Sermons
January 9th, 2022 by Pastor Solley010922AM Will They Revive
Sub. Revival
Theme: Need of revival
Text: Neh 4:1-3
“Will They Revive” Neh 4:1-3
Introduction
I want to speak to you this morning about revival as a prelude to the special services we have beginning next Sunday morning. The word revival has several shades of meaning but it speaks most of all to a rekindling, of a return to that which may have been lost, of an awakening. Revival also points to being moved to that which is necessary, that which is needed. At no other time in my life have I seen a greater need of revival in the children of God. At no other time have I witnessed and felt the attacks of Satan upon the children of God than today. And so at no other time do I find it necessary, needed, to be close to God. God’s people need revival, even those who may be found walking closest to the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s people need revival today.
I. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are books of revival: Israel, both the Northern and Southern kingdoms had fallen into captivity. There was no temple worship, no sacrifices being brought, Passover not being kept, Atonement not being kept, the priesthood all but lost, the people were as far from God as they could be. There was a great need of revival among the people.
A. Nehemiah was one chosen of God to lead in revival: Neh 1:3-4 God put it in the heart of Nehemiah to restore and rebuild the city, the temple, and the city walls. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to spark a revival. – Neh 2:8
1. They began to rebuild the gates and the wall of the city: Neh 3:1-3
2. Repairs also began on the temple: Neh 3:16
3. The goal was revival, to get the people back to what was necessary: Revival was on the way.
B. So there was opposition: Neh 4:1-3 This was opposition from the world, from the lost, from Satan. The very same opposition that the believer in Christ faces today.
1. It is not so much a question that is asked in verse two as it is ridicule and accusation: Neh 4:2 The ridicule is that they would not be able to get the work done, the accusation that even if they did it would do no good, make no difference in their lives.
2. In the minds of those ungodly men even if they returned to sacrifice it would make no difference in their lives: Neh 4:3 They would still be left weak and helpless.
3. But those men of God, Ezra and Nehemiah would continue in the work of revival: Neh 4:4-6 They had a mind for the work, they finished the work, and there was a great revival in Israel.
II. Brothers and sisters in Christ there is a need for us to write a book of revival today, to revive the stones: I think we could agree that Satan has attacked and overtaken many believers as well as many churches today. Just as there was a need for revival in that day there is a need for revival today in our lives and in our church.
A. Still, there is that accusation today as well: Neh 4:2 Even if those stones be revived would it make any difference? Would revival make any difference in the lives of God’s people?
1. Would revival make any difference in homes and families?
2. Would revival make any difference in churches?
3. Would revival make any difference in our nation?
B. If revival would make a real difference, then what are the signs that I need personal revival: That is where revival begins, with one.
PROP: I hope to look at some things concerning revival this morning.
Body
I. We first need to answer the same question and accusation put before Nehemiah 2,500 years ago: Neh 4:2-3 Would personal revival, would real revival make any difference in my life and in the lives of those around me? Would personal revival build up and make a real difference? – Neh 4:3 – We need to stop and think about the answer before we give the expected one.
A. The world that we live in says no: And the world has a very strong influence upon everyone that lives in it. Satan is the prince and power of the air according to Eph 2:2, Satan is able to blind the minds of people according to 2 Cor 4:4. Satan is able to convince people of his lies according to 1 Tim 4:1. Those things do not apply just to lost people, they apply to the born again believer as well. The world has a very strong influence upon those, both saved and lost, who live in it. And the world says that revival would make no real difference in a life.
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1. So many years ago the movement began to move people away from the local church: That did not begin with coved, coved is just Satan’s latest attack on the local church. Those who opposed Nehemiah were trying to keep people away from worship of God. The book of Acts records account after account of Satanic attack upon the early church. Satan trying to keep people away from worship.
a. The home church movement started many years ago. No need for a traditional church, a traditional pastor, the Bible says where two or three are gathered together, so why not just have home churches? Sounds OK. But I have never known of a home church that lasted more than a few short years and then those who started it and attended it fall completely away from God.
b. I know several who went to a home church line of thinking that have nothing to do now with the Lord.
2. If one does need to have a church setting, why does it have to be a traditional church setting? Who made the rules? If we have to be in church why can’t we make our own rules? Why can’t we make and follow new traditions and practices?
ILL. Several years ago when we would be taking our daughter to Bible college in Seneca we would pass a church billboard that claimed “The Relaxed Fit Church”. It was the church where anything goes because God loves everyone and everything…
a. So why do we need an outdated Bible? Changing the Bible was and remains an attack on the local church.
b. Why do we need old and outdated hymns? Get rid of the hymnal and go to the seven eleven songs with no message.
c. Why not have an entertainment part of the service?
d. No need for a pulpit or traditional preaching, lets have give and take and a sharing time in the round.
e. Why not have a coffee and refreshment center?
f. If we have to have church why not make in an enjoyable time for all?
3. Then why not just go to a video church? People can sit at home, tune in, and be comfortable. The coved virus has shut the doors of many churches. Why be bothered with getting dressed up and going to church when we can have a web church?
4. The world says revival will make no difference and the world has an influence upon all who live in it:
B. But by being here this morning we are saying that we believe church, Christ, revival can make a difference in our lives: The only reason to come to this local church or other ones like it is because you believe it can make a difference because you have chosen a church where we look for God to make the rules and regulations. – 1 Tim 3:15 – Why come here or to a church like this? There is no light show here, no coffee shop, no entertainment center, no sharing time during the preaching. Why come here?
1. Because you believe in the Bible and that the Bible is pure and perfect: Prov 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
2. Because you want to hear preaching, hear Bible doctrine, not stories or life experiences: 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3. Because you want the music to be God honoring and have a message: Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
4. Because you want your children and grandchildren to be trained God’s way: Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
5. Because you think it important to do things God’s way: 1 Tim 3:15
6. Because you have answered the question and accusation put before Nehemiah with a yes: Neh 4:2-3
C. We first need to answer the same question and accusation put before Nehemiah 2,500 years ago: Neh 4:2-3
II. What then are some signs I can look for in my life that I am in need of personal revival? Revival never begins in a nation, never begins in a church, revival begins in one in need of revival. What then are some signs that I may be in need of revival?
A. When love is not what it should be I am in need of revival: Rev 2:1-4 The Bible has a great deal to say about love. The word love is found 310 times in the Bible. The word loves is found 3 times. The word loved is found 98 times. The word lovest 12 times. When God brings something up over 400 times you know it is important. And the Bible speaks of the love one is to have for brothers and sisters in Christ, the love between family members, the love between husband and wife, and the love one is to have for God. The Bible has a great deal to say about love and when love is not what it should be in my life I am in need of revival. But what type of love?
1. When my love for Christ is not what it should be I am in need of revival: Rev 2:4 The Greek word there is AGAPAE. When my love for Christ is not what it should be I am in need of revival, in need of reviving that love.
2. That is because every other type of love I am to have flows from my love of Christ: If I don’t love Christ in the way that I should I can’t love anyone else the way that I should. Think upon that for a moment.
a. I can’t love my wife the way that I should if my love for Christ is not what it should be. – Eph 5:25 – My relationship with my wife, my love for her will not be what it should or could be if I don’t love Jesus as I should.
b. I can’t love brothers and sisters in Christ the way that I should if my love for Christ is not what it should be. – 1 John 4:7-11
I will not love others the way that I should if I don’t love Jesus as I should.
c. I will not love the Bible as I should if I don’t love Christ as I should. – Ps 119:97
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d. I will not love the church as I should if I don’t love Christ as I should. I spoke on our love for the church last week.
e. If I leave my first love I will not love anyone or anything as I should or as I could. That is Bible.
3. And I put it on display for all to see, my love for Christ: How much I love Christ can be seen in the different ways I love.
a. If I can’t love my wife, if I am always at odds, if I constantly complain, If I don’t take care of her as the weaker vessel it is because I have left my first love.
b. If I am constantly at odds with people, if I can’t humble myself and forgive it is because I have left my first love.
c. If I don’t love to open my Bible and read what God has for me it is because I have left my first love.
d. If I don’t love coming into the house of God it is because I left my first love.
4. All of these things and more are just as much a struggle for me as anyone else here: Satan attacks all of us.
5. When love is not what it should be I am in need of revival: Rev 2:1-4
B. When I have no influence upon others, saved or lost, for Christ I am in need of revival: Matt 5:14-16 There are only two called the light of the world in the Bible, Jesus and the born again believer in Christ. – Matt 5:14 – As a light in this world I am to have an influence upon others. – Matt 5:14-16
1. When Moses came down from the mount he had an influence upon others: They covered his face it shone so brightly.
2. Elijah had an influence on others when he prayed and fire came down from heaven: Israel responded.
3. Daniel had an influence on others: People were able to pray and his accusers filled the lions bellies.
4. We are to have an influence on others: Acts 4:13-14
5. When I have no influence on others I am in need of revival, not them: But what is my influence upon others?
a. Are people encouraged in the Lord because I am around them?
b. Do the lost see something in me that they need?
c. I should have a light within so bright that it has an influence on others and when I don’t there is something amiss.
6. When I have no influence upon others, saved or lost, for Christ I am in need of revival: Matt 5:14-16
C. When sin doesn’t bother me in the way that it should I am in need of revival: Rom 6:12-14 Sin ought to bother the Christian just as much as sin bothers Jesus.
1. I am not talking about the gross sins that ought to bother everyone especially the Christian: There are some sins that if they don’t bother you and you profess to be saved, there is a fundamental flaw.
a. Abortion ought to bother you. I have had professing Christians tell me that they don’t have an opinion on abortion or that one does have a right to choose what is done with their body. There is a fundamental flaw in them.
b. Homosexuality ought to bother you. But I have heard professing Christians say God made those in that lifestyle so who are we to judge. There is a fundamental flaw in them.
c. The seven things that are an abomination before God are sill an abomination before God. God has not changed Him mind nor will he on sin.
2. But many who claim to know Jesus as their savior have changed their minds: In whom is the fundamental flaw?
3. But many times we are not bothered by what we might call little sins and we should be: Song 2:15 Our Christian life is very fragile and can be ruined by little sins. Our salvation is rock solid, but our Christian life is very fragile.
a. We get used to taking in sin with our eyes and it doesn’t bother us. But the Bible says we are not to set any evil thing before us.
b. We get used to hearing vile and blasphemous language and it doesn’t bother us. But it is corrupt communication.
c. We get used to the wrong company and it doesn’t bother us. But we are commanded to come out from among them.
d. We get so used to sin we call it by other names and make excuses for it.
4. When sin doesn’t bother me as it should I am in need of revival:
D. When I have no real burden for the lost I am in need of revival: Jesus wept over lost people, Paul would trade his salvation if others would be saved so great was his burden. – Rom 9:1-3
1. People we come in contact with all the time would spend eternity in hell if their life would end today: Does it even bother us?
ILL. I heard this about Betty White who passed away this past week at 99 years of age. That she liked to say she would have the answer to what was on the other side after she died. She now has the answer and I imagine for her it was not a good one.
2. Listen to the plea of Jesus: Matt 9:36-38 Does it even bother us that so many are dying and going to hell each day?
a. What of your family?
b. What of your friends?
c. What of those you work with?
d. Are you the one who could reach them? Do you care?
3. When I have no real burden for the lost I am in need of revival:
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E. What then are some signs I can look for in my life that I am in need of personal revival? Revival never begins in a nation, never begins in a church, revival begins in one in need of revival. What then are some signs that I may be in need of revival?
III. What to do when I acknowledge the need of revival in my life: Just a few things.
A. I must be willing to shine the light of Scripture on myself: 1 Sam 3:2-3 This lamp before the Ark was never to go out. It was to be a light shining on the things of God and it was never to go out.
1. But in Eli’s day it was shining on things that ought not be: There was open sin in the lives of the priest and in the things they practiced in the temple. They would rather the lamp of God go out.
2. I need to be willing to allow the lamp of God, the Word of God, to shine brightly on me: Allow it to expose my sin, my flaws, my weaknesses, and then make correction.
3. Am I willing to turn the light of Scripture on my life? I must be if I want revival.
B. I need to be willing to make sacrifices: 1 Thess 1:9 An idol is anything that keeps me from the Lord Jesus Christ even in the smallest of ways. What am I willing to sacrifice for Him?
1. Am I willing to give up my time to be in the house of God for the special services?
2. Am I willing to sacrifice my enery to do things for the Lord:
3. Am I willing to set things behind and Jesus in front: Phil 3:13-14
4. Am I willing to put away anything that might hinder me? Heb 12:1-2
5. Am I willing to make the sacrifice?
C. Am I willing to pray for revival: Neh 1:4-6 Am I willing to pray for revival? That means…
1. My heart will be broken by the need: Neh 1:4
2. That my prayers will be deep: Neh 1:5
3. That my prayers will include confession: Neh 1:6
4. That my prayers will lead to action on my part: Neh 2:11
5. Am I willing to pray:
D. What to do when I acknowledge the need of revival in my life: Turn the light of Scripture upon myself, make the necessary sacrifices, pray.
Conclusion
What can we say then concerning revival?
I. We first need to answer the same question and accusation put before Nehemiah 2,500 years ago: Neh 4:2-3 Would personal revival, would real revival make any difference in my life and in the lives of those around me? Would personal revival build up and make a real difference? – Neh 4:3 – We need to stop and think about the answer before we give the expected one.
II. What then are some signs I can look for in my life that I am in need of personal revival? Revival never begins in a nation, never begins in a church, revival begins in one in need of revival. What then are some signs that I may be in need of revival?
III. What to do when I acknowledge the need of revival in my life: Just a few things. Turn the light of Scripture upon myself, make the necessary sacrifices, pray.