Chapter 4
The Tempest In The Day Of The Whirlwind.
(Amos 1:14)
Chapter 4. The Holy Spirit And Revival.
The King of love, my Shepherd is. This website is dedicated to the King of kings and Lord of lords -- my Savior, and all that He stands for. All to Jesus. Amen.
We are Independent, Fundamental, Bible-believing, Gospel preaching Baptists. We adhere faithfully to the King James Bible and accept it as God‘s authorized and preserved version of His Holy Word. We stand up to say “Yes” to the things God loves, and “No” to the things God hates. We believe in personal and ecclesiastical separation, revival, and soul winning. We accept without reservation that all Christian work is an inseparable tandem of loving the brethren and speaking (and acting upon) the truth of Scripture. We believe that God the Holy Spirit leads us in arriving at truth through the Scriptures for all matters of faith, doctrine, and work.
Soldiers of Revival.
PO Box 328835
Columbus Ohio 43232
See also our website, soldiersoftheword.com, for Bible helps and discipleship encouragement.
Today, may the Holy Spirit teach us to be faithful to all of the Scriptures, and be careful to compare Scripture with Scripture. May we desire to search them daily. Lord keep us from the silly pride of believing we can interpret the Scriptures better than the Scriptures can interpret themselves. Guide us into all truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [All to Jesus. DR]
Want Revival?
“Jesus said unto him (a lawyer), ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)
[]You might do well to read the message on “The Berean Call” website, article titled "Religion or Apostasy.” They make the excellent point that the “revival” that is on everyone’s lips today is not Holy Ghost revival. Like so many things in Christian circles today, they (the hoodwinking apostates) have given revival the extra-biblical flavor and seasoned it with fleshly appetites and the draw of filthy lucre. Although their point is well taken (TBC‘s) and should be read, one should not be discouraged from asking God for true church and soul-winning revival. We are to be always abounding in the work of the Lord and the apostasy should kindle our desires for God‘s refreshing work in our families, churches, and nations (and in our own hearts), not quench them. We are to look forward to the Rapture, but Jesus said to watch, pray, and occupy. True Christians will understand these commands and want an awakening.
[] If you’ve not been called, set apart, equipped, and sent (as leaders, soul winners, and as having the spirit of revival), you need to ask the Lord to “swear you in.”
[] Christian, be filled with the Holy Spirit, be used, be concerned. Say this to Almighty God: “Yes, I want revival in my life, in my family, in my church, in my nation. “Yes, Lord, do it again, do it here, do it now, do it in me, use me.”
“It’s Either Holy Ghost Revival Or It’s Apostasy.”
(Jonathan Goforth).
Lord, we thank you for calling us to this great work of revival. Give us courage, give us encouragement, give us resources, give us co-laborers, give us strength, and give us a brave determination. Lord, work in the hearts of Christians everywhere. Give us commitment to be faithful; make us fervent, O Lord; send the fire, O Lord, bring the fruit O Lord; vanquish the foe, O Lord. Amen.
What is Revival?
A. Revival is nothing other than the working of the Triune God. Jesus said that He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (See Luke 20:38) Revival is to restore life (indeed, spiritual life), “to bring life to” -- that‘s the meaning of the very word.
B. “When men in the streets are afraid to open their mouths and utter godless words lest the judgments of God should fall; when sinners, overawed by the presence of God, tremble in the streets and cry for mercy; when, without special meetings and sensational advertising, the Holy Ghost sweeps across cities and towns in Supernatural Power and holds men in the grip of terrifying conviction; when "every shop becomes a pulpit; every heart an altar; every home a sanctuary" and people walk softly before God, this is Revival!” (Owen Murphy)
C. The Holy Spirit renews us when we confess our sins, steadies us when we falter, strengthens us to do His will. (See Galatians 5:16.)
Revival IS !!
A time for sinners to get converted; for saints to find comfort, encouragement, and wisdom; for backsliders to come home; for the army of God to be motivated; for the churches to return to God, and to go on record as having stood for the things of God and having contended for the Christian faith.
You Cannot Stop Holy Ghost Revival !! You Can Only Delay It.
It is not that God will have revival in spite of our own wicked devices, but because of them. Some may mean it for evil but God will turn it to good!!!
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1) Of course not. But in the divine economy, it surprises us perhaps that spiritual wickedness impels revival more often and more passionately than sacrifice and righteousness. While the latter is our part in the pleading for revival, and wholly necessary, it is the former that drives revival.
So ask yourself, what’s being revived? The backslidden, liberal, and apostate preachers, churches, and congregations are what God will revive, the unfruitful and counter effective (yet professing) people of God.
Then, God having removed that great obstruction, we His people can be used to win souls to Him and see Him restore the churches to His intended purpose and plan for them.
Fill Me, Holy Spirit, With Your Purity, Power, and Presence.
The Sources of Spiritual Power as Taught in Scripture.
A. The Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
B. Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
C. God. (Psalm 62:11)
D. The Gospel. (Romans 1:16)
E. God’s Kingdom. (Mark 1:9)
F. God’s Word. (Hebrews 4:12)
G. New Life. (Ephesians 1:19)
H. An Endless Life. (Hebrews 7:16)
I. The Resurrection of Christ. (Philippians 3:10)
Revival: The Breath of Life, A Living Soul.
A. “Meet God, the One who rules every thought that ever percolated through your brain, the One who knows the end from the beginning, the One who breathed into you the breath of life, and you became a living soul --- prepare to meet Him.” (B. R. Lakin)
B. “These Scriptures give us the definition of a true revival, the dire need of such a revival, and a simple description of how to get it.” (A C Dixon)
C. The Quickening Spirit.
(1) "My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." Ps. 119:25.
(2) "I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word." Ps. 119:107.
(3) "Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word." Ps. 119:154.
The Spirit Of Revival.
A. “Happy is he who dares courageously to defend what he loves.” Ovid.
B. “And David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine (Goliath), and David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon the face on the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone…” (1 Samuel 17:48)
C. Amid all the “ands” of the text, is there any more simplified illustration of the Spirit of revival in all the Bible than “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone…?”
(1) He single handedly ran right at the enemy.
(a) Goliath we presume was standing still -- giants are notorious for not being able to run well.
(b) Goliath must have been a sight, standing by himself in the middle of the valley among the weaponry and the accoutrements of state-of-the-art warfare equipment
(c) David had refused to wear the armor that was offered him, because it hindered him from the fight -- light and nimble, he could run at Goliath almost in a surprise attack.
(2) David was well-prepared, his bag was exactly where it was needed to be.
(3) You do not need a battery of Howitzers and a division of combat troops to fight for God.
(a) David had a mere stone (the slingshot was more the weapon of a shepherd, not of a warrior).
(b) He and God were the “combat division.”
(4) You do not need a doctorate in physics nor four stars on your shoulder to fight for God. David knew (was probably skilled at it) how to use a slingshot, he set it aside for the glory of God, he used it to defeat this “uncircumcised dog.”
(5) He slang the stone as if he knew exactly where he wanted to strike Goliath -- the forehead was the only area on Goliath’s whole armor, where the stone could do damage. I wonder if maybe God did not allow Goliath’s forehead to shine in the hot afternoon sun.
(6) God put the final touches on David’s courage, faith, and heroism.
(a) The stone struck exactly where it was sent, and God caused it to sink down deep so as to stun Goliath. (Doesn’t the Word of God sometimes stun us back to earth?)
(b) The last thing Goliath ever saw as he crashed to the earth was the “world” in which he lived violently, loved vainly, dominated vauntingly, and consumed voraciously.
(7) Note in the ensuing verses, David takes something from Goliath’s person -- his large sword -- and he uses it to deal the death blow.
(a) At times we are able to turn the enemy’s own weapons against him.
(b) Goliath reaped what he had sown -- he that lives by the sword shall die by it.
(c) God had brought the victory, but David lived to see the fruit of his faith and work, and he rejoiced. “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” (Moliere)
(d) David was satisfied that he had served his country, vindicated his God, and contended for the great faith entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father. These were not casual observances. David was at war to the finish against the enemies of the God of Israel.
D. Once it was removed from Goliath‘s body, that sword would be something of a multiplied blessing to David as Saul would chase him down in an attempt to kill him.
(1) It stood as a reminder of that great victory wrought of God Himself, and would one day be David’s confidence against still another enemy.
(2) In the divine purpose of things, David became the greatest king Israel ever knew, perhaps one of the greatest kings in all of history.
(3) But ultimately, the glory of this account would be that still another King -- King Eternal -- would come in the fullness of times, and David’s throne would be worthy of Him to sit upon it, in true righteousness, majesty, and power, and peace throughout all the ages to come.
Then What Do We Mean by the Holy Sprit and Revival?
A. We mean a great turning to Christ on the part of Christians.
B. “Today the word ‘revival’ has largely lost its real meaning. Our present generation, never having witnessed the mighty movings of God in nation-wide spiritual awakening such as has taken place in past generations, has little conception of the magnitude of such a ‘visitation.’ “ (Owen Murphy, "This is Revival!")
C. “By revival, we mean the separation of the Christian from the world and the dedication of the Christian to the holy business of serving Christ.” (Lee Roberson)
D “O Lord, Bring the winds and fire of revival to this place, to this city, to this people, to this heart.”!!!
Revival is in the Churches, In the Hearts of Sinners, In The Soul of The Community.
“Revival is an "awareness of God' that grips the whole community, and the roadside, the tavern, as well as the church, become the places where men find Christ. Here is the vast difference between our modern evangelistic campaigns and true revival. In the former, hundreds may be brought to a knowledge of Christ and churches experience seasons of blessings, but as far as the community is concerned little impact is made. The taverns, dance halls, and movies are still crowded, and the godlessness marches on.” (Owen Murphy, "This is Revival!")
Failure Does Not Mean the Utter End -- Unless YOU See It That Way.
A. Not only are preachers and churches ignoring the compelling realities of their failures as vessels of correction, memorials of remembrance, and trumpeters of warning, they’re flaunting their works as masterpieces of compassion.
B. What compassion? Patting yourself on the back ad nauseam for the mighty works you plan to do? Neglecting Scripture, ignoring Christ (the real source of compassion), denying the Holy Spirit and His power, seeking the approval of men and not of God? Forgetting the sin, the Hell, the precious blood? Robbing men of their very souls while you waltz through some milquetoast netherworld of good works and worldly contentment.
C. Just what is this that you’re flaunting? It’s not the Almighty God of Scripture, I’ll tell you that. (See Leviticus 26:19; 2 Kings 20:13; Ezekiel 30:62; Zephaniah 3:11; Luke 18:12-13; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Timothy 3:6.)
Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit.
A. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” (John 15:26)
B. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (John 16:7)
C. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come.” (John 16:13)
The Coming of the Spirit.
A. “The promise of Jesus was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit did come on Pentecost. (See Acts 2:2.) There was a threefold miraculous manifestation -- a sound like a rushing mighty wind, a tongue like as of fire sitting upon each one in the room, and the power to speak in languages which were not native to them.
B. This was not ecstatic, unintelligible praise but power to witness about Christ so that people of other languages could understand.
C. Cut the Day of Pentecost out of civilization; cut Peter and Paul out of civilization -- what you would have left wouldn’t do to make a rummage sale.” (Billy Sunday)
Saul, The Apostate, Prophesies: Revival Happens.
A. “And Saul sent messengers to take David (to kill him): and when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel (the priest) standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
B. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
C. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold they be at Naioth in Ramah.
D. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
E. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all the day and all that night. Wherefore they say, is Saul also among the prophets?”
F. Since nakedness is very commonly a picture of being out of God’s will, we probably would have to imagine Saul’s “revival” to be something of a ruse to make David think he was a “new” man. Or at least being motivated toward some other purpose.
G. Some revivals are false revivals, because they are predicated on improper motives.
(1 Samuel 19:20-24)
Fire As the Presence of a Holy God.
(For our God is a consuming fire.)
A. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given and “tongues of fire” were a manifestation.
B. In the Book of Revelations, Jesus eyes were described as a “flame of fire.“
C. what about this fire?
(1) The need for the fire. People hunger and thirst after the presence of God. (1 Kings 18:26-29)
(2) The plea for the fire. We are called upon to reach out for God who makes and keeps His promises. (1 Kings 18:30-35)
(3) The faith in the fire. We should expect great things from God. (1 Kings 18:26, 36-38)
(4) The impact of the fire. Cries are heard, hearts are changed, anticipations are heightened. (1 Kings 18:33,39)
(5) The result of the fire. The people “have seen a great light,” His hand was upon them, He sent the rain. (1 Kings 18:41-46)
He is Purifying Fire.
A. He (the Holy Spirit) is the vital breath of God, imparting life to men.
B. “We learn something about the person and nature of the Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth enabling men to speak the truth of God. He comes to every believer, abides in the heart of every believer, and is available to every believer in the same way. Pentecost is not the birth of the church, but it was a definite visitation of God in His Spirit to empower the church to carry forward all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. On that eventful day, the Holy Spirit initiated a new era in God’s redemptive undertaking.” (Points of Emphasis)
C. “In revival, the Spirit of God, like a cleansing flame, sweeps through the community. Divine conviction grips people everywhere, the strongholds of the Devil tremble and many close their doors, while multitudes turn to Christ!” (Owen Murphy, This is Revival)
This is Revival!!
“Heaven-sent revival is not religious entertainment, where crowds gather to hear outstanding preachers and musical programs. Neither is it the result of sensational advertising. In a God-sent revival you don't spend money on advertising, people come because revival is there! (Owen Murphy, "This is Revival!")
May the Sweet Spirit of God Be Upon Us.
A. Anoint your servants, O Lord !!
B. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit: speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus.” (Ephesians 5:17-20, Note the Holy Trinity.)
C. We serve out of newness of life, in the “newness of spirit” at Romans 7:6. (See Romans 7:4.)
The Source of Revival is the Wind of His Power.
A. “Revival depends on a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit of God. The wind of His power must blow upon our land. The light of His truth must turn back the darkness of error and superstition and prejudice. The fire of His holiness and judgment must purify the lips of all who would speak in the name of Christ. The Holy Spirit alone can convict the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment. We must, therefore, look to the Spirit of God as the source of revival.” (Points of Emphasis)
B. “But because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Jeremiah 34:13)
God the Holy Spirit (like the Father and the Son) Also Creates Life.
A. He is the Spirit of revival. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit visibly descended upon the disciples and caused a revival and at that we can only cry, “O, breath of life, come sweeping through us. Revive Thy Church with life and power.”
B. From Ezekiel 37 we see that it is the Holy Spirit’s task to work revival. As the dry bones of Israel came together and were covered with flesh, there came a wind (Spirit) from above and it resulted in life.
C. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters…” (Genesis 1:2). Here testifies to the working of the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead at creation. Creation was revival. We all know the result: light, life, warmth, fruit. All of God’s work are life and revival.
(Dr. Wim Malgo)
How the Holy Spirit Empowers Us.
A. The Holy Spirit leads. (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18)
(1) He gives us power to know Christ and the Father in their fullness. (Ephesians 3;14-19)
(2) He gives us power to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3) and to be a witness for Him throughout the world (John 15:26-27; Acts 1:8).
(3) He gives us power to speak effectively in time of trial and persecution. (Mark 13:11)
(4) He gives us power to resist the desires of the flesh. (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16)
Want Badly the Fullness of the Spirit.
“Then live the life of Holy Spirit power. I can’t say too much about this. Child of God, if you’re saved, you have the Holy Spirit in you now. He wants to empower you. He wants to fill you and use you and make you into what He wants you to be. You say, “O God, I want the fullness of the Holy Spirit upon my life. I want to know the presence and the power of God. I want to live and teach and preach and sing and have whatever I do to be for the glory of God. I want the Holy Spirit to direct me and to use me.” He wants to fill you. That means to control your life completely.” (Lee Roberson)
True Righteousness.
A. When filled with the Spirit, the child of God will produce the righteous works (Romans 8:4) of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) and will manifest the gifts for service which are by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7).
B. These results are distinctly said to be due to the immediate working of the Spirit in and through the believer. Reference is made, therefore, to a manner of life which is in one way produced by the believer; it is rather a manner of life which is produced through him by the Spirit.
C. To those who “walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit,” the righteousness of the law, which in this case means no less than the realization of the whole will for the believer, is fulfilled in them. It could never be fulfilled by them. When thus wrought by the Spirit, it is none other than a life which is the imparted righteousness of Christ.
(Major Bible Themes, by Chafer and Walvoord)
What the Power of the Holy Spirit Will Do for Us.
A. It will make us efficacious in the preaching of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5)
B. It will help us to overcome adversity. (Zechariah 4:6-7)
C. It will uphold us. (Psalm 51:12)
D. It will strengthen us. (Ephesians 3:16)
E. It will enable us to speak boldly. (Micah 3:8; Acts 6:5,10; 2 Timothy 1: 7-8)
F. It will help us in prayer. (Romans 8:26)
G. It will cause us to abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
H. It will cause us to understand truth. (Romans 8:14) (The Holy Spirit will not invent truth but will reveal the very heart and mind of God.)
I. It will cause us to exhibit fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
J. It will cause us to come under the Holy Spirit’s filling. (Ephesians 5:18)
“In the past we have had a light which flickered, in the present we have a light which flames, and in the future there will be a light which shines over all the land and sea.” (Winston Churchill)
A Word To The “Sinning Saint.”
A. Nothing herein should be construed as conceding to any defense of the apparent child of God who continues in bringing indignity to Christ through His contemptible behavior before the ungodly. Sadly, the Bible says that Christ is made to be a minister of sin when any of us act in this manner. (See Galatians 2:17.) The Bible indicates that we can, by our sin against the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:3) make the grace of God of none effect (see Galatians 5:4). We can blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29), lust against Him (Galatians 5:17), grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30), vex Him (Isaiah 63:10), resist Him (Acts 7:51), tempt Him (Acts 5:9), lie to Him (Acts 5:4), and quench His power over us (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
B. You do not have to have ten doctorates in theology to know that any one of those negative propositions could in any degree inhibit revival.
C. We need full-strength revival.
False Tales of False Fires.
“The Holy Spirit in the hearts of real believers causes them to be suspicious and gives them discernment that other people don’t seem to have. Don’t be fooled by false tales of false fires burning and false truth going forth. We live in the days of apostasy, departure, and chicanery. We might remain vigilant in watching for the devices of the evil one as he brings them against the true people of God.” (slightly adapted, Wes Augur)
There Are Destructive Forces In The Church System Of Today’s World.
A. They Want To Destroy Biblical Faith and Life.
B. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
C. “This verse stresses upon us a need to be watchful for potential danger, in the form of any one of the following:
(1) The false prophet, see Matthew 24:11, 1 John 4:1;
(2) The doctrine of the Pharisees and their colleagues -- the hypocrisy of legalism, skepticism, and self love, see Matthew 16:12;
(3) Humanistic intellectualism -- philosophy, see Colossians 2;8; those who distort Scripture in order to “saddle up” with liberals, skeptics, and intellectuals, see 2 Peter 3:17.
(adapted, Days of Praise)
Light the Match.
A. “I am not a good theologian, nor am I a good preacher. I am just doing the best I can. When I pray for the Holy Spirit, if I make a mistake the Lord will understand me. He knows I want His power, not to make money, not to gain name or fame. What would I do with it? I want to win souls, to be used of the Holy Spirit as man uses a match, to bring fire to this glorious land of ours, then to the ends of the earth.” [George W. Truett]
B. "Come ye, and let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways; and we will walk in His path: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem... O House of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." !!!!! (Isaiah 2:3)
You Are A Christian, Open Your Soul Toward Christ.
A. “If a man opens his soul toward business, he becomes a businessman; toward politics, a politician; toward dishonesty, a thief; toward the saloon, a booze hoister; toward Jesus Christ, a Christian. My challenge to you, sir, is show me your faith by your works.” (author unknown)
B. “So witness by your spoken testimony. Keep this up all the time. You witness by your daily life. You witness by your worship. You witness by your testimony that you’re giving for Christ. We’re here because someone witnessed to us.” (Lee Roberson)
C. “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Christ Ordered Our Relationship With the World.
A. The world is the realm of the temporal, carnal, wicked -- the antithesis of the Kingdom of God.
B. The true disciples of Jesus have been called out of the world, and no longer belong to the world -- they belong to Christ. (See John 17:6.)
C. We must still live in the world, indeed Jesus prayed that we would not be taken out of the world. (See John 17:11,15.)
D. We are not, however, of the world, for we’ve been separated from the world. (See John 17:14.)
E. Like Christ, we’ll also be hated by the world. (Se John 17:14.)
D. Nevertheless, He sends us into the world (see John 17:18, that we might be witnesses of Him (see John 17:21), and that the world would know that they are loved of God, even as Jesus was loved of God (see John 17:23).
E. The plan was all in place before the foundations of the world. (See John 17:24)
F. We are not to love the things of the world. (See 1 John 2:15.)
The Old Nature, Coldness Toward Revival.
A. “There is one sad fact all must recognize when we consider revivals: even born-again people still have the old nature and a tendency to wander, to grow cold spiritually, to lose soul-winning power and Christian joy. This tendency to backsliding and to spiritual decline was the same in Bible times as it is now. … The tendencies in churches is to grow more formal and less spiritual. The preaching tends to degenerate from clear, plain reproof of sin and a demand for repentance, to comforting messages to the saved and moral essays.” (John R. Rice)
B. “Free will to obey or disobey, love or hate, submit or rebel, is not only Biblical but essential to man’s relationship to God. He calls us to love, obey, serve, and worship Him, and to do so by choice; ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) God would not be glorified in any obedience, worship, or love that did not come willingly from the heart.” (The Berean call)
The Work of Revival Through the Holy Spirit of God.
A. “Break up your fallow ground.” (Jeremiah 4:3) The Holy Spirit breaks up the clogged soil of our souls and produces in us the Christ-like fruit of joy, peace, longsuffering.
B. The power of God’s Holy Spirit can change us from old filthy garments and wicked works into a masterpiece of grace. (author unknown)
C. The Holy Spirit is truth (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:13) as is God the Father (Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16) and Jesus Christ the Son (John 14:6).
(1) We may at times forget that the Holy Spirit encourages us.
(a) He gives us hope. (Romans 5:3-5, 15:13)
(b) He intercedes on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)
(c) He provides help to us. (John 14:16, 15:26; Romans 8:26)
(d) He gives us comfort. (Acts 9:31)
(2) The Spirit speaks (1 Timothy 4:1); teaches (1 Corinthians 2:3); bears witness (Romans 8:16); makes intercession (Romans 8:26); distributes the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11); and invites the sinner (Revelation 22:17).
(3) We ought be directed by the Holy Spirit, by the Word of God, and by godly counsel to make Christ-honoring decisions. (Crown College’s encouragement to its students.)
D. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
God is not just our rewarder -- He’s our Reward !!
Holy Spirit, Stir Us, Awaken Us, Revive Us … We All Need It.
A. A good place to start praying is to ask forgiveness and repentance for putting your own agenda ahead of God’s. Pray for strength to wholly abandon your selfish agenda and to accept what God has for you. [DR]
B. We are pilgrims, aliens, wayfaring strangers on earth and God’s judgment is falling all around us. [adapted, Carl McIntire]
(1) “God has always had something happening with His people to show His power.” [Carl McIntyre]
(2) God begins something long before men ever see evidence of it.
C. “I believe great preachers and prophets of yesterday had that burden (to tell others about Jesus). The Bible says in Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name. But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah said he had a burning within him to get the word of God out to the rebellious people of his day. ” (Paul Chappell)
Strength to Bear.
A. “Believe and understand this; God has all power! He will not put more on you than you can bear. Or maybe it is more accurate to say that God will not put more on you than He can give you the strength to bear. And dear friend He can give you all the strength you need. God will give you the strength you need to accomplish His will.” (Dr. Don Woodward)
B. “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
C. The Holy Spirit in the believer occupies a place of action, giving life, comfort, and power.
[Note: This country has not been forsaken, we have the capacity to call upon the longsuffering God to right us, yet He will not be longsuffering forever.]
Samson’s Hair Was Not The Secret Of His Strength
(Read Judges 14-16.)
A. He was a Nazarite -- separated unto God since his birth.
B. The secret of the Christian’s power is in his separation.
C. Separation from…..
(1) Sinners (and worldly Christians).
(2) False teachers (those who hold false doctrines).
(3) Liberals, modernists, culturally defined ministries, atheists, cults, false religions, seeker-sensitives, and ecumenicals.
D. When his hair was cut, his separation was removed as well. The Lord departed from him. (See Judges 16:20)
(1) It is easy to preach when Sampson is killing philistines, not quite so easy when he’s at the grinding mill. (See Judges 16:21)
(2) Delilah’s clippers were vastly more dangerous to him than all of the spears of the Philistines.
(Paragraph D by B R Lakin)
You cannot Trust God Too Much, or Self Too Little.
“Our wills must be yielded in order that we might experience the strength of the Lord. Faith is what links us to the power of God. God will do all that we trust Him to do, for he is not pledged to work independently of our faith. Faith is the means of receptivity -- hence, you must believe God and trust Him to use you. You cannot trust God too much and self too little. The blessing will come as we take time, by faith and prayer and trust, to link our lives to the hidden Source of strength, even God. If the farmer says, “I will not plow or sow,” neither can he expect to reap, so long as he disregards the only laws for harvest.” (Alfred J. Lewis in Living Unto Him)
Paul Said That He Was “Separated Unto the Gospel Of God,”
A. (See Romans 1:1) … meaning that he wanted nothing to do with this world system of rebellion, lust, and pride, except to preach the Gospel to it.
B. John said, “Love not the world nor the things of the world,” (1 John 2:15) and James said “.. the friendship of the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4).
C. If you are friends with the world, you are the enemy of God.
God Puts Two Marks on His Sheep:
A. Ears … His sheep (people, followers) will hear His voice.
B. Feet… They follow Him, they go where He says for them to go, where Her sends them to share the Gospel.
Strengthened By His Might.
A. Our strength comes by way of the Holy Spirit living in our inner man.
B. A believer is supernaturally indwelt by God the Father (1 Corinthians 6:16), Jesus Christ (John 14:18-20; Romans 8:10; Colossians 1:27), and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 2 Timothy 1:14).
C. “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
D. In 1 John we’re told of the attack against the church by the enemies of Christ: the spirit of anti-Christ, the world, the Devil, and seducing spirits. But we have only one Spirit, and it is with Him we deal, recognize, and are responsible to.
His name above all names shall stand.
The God that made the mountain ever loves me as His own.
He is the Builder of the sky, the Hanger of the spheres, the Maker of the
wind and rain, the Master of the impossible.
The Joy of Trial and Hardship Suffered for Christ.
A. “Beloved, let the fact of what our Lord suffered for you grip you, and you will never again be the same.” (Oliver B. Greene)
B. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
C. “It is possible for the will of God to be a bitter cup. And… being given the bitter cup puts you in good company. You share a common bond with Job, Joseph, David, Jesus, and many others.” (Dr. Don Woodard) “Behold, we count them happy which endure.” (James 5:11)
D. “Men are too timid to tell people all the truth and ask men to give to God what costs them nothing.” (William MacDonald)
(1) The Lord Jesus is willing today to accept those who will accept His teachings literally and obey even if they don’t see anybody else around them obeying them.
(2) “Suffering is the heritage of the bad, the penitent, and the sons of God. All end at the Cross. The bad thief was crucified, the penitent thief was crucified, and the Son of God was crucified. All three represent the widespread history of suffering in our world.” [Oswald Chambers]
God’s blessings come when we turn our hearts completely toward Him.
The Valley (Not the Mountain) …
… Is Where the Trodden Down Will Be Found.
“It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, and the mountains are meant for inspiration and meditation; but one is taken there only to go down afterwards among the demon-possessed and lift them up. If we cannot live in the demon-possessed valley, with the hold of God on us, by the power of the thing that is in us lifting up those who are down, our Christianity is only an abstraction.” (Oswald Chambers)
The World -- Our Benefactor?
A. Still I have renewed hope for this old and sin-cursed world, a world who knows benevolence better than the churches, that it can and will teach our churches to understand genuine, sacrificial, unpretentious, and nonselective love, kindness, and compassion. Then, once the churches learn it for real, maybe they can turn again to do their benefactor a favor and get it saved -- just as Jesus planned from the beginning.
B. Nevertheless, Revival Cannot Begin Until the People of God Say “Enough!” Stop the Frivolity and Let's Get Tough !!
C. “When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck before you crush him.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
The World is Vanity.
A. “How is the faithful city become an harlot ! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.” (Isaiah 1:21; see also verse 26.)
B. “There is a lot of input in your life every day. You are influenced by friends, the media, and various other streams of information. I am not saying that any of this is negative. Some of it might be. Much of it doubtless is not. The point is, your life should be greatly influenced by God’s truth, and you find that in the Bible.” (Bill Rice III, to teens.)
(1) If you adopt the world’s values, you’ll adopt the world’s vanity. If you adopt the Bible’s veracity, you’ll adopt the Savior’s standards.
(2) “Our young people have never read a Christian classic (Such as Pilgrim’s Progress or Paradise Lost), but are altogether familiar with much Christian fiction and spine tingling films. No wonder their moral and spiritual constitution is so frail, giving weak adherence to a faith they never learn or understand.” [William MacDonald] This is nothing more than a post nasal drip of a writer who can make money by putting the word Christian in his publishing contract and who can‘t find the book of Genesis in the Bible.
(3) The world does not believe. But we who do, genuinely from the heart, are sufficient in number and effect to persuade many. To bring Christ to the people is God’s greatest command, and in doing so, we will bring glory to Almighty God. Wave His banner .. shout His praises ..
(4) “We are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. We tell people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that it is so. We tell them that our home is above and that all these things are transitory. Does our dwelling look like it? O, to live consistent lives !!” (Hudson Taylor)
“Ye That Love the Lord, Hate Evil.” (Psalm 97:10) If God hates it, we ought hate it.
Standards of Perfection.
A. “The Bible, a book in comparison with which, in my eyes, all others are of minor importance, has never failed to give me strength.” (Robert E. Lee)
B. God is the standard for everything.
C. Jesus Christ is the standard for righteousness.
D. The Bible is the standard for living and abiding.
E. The Holy Spirit is the standard for:
(1) Growing in Christ,
(2) The impartation of God’s love,
(3) The motivation for contending for the faith,
(4) Declaring the Gospel,
(5) Necessitating the work of God (including Revival),
(6) The completion of the work through the saints.
A Noble Badge to Have.
If there’s a peaceful way, by all means take it. But be forewarned, the most important work of the milquetoast crowd with the rosy cozy Gospel is that you cry “Uncle,” and for them that comes before Revival (or anything else on a given day). It’s their way or no way, and phooey to God’s way. They’re relentless and deceitful. On the other hand, when someone gets mad at you because you stepped on their toes, you’ve earned the badge of honor in this great endeavor of Faith.
(1) “God uses the thermometer of obedience to test the temperature of love.” [Bob Jones Sr.]
(2) “The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.” [Henri B. Stendhal] We would want this from our good shepherds, our faithful pastors, but not for the hirelings who want to harm the sheep.
Trust and Obey.
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way !!
While we go His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
[Old hymn, by Sammis and Towner]
The Holy Spirit of God makes us understand truth, and empowers us to maintain righteousness.
Everyone’s in the ministry. There is no such a thing as a part-time Christian.
Eleazor Kept His Grip.
A. When God fights on your side, you’re on the winning team.
We need more Eleazors who fought and fought for God, was outnumbered, and when the battle was done he could not put down his sword, his grip was so tight. (See 2 Samuel 3:9)
B. We need men and women who will fight when the odds are stacked against them, men who will keep a tight grip on God’s Word, on his Gospel weapons, on his goal, on the victory he expects.
C. We stand around during the day examining the jawbone of an ass when we should be killing Philistines. (adapted, Clyde Box)
Does The Gospel Grip Your Heart?
A. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3) B. “What privilege and responsibility is ours as believers, that our tri-une God of creation and redemption and direction is with us always.” (Henry M. Morris)
C. When we accept Christ, we accept the Father and the Holy Spirit also.
In Need of a Few Willing Martyrs.
A. “We must ask ourselves repeatedly whether we truly believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven and whether we live according to His words.
(1) Can we say with Paul,” I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?” (Romans 1:16) Do we really believe that this Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” and that the world is lost without Christ? Has the full and awesome meaning of that fact truly gripped our hearts and minds? I speak to my own heart first.” [Dave Hunt]
(2) The simple truth is, we can have revival today if we are willing to preach the Gospel and suffer persecution as they did (the New Testament believers and others down through the ages).
B. If there were a few willing to be martyrs for Christ, then the blood of the martyrs would be the seed of the church now, as it has always been.
(1) We are thankful to the Holy Spirit who has been commissioned to do these works.
(2) Jesus said “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” If your not fishing (for souls) your not following (Jesus). (Dr. Shelton Smith)
Jesus said unto him (the lawyer), “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) (You cannot love the Lord too much, nor can you serve Him too much.)
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5) A commitment brings the Lord’s providence, assurances, and blessings.
Death to Self, Loyalty to Christ.
A. (See John 12:24) Note that what looks like love to a true Christian may look like hate to the world, thus the soul-winner (the fundamentalist) is oft thought of as having no compassion, or of being unkind.
B. In fact, that criticism is wielded against us more than any other and seems to be the basis for all manner of hateful attitudes and conduct toward us.
(1) But when you obey God, your compassion will speak for itself. And when you die to self, the old man goes out and the new man comes in -- the new man is fashioned after Christ in true holiness.
(2) The Holy Spirit will convict us of our own inability and inadequacies.
(3) The problem today doesn’t seem to be making Christians, it seems to be making them act like it. (adapted, Carl McIntire)
C. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (Romans 8:9)
(1) The question may not be whether I see the Holy Spirit in you or in your church, but do you see Him there?
(2) How will you know that the Holy Spirit is at work in you (and/or your church) and how will you know what fruit has been produced?
(3) Answer that rightly and you’re well on your way to doing God’s will.
A Revival Prayer.
Lord, should you look into my heart and find there a proud look, then bring me down. Abruptly, if You must. I do not wish to be snared by the Devil nor to be placed on a pinnacle to look down over my fellows, or to be in defiance of You. I want only to have good things in possession and to propagate that wisdom you’ve shown us in your precious Word. Your Word, O Lord, is hope, mercy, peace, and salvation. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, that I might have complete faith, and a burden for the souls of men. Make me unyielding, unreserved, unswerving, and insatiable. And might I spend every day buoyed by your loving kindness and tender mercies. Lord, increase my faith, make me your vessel, hold me close, be my friend -- use me to Your uttermost end. All on account of Jesus, and Him alone. Amen.
The Psalmist’s Repentant Prayer.
“Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation; that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.” (Psalm 106:5)
The love of Christ transcends human knowledge and it is that love that impels us toward being filled with the very fullness of God.
On Some Having Compassion.
A. The message is, Jesus pities us and has compassion on us.
B. His compassion, not ours, with the comfort of the Scriptures, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit are what we are to preach and let drive our revival!!
(1) Jesus said this to the man out of whom He had removed a devil, and who wanted to be His companion in the work of God, “Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” (Mark 5:19)
(2) Let’s get to the telling of others what great things the Lord He hath done, that His compassions never fail.
C. No one ever (successfully) led anyone to Christ except that he had a strong compassion for the lost.
[Note. An absence of a soul-winning spirit leads to abrogation. The best example is Jesus burning the non-fruit bearing fig tree at Matthew 21:19]
Distinctive Priorities: Indeed They Do Matter.
A. Ninety-five percent of Christianity today has these priorities or something generally similar: (1) Love God, and thereby come to be seen as being a “Christian.” (2) Tell people that God loves them (without offending anyone), thereby seeming to fulfill God’s commission. (3) Advocate good works through glowing oratories and colorful prose, joining with others, regardless of their beliefs, who want to do them also.
B. A greatly smaller percent, of whom I am one, have these succinct priorities: (1) Love, trust, and obey God. (2) Win the lost to Christ. (3) Teach and encourage those who are won to win others.
C. There will always be a wide gulf between these two sets of priorities, and a collateral distinction in our work and life styles, our Bibles, our churches, our words, and our destinies. (1) It is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of the source of our authority. The first comes from the heart of man, the second from the heart of God. (2) Read carefully the entire 17th chapter of the Gospel of John in the King James Bible and you will see the clear lines of demarcation. (3) Modern bibles have worked hard to remove the lines -- hence the deception. But the truth of the Bible will always survive the deceit of ungodly men.
Look at Your Priorities.
A. “Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.” (Ronald Reagan)
B. If you want to gauge your Christianity, look at your priorities. There are really only two things that credibly motivate the Christian: (1) the Bible is the Word of God; (2) Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Each one affirms the other as being absolutely without error.
C. While there is a great body of truth below them, these fundaments are where every Christian should anchor his soul and incite his labors. The internet is full of lies. Our politicians are full of lies. The religions of the world are full of lies. Some preachers and some churches and many church people lie, willfully even. Friends lie. Your own family lies. The people you do well toward lie. Life is very much a lie. The Devil is the father of lies.
D. But the Bible and Jesus Christ are not only without lies, they are the perfect truth -- unchanging, unvarnished, and alive ever more.
E. No Christian can live his life under the leading or power of any other priorities, and these priorities must be known to those to whom you minister, indeed ought to be visible to the whole world, or your ministry can make no sense to anyone. -- especially when you look more like the world than the Christian, as so many of you do.
The Spirit Poured Out.
A. There not only must be a personal passion for Christ and a purposeful compassion for the souls of men, but there must be a persistent intercession (the groaning of an aching heart) for a visitation of God’s Holy Spirit, for an outpouring of God’s mighty power.
B. “O, beloved, some people tell us that it is not right to pray for the Holy Spirit, that He is here in the world. But Luke 11:13 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” [author unknown]
Know The Holy Spirit in a Personal Way.
A. “When the preaching is faithful, the prayers earnest, the lives pure, a revival will follow as naturally as the sun will shine. You say, “A revival is temporary.” So is a rain shower. So was Pentecost, but the world but the world feels the benefit of its blessings today. A revival temporary? So is a bath. Take one: it will do you good.” (Billy Sunday)
B. The Scriptures teach that every believer should be separated unto God from the world and, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, should walk in Christian love and holiness, exhibiting qualities of honesty, integrity, forgiveness, and loving-kindness.
(1) Any achievement in these characteristics will be evident by sincere humility and genuine zeal for the advancement of the cause of Christ.
(2) The Scriptures admonish every believer not to love the world nor of the things of the world, but rather to flee desires, avoid every kind of evil, and refrain from questionable practices which destroy one’s testimony, offend one’s brother, and fail to glorify God.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his ead.” (Romans 12:19,20) Paul seems to be suggesting that when you treat an enemy kindly, you will provoke a shame or a remorse. That will, of course, not always be the case, yet it is a proper motivation to be genuinely loving toward your enemies. (unknown author)
Life is More Than Food and Raiment.
A. “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) We must be content with what we have.
B. “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” (Matthew 6:25; See also Genesis 28:20)
C. “Lord, give me enough to eat today.” We are asking for a modest provision.
D. Revival will give us a better perspective on our priorities and free us of this deadly materialism that is destroying the people of God and ruining discipleship everywhere.
(Based on a piece by Rick Flanders)
The Cry is for Man to Come.. Come.. Come.
A. Every man is urged to stop and reason. “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
(1) “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:22)
(2) “Come, for all things are now ready.” Jesus‘ parable about the king who was holding the wedding for his son, but the intended guests would not come. (Matthew 22:4)
(3) The prodigal son arose and came to his father as soon as “he came to himself.” (Luke 12:17)
“Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye unto the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found: call ye upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:1-3,6)
I Like It When Critics Attack.
A. When they’re attacking me, they’re leaving someone else alone. And you have to be seasoned, but realize that sometimes while you’re waiting for them to repent, you have an opportunity to throw in a testimony or two.
B. In any event, being attacked means that I’m not just run-of-the-mill, I’m different.
(1) I live in a society where being different is alright - except my kind of different is not alright at all.
(2) I’m one of those blood-bought, Christ loving, sin hating, Devil fighting, Holy Spirit driven, Bible living ….. children of God.
(3) They wouldn’t bother with anyone else, but me they have to change, they have to exemplify their goodness for me, and they have to show me the error of my ways.
(4) Praise the Lord, that’s exactly the way He described that it would be: indeed that was the precise way it was for Him.
Assumption v. Real Faith: An Eternity of Difference.
A. Many professing Christians today assume salvation.
(1) They do not understand the wrath of God and His hatred for sin because they do not inquire of it.
(2) They seem more likely to say “I’m deserving,” instead of “I’m guilty.”
(3) They have no reasonable evidence of their salvation, no compelling need to live up to it, aren’t particularly moved to learn the Scriptural assurances of it, and seem undetermined to share it with others or to go public with it or to stand in defense of it.
B. It would be equivalent to this kind of person thinking himself to be a lawyer, without believing he has to go to law school, pass a bar exam, receive a license to practice, or give sufficient counsel to anyone or otherwise represent him. Yet, he believes himself entitled to the full payment of lawyer fees every time he tells someone he is a lawyer, writes a book as a lawyer, appears on TV as a lawyer, and stands behind a shingle (or podium) as a lawyer. It’s bogus, but people believe him when he tells them he’s a lawyer -- indeed he knows just enough about being a lawyer to pass it off on the gawking and easily duped market.
(1) This is not meant to suggest for a moment that salvation is anything but by grace alone. But sitting in a henhouse and believing you’re a hen because of it is self-delusion.
(2) On the other hand, a Christian knows that he is a Christian for the simple reason that Christ made him one. He himself did nothing, nor is it ordered or even implied that he ever needs do anything of any kind.
(3) Salvation is an act of God, and of Him alone. Yet each day the true Christian sees the evidence of it (him being a Christian) in Scripture, in the work of the Holy Spirit in his life, in the answered prayers, and by his circumstance (and fruit).
(4) He also knows the promise, that the believer is known of His Savior and he therefore willingly returns in kind and diligently seeks to do His will.
(5) His desire (not requirement) is to obey Christ, which is the keeping of His commandments, including His call to holiness, His commissioning him as an evangelist, His setting him apart to be a light in the world and the salt of the earth.
(6) His assurances come from all that the Scriptures teach -- Jesus has given him eternal life, has promised him a mansion in Heaven, and has assured him that He will never leave nor forsake His people.
(7) And the most important things in life are centered on doing the will of the Heavenly Father who has sent him into the world to win others to Jesus Christ, and doing that for no other reason than because He told him to do it (in glorification of Himself).
C. Indeed, sitting in a henhouse does not make anyone a hen. I believe there will be a lot of people at the Great White Throne Judgment that will claim they are Christ’s, and Jesus will with His scepter remove all the alibis, excuses, justifications, false claims, and good works to the side bar, and say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
No Surrender.
A. When the Devil wants you to surrender to him, say to him the same thing that General Anthony C. McAuliffe said in 1944 to the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge -- “Nuts!!”
B. You are a man of God. Your walk with God and your heart for Him must be strong and consistent.
C. A new musical album, probably wicked if you were to look into it, still it is titled “Malice in Wonderland.” what a descript observation of today’s churches.
“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles… therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” (Acts 8:1-4)
He Has Redeemed Us Out of Bondmen.
A. Below, Deuteronomy 7:6-10:
“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people: for ye were the fewest of all people.
But because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;
And repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay Him to His face.”
B. “When led of the Spirit, the child of God must be as ready to wait as to go, as prepared to be silent as to speak.” (Lewis Sperry Chafer)