbell Morgan wrote: We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind of heaven . .
Revival brings back a holy shock to apathy and carelessness.-Winkie Pratney
Brian Edwards wrote “A true Holy Spirit revival is a remarkable increase in the spiritual life of God’s people, accompanied by an awesome awareness of the presence of God, intensity of prayer and praise, a deep conviction of sin with a passionate longing for holiness and unusual effectiveness in evangelism…” He went on to write that “ Revival is remarkable, large, effective and, above all, it is something that God brings about.”
Revival is always the action of God. It is not man. It is God pouring out His Spirit.
-Dr M. Lloyd-Jones
Dictionary.com defines the word “Revive”- to restore to life or consciousness, strength, vigor or a flourishing condition….
Brothers and sisters, we need Revival in this great nation of ours today. We need a revival that will bring men and women of God to positions of leadership rather than so many godless people that we have there now, especially current ones running for public office. We need a revival that will sweep the anti-Jesus Christ people out and sweep people of Jesus Christ in. But for that revival to ever begin in this nation, for there ever to be another “Great Awakening”, revival must begin in the church.
To say that this great awakening, this revival, must begin in the church means that churches are dying or they have wandered from the truth. It means churches like the church at Ephesus, have forsaken their first love, Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:4-5 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”
Union Christian Church, we need to get back to doing some the things we used to do here…like having Sunday School for all ages. Dale and I have approached the board about starting a Sunday School for all ages. Our proposal is that we start it, like we used to, at 9:45, and go to about 10:30. At 10:45 we would start morning worship, a blended worship with the best from this service and from The Well. We haven’t finalized this yet, but we are thinking and praying about it.
Churches across America need revival. Needing revival means that many, many churches are like the church at Sardis. Jesus told them “Wake up. Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of God.” It means that too many churches in America are like the Laodicean church. Jesus told them “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm-neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Which of these churches is Union Christian Church? None of them? Or all of them?
Yes, for revival to begin in America, it must begin at Union Christian Church. But for revival to begin at Union Christian Church, it must begin in the pew, and behind the pulpit, it must begin in each and every one of us. For it to begin in us, it must begin with Psalm 139:23-24.
It must begin in us calling out to God like the Psalmist. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” It must begin with us asking God to search our hearts, to expose our ways that offend him. It must begin right here, in our hearts, where we live, the part of us that only we and God know. We must ask God to expose our ways that offensive to him so that we can repent and change. We do have offensive ways.
Somehow, some people have come to believe that the church can save us, that being associated with the church, that giving to the church, that attending church will save us. This church never has and never will save anyone. Like the great old hymn says “Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.”
1. Our traditions never saved anyone. Some want things to stay the way they are, but the only constant in life is change. The traditions of the church I went to a child were different than the traditions of the church my dad went to as a child. We can’t let our traditions be more important than the only thing that does not change, the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. The order of worship never saved anyone. Neither traditional worship nor contemporary worship ever saved anyone. Whether we have donuts out front or not all ever saved anyone. Neither wonderful music, whether sung with or without a piano and or organ, or to a guitar and drums ever saved anyone. Only “Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.” We get so wrapped up in inconsequential “things”, of the “Non-essentials” that we lose sight of the important movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
3. Powerful sermons preached by powerful preachers, loud and thundering, never saved anyone. Neither Dale L. Hutchins, as gifted oratorically as he is, nor Allan B. Thames ever saved anyone. Only “Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.”
It is time for revival at Union Christian Church, but it must begin with you and it must begin with me. We must understand that we need reviving. Do we really mean it when we sing “Revive us again?”
Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
Do you really want to be rekindled with fire from above? We need it. We need it to expose our offensive ways, and even though many of us have been Christians for many years, we have ways that are offensive to God, ways like racial prejudice.
1. The roots of prejudice are still growing deep. Many people “dislike” anyone that is not their color… they may not show it on the outside, but on the inside where we live we don’t want to associate with anyone who is not like us because we think we are better than them. I’m talking about all people of all colors.
2. If people look different, or if they smell different, maybe even if they smell bad, we don’t want to be anywhere near them. Somehow I think Jesus never let the smell of people keep him away from ministering to someone in need. After all, he did wash his disciples stinking, nasty feet.
3. If we had a known gay person come in, or someone you suspected was gay, some would be furious. Yet Jesus said he came to seek and to save that which was lost.
a. God is going to judge the attitudes of our hearts. Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
4. Some people think because their name is on a church role somewhere, that because some saint of God baptized them at one time, that they don’t need any more association with God. They need reviving if they are not already altogether dead because my Bible tells me that those who are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life. Revelation 2:10…and Hebrews tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.
5. Some think they can wrap themselves in acts of righteousness, that they can wear their Sunday go to meeting clothes on Sunday and live like the devil the rest of the week. They think that they can repent on Sunday and do what they want, with whoever they want, the rest of the time. One day they will stand in judgment and they will hear the awful words “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
6. Some are letting the sins of the past prevent them from living their future for God.
Some are not forgiving themselves for what God has already buried in the deepest sea. Some need to start living a forgiven life.
7. Some are worrying about every little detail in life. Jesus us tells us not to worry.
8. Some are chronic complainers and whiners. Some have critical natures that tear down and never build up.
9. In any and all of these situations, we need to let the spirit of Christ rule in our hearts. Before we criticize, before we complain, we must ask “How would Jesus respond?”
The Apostle Paul calls people out that need revival in Colossians 3:5-9. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Proverbs 23:7 “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”
We are upset about the state of things in our great nation, but that nation is a reflection of the state of the church….and the state of the church is a reflection of the state of our hearts and our souls. History tells us that he have had 3 or 4 great spiritual awakenings in our nation. Sadly, we haven’t had another great awakening, another revival, because we don’t expect revival. We don’t expect revival because we don’t pray for revival. We don’t pray for revival because maybe we don’t want to be bothered by revival in our hearts and souls and the changes it must bring.
The pursuit of God is no longer first in our lives. Prayer is often an after thought and sometimes no more than a ‘Now I lay me down to sleep”. We are often more concerned about what is going on in our favorite TV show, than what went on in the book of Isaiah…or the book of Acts. We can find time for the News, but we can’t find time for the pursuit of God. We get so filled with self righteousness because of what we have done, that we ignore what we think. We get excited about our “American Idols” or our football teams, but never get excited about people being saved or being healed. We question an umpire’s call, but never wonder why the church isn’t growing, why the baptistery is unused.
Its time for revival in our nation, in our church, but it begins with you. “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around, can warm up to its glowing.”
Revival must begin in our hearts, in our souls. We must ask God to search us and know us and find the ways in us that are offensive to him. And we must repent.
“Besides praying for revival, what can you do to help bring it about? You can let it begin with you.”
Jesus Is The Same
- Mon 2nd January 2012, 5:50 am
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
Yesterday, Today, Forever (by Albert Simpson, 1890)
O how sweet the glorious message
simple faith may claim
Yesterday, today, forever
Jesus is the same.
Still He loves to save the sinful,
heal the sick and lame
Cheer the mourner, still the tempest,
glory to His Name.
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
He, who was the Friend of sinners,
seeks the lost one now
Sinner come, and at His footstool
penitently bow
He Who said “I`ll not condemn thee,
go and sin no more,`
Speaks to thee that word of pardon
as in days of yore.
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
As of old He walked to Emmaus,
with them to abide
So through all life`s way He walketh
ever near our side
Soon again we shall behold Him,
Hasten Lord the day
But twill still be this same Jesus
as He went away.
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
The same Jesus we worshipped in 2011, is the same Jesus we worship in 2012. The same Jesus that our sins nailed to that cross, is the same Jesus that is coming again for us.
Many things have changed here over the years. We have different faces around us. Where there were once fields there are now subdivisions. Where there were once forests there are now roads. The years continue to thunder on past.
Just remember as we face many changes in life ahead in this coming year:
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
SACRIFICE
- Sat 5th November 2011, 6:36 am
Sacrifice. The secret to a successful, happy,fulfilled life is sacrifice, giving up that which is important to you so that someone else may experience what is important to them. Sacrifice-putting the needs and desires of someone else before your own because you consider theirs to be more important. Sacrifice-doing something that is uncomfortable for you for the greater good of someone else. Sacrifice-putting others first.
Sacrifice seldom finds time for self. Sacrifice always carries a steep personal price tag...or it wouldn`t be called sacrifice. Sacrifice-giving up something you know you can never have back....like time...or reputation. Sacrifice often hurts.
Sacrifice.....the only way to live is to die to self.
Sacrifice...the only way to die to self...is to live for others.
Sacrifice.....its the only way to LIVE.
THE JESUS SONG
- Tue 25th October 2011, 6:07 pm
JESUS SONG : Isaiah 53
Suffering in his worn body and soul,
Led to the slaughter he spoke not a word
As a sheep before her shearers is dumb.
But it was we, like sheep, who went astray.
Taking our infirmities
Crushed for our iniquities
Pierced for our transgressions was he…
Carrying all our sorrows
Our punishments were on him
Oppressed and soul wounded for me
Judas’ betrayal hurt more than the thorns,
The fleeing disciples more than the nails.
Peter’s denials hurt more than the scourge..
But it was my sin that hurt more than all.
Taking our infirmities
Crushed for our iniquities
Pierced for our transgressions was he…
Carrying all our sorrows
Our punishment was on him
Oppressed and soul wounded for me
The Roman whip tore flesh from the King’s back..
And the ugly nails pierced his sinless hands.
The crown’s thorns bloodied his beautiful brow,
But it was our sin that broke Jesus’ heart.
Taking our infirmities
Crushed for our iniquities
Pierced for our transgressions was he…
Carrying all our sorrows
Our punishment was on him
Oppressed and soul wounded for me
