Revive Us Again

Habakkuk 3:1-2  A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.  (2)  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

INTRODUCTION:           Our new verse for this year is the verse of this message.  However, our theme for 2010 is “Revive Us Again.”

              We have Revivals and we invite an Evangelist to come to town, then we invite the town to come and hear him.  Yet, there is a process concerning revivals we need to understand.

              I have been reading a book titled “LORD Send A Revival” by Dr. Clarence Sexton.  Dr. Sexton states; [1] “…I do not believe revival will come to a people who do not know the LORD.  Dr. Vance Havner said, ‘You can’t have ‘revival’ until you have ‘vival.’  This means you must have life before you can be revived.”

              The process in short; is “…you must be born again…”  Revival cannot come to a lost person, because he has not met the only requirement.

              We have an Evangelist come to speak God’s Word to you, to render all the worldly fat that has accumulated in your heart.  The worldliness you have picked up since the last time you allowed your heart to be revived.  Do understand revival will not come to an unwilling heart.  If you want to stay the way you are God will not force you to do anything.  He will allow you the courtesy of the malaise you have put yourself in, having that sense of “just not feeling right”  It is your call.

              If your heart is no longer heavy for souls; no longer has the zeal to serve Him, it is a possibility your problem is with your Pastor.  If your heart isn’t with your church, your Pastor or serving God, you obviously are out of the will of God at least in the strength you ought to be.  Our hearts ought to be in constant communication with God.  Our hearts ought to be devoted to God.

Deuteronomy 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

              In this New Year I have been calling on God to make this a year of “Revival For Fundamental Baptist Church.” 

I.            GOD DESIRES TO WORK THROUGH US

              A.           As Habakkuk Spoke To His Nation

                             1.           He was called to speak to Israel

                             2.           His nation was about to fall

                                           i.            Into captivity

              B.           God Wants To Be Known

                             1.           Through His people

                             2.           From the floor of His Churches

                                           i.            Without revival from the floor

                             3.           Our nation will fall

                                           i.            As will our churches

                                                          a.           This church

                                           ii.           There is no one else to blame

                                                          a.           We failed in reviving ourselves

II.           REVIVAL OF OUR CHURCHES

              A.           Is Our Only Hope

                             1.           As a nation

                             2.           As a church

              B.           If We Are Not Excited About God

                             1.           Why would a person visit here

                             2.           How could a new convert be excited

              C.           Habakkuk Faced A Serious Situation

                             1.           His nation was about to fall

                                           i.            As our is

                             2.           It was an inescapable judgment

                                           i.            We as Israel it is inevitable

                             3.           Our church faces the same fate

                                           i.            We will be judged for our sins

                                           ii.           Our payer ought to be:

Habakkuk 3:2  O LORD, …in wrath remember mercy.

                             4.           Our sins of:

                                           i.            Approving abortion

                                           ii.           Looking the other way on alcohol

                                                          a.           Drugs

                                                          b.           The promiscuity of our children

III.         REVIVAL CREATES DEVOTION TO CHRIST

              A.           An Higher Level of Devotion

                             1.           Something needed by all here

              B.           When Your Heart Is Revived

                             1.           You will be willing

                                           i.            To serve the LORD

                                           ii.           To start tithing

                                           iii.          Giving to Missions

                                           iv.          Helping shore up the weak

                       

              C.           Revival In Your Heart

                             1.           Will mean an increase in the church

                                           i.            In giving

                                           ii.           More helping to clean

                                           iii.          The rebuilding of Sunday Schools

              D.           The Revived Heart Will

                             1.           Have a greater interest

                                           i.            In God’s work

                                                          a.           In this church

              E.           Revival Brings Back The Zeal

                             1.           Like we had when we got saved

                             2.           A concern for souls

                             3.           A concern for the growth of this church

IV.         THIS CHURCH NEEDS A BURDEN FOR REVIVAL

              A.           Our Hearts Should Be Heavy, Burdened

                             1.           For the work of God

                                           i.            His church

              B.           This Burden Should Be For Each Other

                             1.           I am concerned for my burden

                                           i.            May be it isn’t what it ought to be

              C.           Revival Begins In The Hearts Of Believers

                             1.           Being afraid

                                           i.            Habakkuk heard God’s Word

                                                          a.           He was afraid

                             2.           We have become complacent

                                           i.            We are happy with the status quo

                                           ii.           Just keep that thermostat where I like it, and 

                                                          a.           I won’t be a problem

                                           iii.          So long as we can muddle alone

                                                          a.           Don’t change anything

                                                          b.           When it gets bad enough

                                                          c.           We will fix it

                             3.           Our nation should be afraid

                                           i.            Yet we do not fear God

                                                          a.           Nor do we fear His wrath

                                                          b.           Homeland Security and

                                                                        FEMA can solve all the problems

CONCLUSION:               The blessings we need only come with a revived heart.  With a new zeal for the LORD.  An ability for each of us to pick up this church, and through other churches revive this nation.

              First things first, we must have revival here before we can look to help another church to seek Gods face to save our nation.

              Nobody seems to care about what is happening in our nation, our leaders certainly don’t seem aware of God’s impending judgment.  God will not continue looking away at what we as a nation are doing.  We have elected leaders who murder (abortions), who blaspheme God (the 10 Commandments), who seek to remove God’s Holy name from the record books. 

              We have heard what Habakkuk told us God said. 

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

If we as born again Christians are not willing to seek His face, if we are not willing to repent of our wicked ways, how on earth do you expect your prayers to be answered.  Your heart is full of wickedness; you are full of sin if you refuse to be willingly changed.

              This is a call for revival in this church.  We cannot expect our neighbor to carry the full load.  You are expected to do your share.  I saw a sign on a church once, I have half heartedly threatened to put it up, but again the doubters.  It said “Visitors are welcome; Members are expected.”

              There is not one person in this room who has enough Bible, enough spirituality that they don’t need to be here.

              We need to get up and get to work, for the night is coming.

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[1] Dr. Clarence Sexton, “LORD Send A Revival,” Crown Christian Publications, Powell, TH 2007 page 128 Chapter 11.