What Prevents Revival From Knocking On Our Doors?

Heb. 7:19; James 4

INTRO: REVIVAL! Why is it so elusive? Why do we seek it? What prevents it in our lives? Does it really exist? Can I buy it? These are questions we might be asking.

Some might say, "I've been hearing about having REVIVAL for years now and I have yet to see any real hint of its' existence." But revival can happen. It also cannot happen, as we well might know. I want to look at What Prevents Revival From Knocking On Our Doors? It is a lengthy message, but you really need to stay with this one.

Before I get into the message, I want to read two short scriptures that tell us we can have revival. Revival is about our getting closer to God. Hebrews 7 tells us that Jesus is how we can get closer to God.

Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

But James spelled out a formula if you look at it in James chapter 4.

James 4 1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 

Let me share this morning some problems that prevent revival in our lives…

People problems - Matt. 5:23-24; James 4:1-2

Many people that claim to be Children of God will not get along

Many people do not want to get along

Many people are too selfish to get along - "It's my way or the highway."

He cannot bless when there are personal problems in our hearts

Because people do not get along God does not send revival to our hearts.

Puny prayer lives - James 4:3

We don't pray enough

We don't ask for the right things

We don't say thanks enough

We don't believe enough to ask

Honestly, the scripture that teaches us we have not because we ask not -- FITS.

Personal piety and pride - like the pious Pharisee - James 4:6; 10

We are too good for God to bless

We do not need God's blessings

We do not want God's blessings

Because we are so "holy" revival does not find its way into our lives.

Misplaced priorities - James 4:8; 13-16

God runs a close 4th or 5th in many o four lives

He should be first!

It is not just big things that we let get between us and God

Some of us would not miss our favorite TV show, or our hobby for God

Let us face it many of us are too busy for God

Because we will not find time for God, revival eludes us.

Precious paper ($)

Some are afraid to let go of our finances to the Lord

Some will not trust God

Money means more to many than God means to them

Because we place greater emphases on money than we do God, revival is far from us.

 

We are like…

Polished Plastic (like Teflon) - 8; 9

Nothing sticks to us

This message will go over our head

His Spirit has a trouble getting a stir

We really do not listen

Because we choose not to let His Spirit reach us, we let revival slide right by.

Many are like…

Persistent Plants or weeds (rooted and unmovable) - 13-16

Stuck in our ways

Rooted to the max

Unwilling to let the Holy Spirit move us closer to the Lord

We will not let the Lord change things in our LIVES - even though they may be good for us and good for the Body of Christ

We are often like the worst dandelion or sticker in our yards.

Like

Puffy Pastry (too soft for the Lord) - 7

Look good, but not really strong or strengthening for those around us

Liked by everyone, but not really the answer

Because we do not try to be strong, we are weak.

Others have in their lives…

Powerless Praise (inadequate or weak) - 15

We do not praise the Lord enough with our voices

We do not praise the Lord enough with our actions

We do not praise the Lord enough with our hearts

Because we do not praise Him, we do not have much to praise Him for!!!!

Matthew 15:1-9 1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church- 110605am