Moving Towards Revival - What Revival is Not

Ps 85:6; Luke 3:2-14

Psalm 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Luke 3:2 -14 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. ³And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; ⁴As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. ⁵Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; ⁶And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ⁷Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ⁹And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹⁰And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? ¹¹He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. ¹²Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? ¹³And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. ¹⁴And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

INTRO: My definition of Revival – A series of meetings where a church or group of churches attend religious services and all the items it contains.

God’s definition involves our attitudes and a change of heart!

Revival is not just for the church leaders - whole congregation needs renewal

Old - Young

Dads - Moms

Sons - Daughters

SS teachers - students

Revival is not something that we can just decide to have and it will happen

We can not schedule Revival

We cannot just speak it and it will be

We cannot attend and receive revival – we can miss it

Moving Towards Revival - What Revival is Not - page 2

Revival is not just a public display

Not how we look

Not how we dress

Not how we vocalize

Not how we attend (if our heart is wrong)

Not where we sit (if our heart is wrong)

Revival is not a cure-all for all that ails our body

Won’t make our singing fantastic

Won’t make us super Christians (maybe supper Christians)

Won’t make us "superior" Christians (better than others)

Won’t make us better givers

Won’t make us better prayers

Won’t make us better attenders

Revival is not brought by the preacher

We can get plenty others to come

We don’t really have to listen

We don’t have to apply his words

Revival is not just for the church (stay with me)

We can become so full of His Spirit that it shows

We can become so close to God it changes our life

We can become such a super Christian that (through Him) we make a difference

We can become serious about how we serve and live for the Lord

We can become so renewed that we rejoice in Him

We can become so revived that we follow His will

We can become so close to Him that we seek avenues to do more for Him

We can become so much that He wants us to be that we reach others as He would have us do – by following the Great Commission and reaching the world for Christ!

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church 112402pm - first used - 022298am