PERSONAL REVIVAL
SERMON STARTER
DRIFTED TOO FAR
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)
As a 15-year old from West Texas who moved to Manhattan Beach, California I was fascinated with the beach and the Pacific Ocean. My first attempt at swimming in the Pacific I shivered at the cold 68 degree F. water. I rented a surf mat. It was a poor excuse for a surf board, but I had to start somewhere.
The sand-gritted water chaffed against me as I pushed myself off from the shore. I attempted to catch a wave rising behind me and occasionally rode it to the shore. I caught a few and decided the really big waves were farther out from the shore. So off I went.
Suddenly, it came to me I was not only far from the shore, but the tide was carrying me Northward. Panicking, I pushed my surf mat toward the now distant shore. I was warned about riptides and hoped I wasn't in one. I kept swimming and gradually made it back to the shore nearly a quarter mile North from where I started.
I learned several lessons from the experience. One was how hard it is to get back from where I began. Another lession was how easy it was to get distracted from life's realities and venture into a place that is not safe. Allowing yourself to chase a few thrills can get you into deep trouble.
Our spiritual lives are like that. We don't lose our love for Jesus and His Kingdom all at once. The little conflicts and distractions nibble away at our lives until one day we realize how far we have drifted from our First Love. It takes great intention and effort to get back to the safety of that shore from which we drifted. We must repent and do the works we did at the first before we drifted. It all starts and ends with the Cross.
Pastor Phil <><<
August 26, 2018 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland <><<
PERSONAL REVIVAL
Judges 10:10-16
"The symptoms of spiritual decline are similar to the decline of physical health. There is a loss of appetite for wholesome spiritual food, regular prayer and reading of the Bible and devotional books becomes meaningless. If this happens seek Jesus immediately for His healing touch. Your spiritual health is in grave danger." Pastor Phil <><<
BACKSLIDING
Greek - ἀποστασία .A-posta-sia - Un-Faith, Un-Belief, Un-Trust, Defection
Backsliding, Hebrew - מְשׁוּבָה - mesh-oo-baw' - Apostasy - Falling away
5 Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. Jeremiah 8:5
62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
Revelation 2:4
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
BACKGROUND:
The entire nation of Israel turned away from God. in today's text they come to their senses and cry out to God to save them. The cycle of following God, drifting slowly away, getting into deep trouble, repenting and calling on God is repeated over and over during Judah and Israel's divided kingdom period. In today's text Israel repents and calls out to God for relief.
Israel's Path of Personal Revival. . .
I. ISRAEL CRIES OUT TO GOD FOR RESCUE - Judges 10:10
10 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!"
A. They felt the heat of God's wrath - Judges 10:7
7 So the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He sold them into
the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon.
1. God's anger came against Israel for their worship of false idols
2. They worshipped Baal / Ashtoreth (Male and female deities)
3. Plus, the god's of 5 countries
4. God delivered them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites 18 years
B. Willful disobedience always carries consequences
1. Eg. A pastor's backsliding member
PERSONAL REVIVAL, cont., p.2
She said, "I violated my parole and drank a beer.
There was no bolt of lightning, no thunder. . ."
So she walked away. . .She lost her apartment and children. . .
2. God always gives us the final choice
C. Jailhouse Religion - Want rescue from their consequences
1. God isn't a heavenly bondsman releasing sinners from sins's results
2. Reduces repentence to just another superficial ritual
Israel's Path of Personal Revival Discovers. . .
II. GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS RESPOND IMMEDIATELY - Vs. 13,14
13 Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress."
A. Some things you cannot compromise: There is One Lord and King
1. Either the world gets like us or we become like the world
2. The world's logic: tolerance
"Be reasonable. Can't you bend just a little bit?"
B. God is our Master, our Heavenly Father
1. He deserves Honor and Respect
2. He deserves Obedience and Love
C. As a perfect and righteous father, God punishes His children
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son and daughter whom He receives." Hebrews 12:6
1. They suffered 18 years for their wilful sin - Judges 10:8
2. Cried out for deliverance and relief
3. Imprisoned by their own stubborn bent to sinning
D. In both the Physical and Spiritual worlds people are imprisoned
1. Incarceration can create deprivation
2. Indulgers in sin. . .Users are Losers
Israel's Path of Personal Revival Discovers. . .
III. GOD HEARS THE CRIES OF THE AFFLICTED - Vs. 10,15,16
10 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!" 15 And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray."
16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
A. Repentance begins in the Head and ends in the Heart - 1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1. Confession results in a change of behavior
2. Israel needed to DESTROY their idols
3. We who believe must destroy that which distracts
4. What take your focus off the Lord?
PERSONAL REVIVAL, cont., p.3
B. Follow Israel's Path to Personal Revival
1. Listen What God Says About Your Sin
2. Comprehend The Severity Of Your Rebellion
3. Humbly Return Unto The Lord
C. This is The Pathway To Personal Revival
CHARLES FINNEY SUMMARIZES ROADBLOCKS TO REVIVAL
WHY REVIVAL TARRIES
1. When there is a lack of love and confidence between believers
2. When there are dissensions, and jealousies, and evil talk among believers
3. When there is a worldly spirit in the Church
4. When the Church's members fall into gross and scandalous sins
5. When there is a spirit of controversy in the Church or in the land
6. When the wicked triumph over the Churches, and revile them
7. When sinners are careless and stupid https://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/Revival.Lectures.html
Contemporary Roadblocks to Revival
1. Formality in worship - "going through the motions" so to speak.
2. Absence of joy in general and of the things of God in particular.
3. Religious bondage - This is similar to #1.
4. Uncontrollable anger, for when the Spirit fills us we are enabled to control our anger and our tongue (Eph 4:26-27, 29)
5. An unloving spirit that instead of looking for the best in others, continually sees the worst in their conduct.
6. A fault-finding spirit, judging even the motives of others, placing blame on others, judging them harshly.
7. Waning interest in the Word of Truth and Life.
8. A lack of interest in secret prayer (Ouch!)
9. A lack of interest in seeing souls saved and revived.
10. No interest in reports of revivals indicating a significant movement of the Spirit of God.
11. No significant interest in missions and outreach to the unreached people groups of the world.
12. No interest in benevolent outreaches (orphans, widows, poor, etc).
(13) A lack of interest in holiness (progressive sanctification).
(14) No interest in souls who are recently converted. (See Lk 15:7, 10)
(15) Prayers that are self/inward focused rather than others/outward focused.
(16) Increasing interests for the things of the world than the things above (See Col 3:1, 2).
(17) A conscience that is not tender, not easily offended by sin.
(18) Fear of man prevails over fear of God. https://www.preceptaustin.org/backsliding
PERSONAL REVIVAL
Judges 10:10-16 (NKJV)
10 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!"
11 So the LORD said to the children of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines?
12 Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand.
13 Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress."
15 And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray."
16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Moses prayed, his prayer did save,
A nation from death and from the grave.
Joshua prayed. The sun stood still.
His enemies fell into vale and hill.
Hannah prayed, God gave her a son;
A nation back to the Lord he won.
Solomon prayed for wisdom.
Then God made him the wisest of mortal men.
Elijah prayed with great desire,
God gave him rain, and sent the fire.
Jonah prayed, God heard his wail;
He quickly delivered him from the whale.
Three Hebrews prayed, through flames they trod
They had as a comrade, the “Son of God.”
Elisha prayed with strong emotion;
He got the mantle and a “double portion.”
Daniel prayed. The lion’s claws
Were held by the angel who locked their jaws.
Ten Lepers prayed: To the priests were sent;
Glory to God! They were healed as they went!
Peter prayed, and Dorcas arose
To life again, from Death’s repose.
The Thief who prayed. . .for mercy cried,
He went with Christ to Paradise.
The Church, she prayed, then got a shock;
When Peter answered her prayer with a knock!
Abrahm stopped praying, cities fell,
With all their sins into Hell!
The Disciples kept praying, the Spirit came
With cloven tongue,” and revival flame!
Conviction filled the hearts of men;
Three thousands souls were “born again!”
When Christians pray, as they prayed of yore
With living faith, for souls implore,
In One Accord, united stand-----
Revival fires will sweep the Land!
And sinners shall converted be,
And all the world God’s glory see!
Author Unknown
THE LOG JAM
In the Timberlands springtime sees great quantities of logs shooting down the rivers. Sometimes a jam occurs. Then the lumberjack seeks the log which is stemming the wooden tide. When he finds that key log, he jerks it out of place, and the flow moves onward with its freight. There is such a thing as a spiritual log jam. We lose our religious enthusiasm, interest in personal devotions wanes, an hour in the Lord's house becomes a bore, the Bible becomes a silent Book. Then we must find the key log that is checking the flood of spiritual life. It may be an unforgiving spirit, or jealousy, or hypocrisy. Jerk the obstruction out of place and spiritual vitality will surge onward—Today
