WHEN REVIVAL COMES II.
MEMORISE:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
READ: Psalm 51:1-3.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
MESSAGE:
Today, I want you to take a self-evaluation: is there anything you have done that could land you in hell? Today is the day of repentance and restoration. A man of God once said “When genuine revival comes, everybody, including pastors, would have one or two things to repent of”. Revival is not the working of miracles; it is an increased spiritual interest or renewal of a life of holiness, in complete obedience to the word of God.
The first step towards experiencing a revival is to realize that one has sinned or fallen short of God’s expectations, according to Romans 3:23. Fervent prayers of repentance must therefore precede revival. In Psalm 51 we read of David praying fervently for revival and restoration after he had sinned against God. This is where many so-called born-again Christians, particularly those who consider themselves fairly old in the faith often miss it. They are like that Pharisee who went to the temple to display his superiority over the publican in Luke 18:10-14. If you ever realize that you have fallen short of God’s approval and favor, put aside your ego and humble yourself before the One who can forgive and forget. The Bible says in 1 John 2:1-2:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
What the Lord is telling us in this Scripture is that a child of God should be free of sin, according to 1 John 3:8-9 which says:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
However, should anyone fall into sin, such a person must quickly cry to God in remorse for revival and restoration. The person must then have faith in the word of God and the blood of Jesus Christ for cleansing. Plead the blood of Jesus over your life and make up your mind never to go back to sin.
ACTION POINT:
Check your life and see if there is anything you have done contrary to the word of God. Confess it to God and let Him restore you to your position as His child.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 72-74.
HYMN 16: O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.
1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men”:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.
5. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in foll’wing years.
7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.
8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.
9. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
