1 00:00:30,099 --> 00:00:33,419 Just as soon as you feel comfortable doing that. I asked Brother 2 00:00:33,419 --> 00:00:38,219 Cox to speak tonight, you know, when he was over at Norris, 3 00:00:38,219 --> 00:00:41,339 and he taught on a different day, I think, than I did. And so 4 00:00:41,339 --> 00:00:44,859 we pass each other a lot. And I've known him, he preached at our 5 00:00:44,859 --> 00:00:48,059 church there in Weatherford. But I've got to know him better in 6 00:00:48,059 --> 00:00:52,059 the last four months. And I do appreciate. And I didn't know. I 7 00:00:52,059 --> 00:00:56,429 just found out last Sunday. Him and I graduated the same time, 8 00:00:56,589 --> 00:01:02,709 two different schools at the same time, in 1973. And he's a lot 9 00:01:02,709 --> 00:01:08,349 younger than me. I think he acts younger than me anyway. But 10 00:01:08,749 --> 00:01:12,669 he's been around the block as many times as I have, and I like 11 00:01:12,669 --> 00:01:16,029 to hear men like that. I told him, I want you to just preach on 12 00:01:16,029 --> 00:01:19,789 revival. I'm going to get your perspective of what revival is and 13 00:01:19,789 --> 00:01:23,029 what it's all about and what it should be. And so I'm looking 14 00:01:23,029 --> 00:01:26,069 forward to hearing from him. So open your Bible. Take your Bible 15 00:01:26,069 --> 00:01:29,269 and get ready to open it up. Brother Cox, you come, and God bless 16 00:01:29,269 --> 00:01:31,669 you. And when he's through, we'll have an invitation. We'll have 17 00:01:31,749 --> 00:01:34,549 one final prayer time together for the revival. 18 00:01:35,909 --> 00:01:39,829 Thank you, Brother. Appreciate that. I didn't realize that you called 19 00:01:39,829 --> 00:01:44,869 and texted and we got dressed the same, so we're kind of like twins 20 00:01:44,869 --> 00:01:51,239 almost. Yeah. Before you get into your Bible, please, Second Chronicles 21 00:01:51,239 --> 00:01:54,519 chapter seven is where we're going to be. Second Chronicles, Chapter 22 00:01:54,519 --> 00:01:59,839 seven. I happen to remember something of a prayer request for 23 00:01:59,839 --> 00:02:05,879 Norma Schuller. Many some of you may or may not know, she, anyway, 24 00:02:05,879 --> 00:02:11,279 got involved with some WASP yellow jackets, got stung 15 times 25 00:02:11,839 --> 00:02:16,189 all over her face and back and her arms. But she's doing better. 26 00:02:16,429 --> 00:02:20,389 But if you can imagine the stings and the swelling and all that 27 00:02:20,389 --> 00:02:24,789 goes on. So pray for her recovery. If you would, please want 28 00:02:24,789 --> 00:02:28,509 to thank Brother Weatherby for the opportunity to preach here today. 29 00:02:28,589 --> 00:02:34,309 So thanks so kindly. You know, when we first started learning about 30 00:02:34,309 --> 00:02:39,549 Jesus at 12 years of age, we heard that he was busy about his 31 00:02:39,549 --> 00:02:44,208 father's business. We now know that Father's business is the gospel 32 00:02:44,208 --> 00:02:49,328 business. And now on the verge of revival, it's also the church's 33 00:02:49,328 --> 00:02:55,768 business of revival. It's not a business commodity to buy and sell 34 00:02:55,928 --> 00:03:02,808 and do profit, but it is in the process of providing a service, 35 00:03:03,288 --> 00:03:08,589 an emergency service, much like cpr, especially to revive people 36 00:03:08,589 --> 00:03:14,029 in the church when they get a faint heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat. 37 00:03:14,429 --> 00:03:20,189 And it is a revival's job to kind of jolt them or shock them back 38 00:03:20,429 --> 00:03:25,429 into a normal rhythm. And that's what revival can do for each 39 00:03:25,429 --> 00:03:29,389 and every church. And because of that, we want to find out what 40 00:03:29,549 --> 00:03:34,459 spiritual CPR might be like. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we 41 00:03:34,459 --> 00:03:38,499 thank you for the opportunity to be in the Word tonight. And I 42 00:03:38,499 --> 00:03:42,339 pray that you will hide me behind the cross, let people see 43 00:03:42,339 --> 00:03:47,099 Jesus and him alone. Direct my thinking, thoughts, ideas, and we 44 00:03:47,179 --> 00:03:50,899 pray, Father, you'll bless as we have revival coming. Help our 45 00:03:50,899 --> 00:03:55,859 church, help our people, help us all to understand the need and 46 00:03:55,859 --> 00:03:59,599 the importance of this wonderful service and, and not to 47 00:03:59,599 --> 00:04:03,799 begrudge it because it'll take up some evenings, but to encourage 48 00:04:03,799 --> 00:04:07,759 it in our lives. And we thank you for that. In Jesus precious name 49 00:04:07,759 --> 00:04:12,799 we ask and pray. Amen. The first verses that we've ever learned 50 00:04:13,119 --> 00:04:16,879 about revival have been found right here in second Chronicles chapter 51 00:04:16,879 --> 00:04:21,279 seven. So hopefully you have that before you and you are fully 52 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,239 aware in 2nd Chronicles chapter 7. Looking at verse number 53 00:04:25,239 --> 00:04:31,069 14, 2nd Chronicles chapter 7. And I am on my way to turn there. 54 00:04:31,469 --> 00:04:37,429 Hold on. Second Chronicles chapter 7, verse number 14. We know 55 00:04:37,429 --> 00:04:43,349 these familiar words and we read this. If my people which are 56 00:04:43,349 --> 00:04:47,869 called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek 57 00:04:47,869 --> 00:04:54,769 my face and turn from their wicked ways, then only then will 58 00:04:54,769 --> 00:05:00,929 I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land. 59 00:05:02,209 --> 00:05:07,409 It's very clear, very plain, not really complicated at all what 60 00:05:07,409 --> 00:05:13,209 this verse says to all of us here today. Judy and I grew up in 61 00:05:13,209 --> 00:05:18,299 a small rural area. We attended church and small town of 62 00:05:18,299 --> 00:05:23,739 1300 people called Haven, Kansas and I ended up pastoring there. 63 00:05:24,299 --> 00:05:29,899 While with the rural people I got to hear a lot of stories concerning 64 00:05:30,139 --> 00:05:35,779 from old timers about the old brush arbor revival meetings. Now 65 00:05:35,779 --> 00:05:38,979 if you're not familiar with a brush arbor revival meeting would 66 00:05:38,979 --> 00:05:42,739 be, it would be that the country folk would go out to a piece 67 00:05:42,739 --> 00:05:47,119 of property somewhere that was donated and allowed to be used and 68 00:05:47,119 --> 00:05:51,479 they would dig poles in the ground. Then on top of the open air 69 00:05:51,479 --> 00:05:57,399 meeting, they would put leafy branches on top for the roof and 70 00:05:57,399 --> 00:06:02,039 it would be a temporary shelter outdoors for open air meetings. 71 00:06:02,439 --> 00:06:08,559 Some of those brush arbors had sawdust floors to them maybe to sit 72 00:06:08,559 --> 00:06:15,079 on. There would be split rail benches without a back killing. If 73 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:18,599 you're going to be in a revival for long and or maybe some 74 00:06:18,599 --> 00:06:22,359 old chairs, depends upon the timing of it all. There would be 75 00:06:22,359 --> 00:06:27,079 lanterns, maybe torches, hopefully not too close to the thatched 76 00:06:27,079 --> 00:06:31,799 roof that they had over them, maybe campfires at night and they 77 00:06:31,799 --> 00:06:36,799 were open to the mercy of God, of the wind, the dust and the allergies 78 00:06:36,799 --> 00:06:40,679 that would Come along. But the main thing would be that the people 79 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:44,359 there knew what they were there for. They knew they were there 80 00:06:44,359 --> 00:06:48,399 for revival. So the music was extra loud and the people in the 81 00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:52,319 community surrounding it would hear it all the way in town. There 82 00:06:52,319 --> 00:06:55,839 would be people that would be drifting in, walking in and they 83 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,159 would want to see and understand what's going on, what's 84 00:06:59,159 --> 00:07:03,079 taking place. And they would come to that old fashioned revival 85 00:07:03,649 --> 00:07:07,089 once they get there. They would see the people vibrantly singing. 86 00:07:07,169 --> 00:07:11,689 They would see the circuit riding evangelist. He had his white 87 00:07:11,689 --> 00:07:15,929 shirt up to rolled up to his elbows and tie loosened down and 88 00:07:15,929 --> 00:07:19,289 he was just preaching away with all of his heart. I mean there 89 00:07:19,289 --> 00:07:23,329 was sweat on his brow, he had the old red hanky and he would wipe 90 00:07:23,329 --> 00:07:27,409 it from time to time and bring in another point over and over again. 91 00:07:27,969 --> 00:07:32,189 When that meeting was over, some churches had baptism at the 92 00:07:32,189 --> 00:07:36,789 nearby creek and then they would invite people all to join them 93 00:07:37,029 --> 00:07:43,789 for a plate of fried chicken, homemade bread and apple pie. Now 94 00:07:43,789 --> 00:07:49,829 that's what I call revival. God bless those old fashioned revivals. 95 00:07:49,829 --> 00:07:55,989 But I've often wondered why. Well, having to describe it for you, 96 00:07:56,509 --> 00:08:01,109 one of the reasons was people put out themselves a lot just to 97 00:08:01,109 --> 00:08:04,669 see that revival would happen, just to see for the meeting to take 98 00:08:04,669 --> 00:08:10,629 place. They sacrificed greatly to get things set up. And more than 99 00:08:10,629 --> 00:08:17,309 that, they believed by faith and knew and trusted that God was 100 00:08:17,549 --> 00:08:21,109 going to do a great thing for them. That's why they did what they 101 00:08:21,109 --> 00:08:27,639 did and worked hard as they did. God saw their efforts to sacrifice 102 00:08:27,799 --> 00:08:33,879 their faith and he blessed it all. Back when Jeanne and I were 103 00:08:33,879 --> 00:08:38,118 younger and I remember in churches there were such a thing 104 00:08:38,118 --> 00:08:46,439 as two week revivals. Then we went down to 10 day revivals. Then 105 00:08:46,439 --> 00:08:53,669 we went down once again, one week revival. And then because we 106 00:08:53,669 --> 00:08:59,069 have air conditioning and we have padded pews and because we some 107 00:08:59,069 --> 00:09:04,229 can't stand it, we go the four day revivals, right? Sunday through 108 00:09:04,229 --> 00:09:10,029 Wednesday, that's what we do. The Rinses and myself attended the 109 00:09:10,029 --> 00:09:13,749 church in Haven, Kansas and we started out with one week revival. 110 00:09:14,469 --> 00:09:18,309 It got to be so good and people's lives were changed so greatly 111 00:09:18,789 --> 00:09:23,389 that the deacons asked all the churches to get the people to get 112 00:09:23,389 --> 00:09:27,549 together and we had a church vote. Let's extend God's blessings 113 00:09:27,549 --> 00:09:31,949 for another three days. We ended up having by church vote on 114 00:09:31,949 --> 00:09:39,109 purpose a 10 day revival. Who does that? Who does that? Only people 115 00:09:39,109 --> 00:09:43,529 who saw God blessing them. Only people who put their trust and 116 00:09:43,529 --> 00:09:46,649 faith in what the Lord was going to be doing in their life. 117 00:09:47,209 --> 00:09:51,849 In Halstead, Kansas a town that we pastored as well, 2,000 people. 118 00:09:52,009 --> 00:09:58,009 The evangelist had a six o' clock in the morning prayer meeting. 119 00:09:59,209 --> 00:10:04,169 And every day of that revival, the farmers, the ranchers had to 120 00:10:04,809 --> 00:10:08,889 rearrange their feeding of their cattle or the milking of the 121 00:10:08,889 --> 00:10:12,729 cows. And somehow. And they came to Church at 6 o' clock in the 122 00:10:12,729 --> 00:10:16,369 morning. Even the wives got the children up and drug them there 123 00:10:16,449 --> 00:10:21,649 at six o' clock in the morning just to have a prayer meeting each 124 00:10:21,649 --> 00:10:26,169 and every day. They believed God. They believed that God was going 125 00:10:26,169 --> 00:10:29,689 to do something uniquely special. It wasn't the evangelist 126 00:10:29,689 --> 00:10:33,389 they were trusting in. They were trusting in God. And in our 127 00:10:33,389 --> 00:10:40,989 small town of 2,000 people for that revival, 26 came to Jesus Christ 128 00:10:41,149 --> 00:10:45,589 as their personal savior. All because they believed God. All because 129 00:10:45,589 --> 00:10:49,469 they took the time and the sacrifice to get up and come and 130 00:10:49,549 --> 00:10:55,029 pray and seek God's face. As we see right here. The people came 131 00:10:55,029 --> 00:10:59,799 and rededicated themselves. Different Bibles, revivals do different 132 00:10:59,799 --> 00:11:04,359 things according to God's choosing and desire. What we need 133 00:11:04,359 --> 00:11:09,399 to understand is God wants us to have revival. Turn, if you would 134 00:11:09,399 --> 00:11:14,879 Please, to Psalm 85, the 85th Psalm, if you would please, Psalm 135 00:11:14,879 --> 00:11:21,759 85. And we see here that God wants revival for his people. And 136 00:11:21,759 --> 00:11:28,219 it's recorded here, Psalm 85. Looking at verse number one, Psalm 137 00:11:28,219 --> 00:11:36,979 85, verse number one, we read these words. Lord, thou has been 138 00:11:36,979 --> 00:11:41,259 favorable unto thy land, and thou hast brought back the captivity 139 00:11:41,259 --> 00:11:46,339 of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, and thou 140 00:11:46,339 --> 00:11:50,819 hast covered all their sins. Selah, thou hast taken away all thy 141 00:11:50,819 --> 00:11:55,739 wrath. Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine 142 00:11:55,739 --> 00:12:00,329 anger. After all of the goodness that God has done. Then 143 00:12:00,329 --> 00:12:05,529 the psalmist says, turn us, turn us, O God, of our salvation. 144 00:12:05,849 --> 00:12:10,609 Cause thine anger toward thee, us to cease. In other words, give 145 00:12:10,609 --> 00:12:15,049 us revival. Turn us around. Turn us around. And wilt thou be 146 00:12:15,049 --> 00:12:19,209 angry with us forever? Wilt thou draw out thy anger to all generations? 147 00:12:19,369 --> 00:12:24,489 Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee? 148 00:12:25,899 --> 00:12:30,699 God wanted revival for his people. After all that God has done. 149 00:12:31,099 --> 00:12:35,619 Then they asking a question. Wilt thou not revive us again? Wilt 150 00:12:35,619 --> 00:12:40,539 thou not revive us again and that we may rejoice in you once again? 151 00:12:41,819 --> 00:12:46,099 Do you know, for some people it's been a while since they've been 152 00:12:46,099 --> 00:12:50,819 able to rejoice in God in church. It's been quite a while and 153 00:12:50,819 --> 00:12:54,979 they need revival. We all need that revival. We need to see what 154 00:12:54,979 --> 00:12:59,819 God is all about and rejoice in Him. And for all that he has done 155 00:12:59,899 --> 00:13:04,259 and how he has blessed us over and over again. As we see in 2nd 156 00:13:04,259 --> 00:13:09,099 Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 14. Revival's conditional. If my 157 00:13:09,099 --> 00:13:14,619 people, if my people like those old time farmers, ask yourself, 158 00:13:15,499 --> 00:13:20,989 how much are we willing to do for revival? How much are we willing 159 00:13:20,989 --> 00:13:26,069 to put up for revival? They were willing to sit on old benches 160 00:13:26,229 --> 00:13:29,709 that didn't give much, I guarantee you. They were willing 161 00:13:29,709 --> 00:13:34,509 to be in a open air brush arbor where leaves would be coming 162 00:13:34,509 --> 00:13:37,949 down, maybe little spiders and bugs would come down. And yet they 163 00:13:37,949 --> 00:13:40,909 were singing away and preaching the word. And they were 164 00:13:40,909 --> 00:13:46,179 singing that God would do something great among them. Now, 165 00:13:46,499 --> 00:13:51,299 here's how revival comes. According to some people, something 166 00:13:51,459 --> 00:13:58,539 may be like this. Hello, Brother McCracken. Ah, want you to 167 00:13:58,539 --> 00:14:01,099 check your calendar, if you would, please, and see if you'd be 168 00:14:01,099 --> 00:14:06,539 available on the first week of August when we always, always schedule 169 00:14:06,539 --> 00:14:10,889 our revival. And we'd love to have you here this year in 2024. 170 00:14:11,449 --> 00:14:17,449 No, you can't make it in 2024. I'm so sorry. How about that same 171 00:14:17,449 --> 00:14:22,209 week in August of 2025 when we have revival? Would you be able to 172 00:14:22,209 --> 00:14:28,009 come then? No, you can't come in 2025. Well, how about if we try 173 00:14:28,009 --> 00:14:34,569 to schedule you in 2026? You can make it. Oh, great. Well, put 174 00:14:34,569 --> 00:14:38,529 it down on your calendar on August 2nd through the 5th and we'd 175 00:14:38,529 --> 00:14:43,219 love to have you. Oh, by the way, bring your revival case, if 176 00:14:43,219 --> 00:14:47,099 you would, please. Make sure you pack the best revival you can 177 00:14:47,419 --> 00:14:51,179 and have it available because we really, really do need revival. 178 00:14:51,499 --> 00:14:58,659 Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you. That is not how revivals 179 00:14:58,659 --> 00:15:04,939 are scheduled, although we kind of think that way. We know revivals 180 00:15:04,939 --> 00:15:08,819 are scheduled on purpose because of the busy schedule of our 181 00:15:08,819 --> 00:15:14,979 evangelist. However, whenever revival is, we need to be ready and 182 00:15:14,979 --> 00:15:19,019 prepared for it. In each and every way. Revival comes to those 183 00:15:19,019 --> 00:15:23,819 who desperately see a need. If you would please turn with me to 184 00:15:23,819 --> 00:15:29,259 the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah, chapter one. We know this 185 00:15:29,259 --> 00:15:32,699 is a favorite book of Brother Wetherby. He had asked me to preach 186 00:15:32,699 --> 00:15:37,749 a missions conference at his church there in Weatherford on the 187 00:15:37,749 --> 00:15:41,389 book of Nehemiah. Here we are in Nehemiah, chapter one. Look at 188 00:15:41,389 --> 00:15:46,989 verse number two. Then Hanani, one of my brethren came, and he and 189 00:15:46,989 --> 00:15:50,909 certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that 190 00:15:50,909 --> 00:15:55,389 had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning 191 00:15:55,389 --> 00:15:59,789 Jerusalem. And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of 192 00:15:59,789 --> 00:16:04,209 the captivity. But there in the province are a great affliction 193 00:16:04,369 --> 00:16:08,689 and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also was broken down and 194 00:16:08,689 --> 00:16:12,929 the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass when 195 00:16:12,929 --> 00:16:22,689 I, Nehemiah, heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned 196 00:16:23,329 --> 00:16:29,929 certain days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 197 00:16:31,129 --> 00:16:38,689 You see, Nehemiah, a butler or cupbearer, saw a need. Nehemiah was 198 00:16:38,689 --> 00:16:42,049 no preacher. He's no evangelist. He was no prophet. He 199 00:16:42,049 --> 00:16:45,049 was just an ordinary individual. But when he heard the 200 00:16:45,049 --> 00:16:49,609 conditions of his hometown, Jerusalem, when he heard what was 201 00:16:49,609 --> 00:16:53,279 going on, when he saw the conditions of that holy city, he 202 00:16:53,279 --> 00:16:58,279 just had to do something. That's when revival is needed the 203 00:16:58,279 --> 00:17:04,679 most, when you know you have to do something. For months, they 204 00:17:04,679 --> 00:17:09,719 had not forgotten the holy place. And we here at Heritage Baptist 205 00:17:09,719 --> 00:17:15,319 Church for months have not forgotten our church, our holy place. 206 00:17:16,039 --> 00:17:21,549 We see that the walls are broken down. The enemy has come in. 207 00:17:21,869 --> 00:17:26,669 We see that the gates. The gates are burned so much to the point 208 00:17:26,669 --> 00:17:30,869 that people are afraid to come in. Something has got to be done. 209 00:17:30,869 --> 00:17:36,469 Like Nehemiah. We need revival. Same for Chloe. Turn, if 210 00:17:36,469 --> 00:17:41,789 you would please, to. First Corinthians, chapter one. First Corinthians, 211 00:17:41,789 --> 00:17:47,279 chapter one, if you would, please. Paul wrote this book to a 212 00:17:47,279 --> 00:17:52,479 troubled church. And he was only made aware by a person by the 213 00:17:52,479 --> 00:17:55,879 name of Chloe. First Corinthians, chapter one. Look at 214 00:17:55,879 --> 00:18:00,319 verse number 10. Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name 215 00:18:00,319 --> 00:18:04,039 of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak with the same thing, 216 00:18:04,279 --> 00:18:08,119 that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly 217 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,919 joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. For it 218 00:18:11,919 --> 00:18:20,159 hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are 219 00:18:20,159 --> 00:18:24,839 of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 220 00:18:26,919 --> 00:18:30,559 One of the reasons this book was written was because someone by 221 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:35,119 the name of Chloe and her household made mention of it to the 222 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:39,889 apostle Paul. She was concerned. She got bothered that 223 00:18:39,889 --> 00:18:44,449 her church that she knew is not the same church anymore. And 224 00:18:44,449 --> 00:18:48,009 she said, something's gotta be done. Paul, I want you to know. Be 225 00:18:48,009 --> 00:18:52,849 aware of it in chapter three. There's strife and division over 226 00:18:52,849 --> 00:18:57,249 baptism. Oh, I got baptized of Paul. No, no. I got baptized of Peter. 227 00:18:57,249 --> 00:19:01,569 Wait. I got. I got baptized of Apollos. They argued among themselves 228 00:19:01,969 --> 00:19:07,699 among who they were baptized with. Chapter 5. Immorality to the 229 00:19:07,699 --> 00:19:13,499 which the Bible teaches us was not even named among the Gentiles. 230 00:19:15,659 --> 00:19:20,058 Chapter six. Christians were suing each other. Chapter seven. 231 00:19:20,058 --> 00:19:24,219 They were taking marriage lightly. Marriage and re. Marriage 232 00:19:24,219 --> 00:19:28,299 and divorce and remarriage. It was a. It was a mess. Chapter 11. 233 00:19:28,459 --> 00:19:33,759 The Lord's Supper was. Was being abused. Chapter 12 to 14. Spiritual 234 00:19:33,759 --> 00:19:38,879 gifts were being misused. It was a terrible church. It was a church 235 00:19:38,879 --> 00:19:43,479 in need of revival. And Paul was written to by Chloe. Something 236 00:19:43,479 --> 00:19:49,759 has got to be done. Chloe saw the problems and she wanted her church 237 00:19:49,759 --> 00:19:56,369 back for God. That was the reason for Paul's letter. Can't stand 238 00:19:56,369 --> 00:20:02,769 it anymore. For Chloe, she wrote, enough is enough. Something's 239 00:20:02,769 --> 00:20:09,289 got to be done. And Paul wrote back to the church at Corinth telling 240 00:20:09,289 --> 00:20:16,929 what had to be done. Revival came with Moses, Mount Sinai. When 241 00:20:16,929 --> 00:20:19,689 he came down from the mountain, he heard the noise, the 242 00:20:19,689 --> 00:20:23,859 music. He saw the golden calf being offered up and the people were 243 00:20:23,859 --> 00:20:29,779 dancing. He came and told them, revival, you've got to come 244 00:20:29,779 --> 00:20:33,739 back to the law of God. You've got to come back to what God has 245 00:20:33,739 --> 00:20:39,779 established for all of you. Joshua, revival for him. Before his 246 00:20:39,779 --> 00:20:45,379 death. He told them in chapter 24, before I leave you, I want you 247 00:20:45,379 --> 00:20:52,519 to choose this day, right now, whom you're going to serve. And Joshua 248 00:20:52,519 --> 00:20:56,519 gave them an ultimatum. If you're going to want God's blessings, 249 00:20:56,679 --> 00:21:00,839 you're going to have to come God's way. But as for me and my house, 250 00:21:01,479 --> 00:21:08,479 we will serve. The Lord Jesus himself sought revival among the 251 00:21:08,479 --> 00:21:12,719 seven churches in the book of Revelation, chapter two and chapter 252 00:21:12,719 --> 00:21:16,169 three. Turn if you would, please. Revelation 2, chapter two. 253 00:21:16,729 --> 00:21:20,369 We're not going to go through all of them. That in itself is a 254 00:21:20,369 --> 00:21:26,929 sermon. But chapter two. And note the church at Ephesus he uses 255 00:21:26,929 --> 00:21:33,569 as an example. Look at verse number two. I know thy works and 256 00:21:33,569 --> 00:21:38,529 thy labor and thy patience, and how thou cannot bear them which 257 00:21:38,529 --> 00:21:43,469 are evil. And thou has tried them would say they are apostles 258 00:21:43,469 --> 00:21:48,309 and are not. And has found them liars. And has borne, and has 259 00:21:48,309 --> 00:21:52,469 patience for my name's sake, and has labored and has not fainted. 260 00:21:53,109 --> 00:21:57,389 Yes, I, I, I know what you've done. I know your history. I know 261 00:21:57,389 --> 00:22:01,069 your past. I know how I've blessed you. And I know the efforts 262 00:22:01,069 --> 00:22:05,029 that you made to make sure that you upheld the standards and 263 00:22:05,189 --> 00:22:08,149 the thinking and the teachings of the Word of God. I know that. 264 00:22:08,319 --> 00:22:12,239 And you found those false prophets apostles to be liars. Great. 265 00:22:12,399 --> 00:22:18,319 Thank you so much. However, verse four, I have somewhat against 266 00:22:18,319 --> 00:22:24,079 thee because thou has left thy first love. Remember, therefore, 267 00:22:25,039 --> 00:22:31,399 there is a lot of remembrance in revival. Remember what used to 268 00:22:31,399 --> 00:22:36,799 be. Remember the past. Remember when we all got started 269 00:22:36,879 --> 00:22:40,079 and preaching the Word and people started getting saved and 270 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:43,239 people were added to the church and the buildings grew and 271 00:22:43,239 --> 00:22:48,999 grew and grew. Remember all of that. This is what revival is. It's 272 00:22:48,999 --> 00:22:54,039 going back in remembrance of the past, of God's blessings. Going 273 00:22:54,039 --> 00:22:57,839 back in the past and seeing what God has done and how great God 274 00:22:57,839 --> 00:23:03,929 has been then. Well, if God was great to the church, then God 275 00:23:03,929 --> 00:23:09,369 can be great to the church today. Right now. That's revival. 276 00:23:10,009 --> 00:23:16,969 That is revival. Yes. Like Chloe, revival is needed and wanted. 277 00:23:16,969 --> 00:23:22,009 When individual Christians have had enough and they see that 278 00:23:22,009 --> 00:23:26,889 nothing is happening. Nothing. And we need the Lord to fill our 279 00:23:26,889 --> 00:23:32,819 lives, our church. Well, let's be honest and be honest with ourselves. 280 00:23:32,819 --> 00:23:38,819 We've all changed in the last few months. We all have no lie. And 281 00:23:38,819 --> 00:23:42,859 because of that, our church has changed. And for revival, we 282 00:23:42,859 --> 00:23:47,819 know that we cannot go back to the way things used to be for our 283 00:23:47,819 --> 00:23:52,779 church. We cannot go back to the things the way it used to be. 284 00:23:53,269 --> 00:23:58,029 Everything has changed. Revival brings a difference. Revivals 285 00:23:58,029 --> 00:24:02,389 are supposed to change people. Revival supposed to transform people 286 00:24:02,389 --> 00:24:07,029 and churches and make them totally different. And that's what 287 00:24:07,029 --> 00:24:11,749 revival is. We're not to be revived in the old ways. I mean, 288 00:24:11,749 --> 00:24:14,869 I don't want to go back and do the same things I used to do. That's 289 00:24:14,869 --> 00:24:18,879 not revival. I want to go ahead. I want to move ahead. I want 290 00:24:18,879 --> 00:24:21,879 to see what God can do in my life. I'm looking forward to God 291 00:24:21,879 --> 00:24:25,999 blessing my life once again and doing things bountifully that 292 00:24:25,999 --> 00:24:29,759 I have never experienced before. And we want that for our 293 00:24:29,759 --> 00:24:36,559 church that's never had it experienced before. That is revival. 294 00:24:39,519 --> 00:24:47,249 But question is, are we ready for real revival? And could we ever 295 00:24:47,249 --> 00:24:55,009 handle it? If it came our way, would we be able to handle it? Real 296 00:24:55,009 --> 00:25:01,049 revivals are about change, transformation. But it does have 297 00:25:01,049 --> 00:25:06,729 a price tag. It does cost. It will cost us and our church something 298 00:25:06,729 --> 00:25:10,379 to see God's blessings. I mean, real revival means that we. 299 00:25:10,529 --> 00:25:15,329 We won't be the same anymore. Real revival means our change, our 300 00:25:15,329 --> 00:25:18,249 church won't be the same anymore. It will change. It will 301 00:25:18,249 --> 00:25:23,489 be different. We need to be prepared for this radical change, 302 00:25:24,129 --> 00:25:28,769 for the same old way of doing things. Not going to get it. The 303 00:25:28,769 --> 00:25:32,609 same way of living. Not going to get it. We need to be prepared 304 00:25:33,009 --> 00:25:38,169 and ready for that radical change that comes from 2nd Chronicles, 305 00:25:38,489 --> 00:25:44,009 chapter 7, verse 14. It starts out with my people called by my name. 306 00:25:44,649 --> 00:25:49,369 It reminds us who we are. We're God's people, God's people. 307 00:25:50,249 --> 00:25:54,129 We're not some pastor's people. We're God's people. And because 308 00:25:54,129 --> 00:25:58,409 we are God's people, he has something special, unique. I mean, 309 00:25:58,409 --> 00:26:03,649 hey, I'm a child of God. Being a child of God means I have a Heavenly 310 00:26:03,649 --> 00:26:07,529 Father, that's unique and special and has great things for 311 00:26:07,529 --> 00:26:12,129 me in my life. We need to understand that. Don't you realize 312 00:26:12,129 --> 00:26:15,129 that you're not your own? You're bought and paid for with a 313 00:26:15,129 --> 00:26:19,089 price. You don't belong to yourself. I belong to my Heavenly 314 00:26:19,089 --> 00:26:24,969 Father. So I cannot expect revival to be the way it used to 315 00:26:24,969 --> 00:26:28,819 be. God, if you're willing to change it, change it. I mean, after 316 00:26:28,819 --> 00:26:37,699 all, hasn't there already been a change? Yes. Secondly, we must 317 00:26:37,699 --> 00:26:41,979 humble ourselves. Humble ourselves. Need to get rid of that 318 00:26:41,979 --> 00:26:47,219 pride and that independent attitude of being right now. Buckle 319 00:26:47,219 --> 00:26:53,659 up. Because humbleness also has a price tag. If you're really 320 00:26:53,659 --> 00:26:58,069 the humble Christian that you think you are or that you really 321 00:26:58,149 --> 00:27:05,909 want to be, then real revival is humbling ourselves and going back 322 00:27:05,909 --> 00:27:13,349 to those people who quit and inviting them back to church. Isn't 323 00:27:13,349 --> 00:27:23,319 that revival? Yeah, that's revival prayer. After we humble ourselves, 324 00:27:23,319 --> 00:27:29,759 we pray. Prayer is always humbling. It takes. Gets rid of ourselves 325 00:27:30,239 --> 00:27:34,319 and asks the Lord to step in. I can't do it, Lord. I can't do it. 326 00:27:34,799 --> 00:27:38,959 Please. You take over. You make this church the way you want 327 00:27:38,959 --> 00:27:43,039 it to be. Not the way it used to be, but the way you want it to 328 00:27:43,039 --> 00:27:47,279 be. We have an opportunity. Get a chance. Got the opportunity 329 00:27:47,279 --> 00:27:53,139 to. To see God greatly working and blessing in our church. But it 330 00:27:53,139 --> 00:27:58,859 takes prayer. Then we seek God's face to personally meet with 331 00:27:58,859 --> 00:28:06,099 him. Have you ever sat down to meet someone face to face? When Covid 332 00:28:06,179 --> 00:28:12,619 came teaching at Norris, we taught on Zoom. I hated that. I mean, 333 00:28:12,619 --> 00:28:17,219 pick people on little TV screens. No, I enjoyed teaching and 334 00:28:17,219 --> 00:28:21,859 preaching to people face to face. I saw them right up front. 335 00:28:23,059 --> 00:28:29,139 God wants us to seek his face personally. Personally. When you 336 00:28:29,139 --> 00:28:35,539 seek God's face, you seek his favor. You seek his grace, you seek 337 00:28:35,539 --> 00:28:40,869 his desire of his presence. And that's what you want. If we wish 338 00:28:40,869 --> 00:28:47,869 to know God closely, you've got to get to him face to face. That's 339 00:28:47,869 --> 00:28:54,309 the only way to do it. Confess your sins. That's the hardest part. 340 00:28:54,949 --> 00:28:58,349 Confessing our sins, repenting of them. Those secret sins, those 341 00:28:58,349 --> 00:29:03,029 secret, false sins. Nobody knows about that attitude, that bitterness. 342 00:29:03,269 --> 00:29:07,689 It's amazing how people don't have to say anything. They just express 343 00:29:08,329 --> 00:29:13,049 an attitude. Oh, you can tell it. When our kids were growing up, 344 00:29:13,129 --> 00:29:18,169 yeah, they might comply with what we did and we. They might say 345 00:29:18,729 --> 00:29:22,409 and do what we wanted them to do. But one daughter especially, 346 00:29:23,209 --> 00:29:31,529 she didn't like it. And so she would go, I'll do it, but I'm not 347 00:29:31,529 --> 00:29:36,229 happy about it. You can tell about the attitude, right? It's amazing 348 00:29:36,229 --> 00:29:39,549 how people's attitude, they can smile, shake your hand, but, 349 00:29:39,549 --> 00:29:45,109 you know, there's an attitude there, an attitude problem. Confess 350 00:29:45,109 --> 00:29:49,949 your sins. The attitudes, the bitterness, the grudges, the resentments, 351 00:29:49,949 --> 00:29:55,189 it's all there. And then turn. Turn from those wicked sins that 352 00:29:55,189 --> 00:29:58,899 we've confessed. Don't keep them. Don't hide them in any way. 353 00:29:59,299 --> 00:30:03,139 He's asking for repentant hearts. He's asking for a righteous 354 00:30:03,139 --> 00:30:09,979 remnant. He's asking for people like Nehemiah and Chloe have 355 00:30:09,979 --> 00:30:16,339 a burdened heart. A burdened heart that you want to see things 356 00:30:16,579 --> 00:30:22,419 different and you want God's blessing upon this church. Because 357 00:30:22,579 --> 00:30:28,189 we're changed. The church has changed. We need God's blessings. 358 00:30:30,349 --> 00:30:35,749 He will forgive our sins. He will hear from heaven. He will apply 359 00:30:35,749 --> 00:30:41,709 his son's blood. He will heal our land. He says here, I will restore 360 00:30:41,709 --> 00:30:47,549 back what you've lost. I'll restore the name once again of Heritage 361 00:30:47,549 --> 00:30:51,319 Baptist Church into the community. I. I'll restore once again 362 00:30:51,399 --> 00:30:54,999 our witness into the community. I'll restore once again 363 00:30:55,159 --> 00:30:59,119 our testimony into the community. And isn't that what we 364 00:30:59,119 --> 00:31:06,759 want for this church? God wants to provide us with revival, 365 00:31:07,319 --> 00:31:13,839 a new life. He wants to make things great for us in revival. So 366 00:31:13,839 --> 00:31:18,189 this is what we have to look forward to. Good things, great things, 367 00:31:18,189 --> 00:31:23,549 wonderful things. A new beginning with God. A new beginning 368 00:31:23,709 --> 00:31:29,429 with his power and his spirit. I leave you and I close with something 369 00:31:29,429 --> 00:31:36,909 I found in a song that gives lyrics that might make you think. 370 00:31:37,549 --> 00:31:46,679 It goes like this. My eyes are dry, My faith is old. My heart is 371 00:31:46,679 --> 00:31:58,879 hard and my prayer is cold. Lord, I know how I ought to be alive 372 00:31:58,879 --> 00:32:07,399 unto you, but dead unto me. Are you like that? Every head bowed, 373 00:32:07,399 --> 00:32:18,129 every eye closed? We're looking at revival. It takes a cold, 374 00:32:18,609 --> 00:32:27,969 hard look at us for ourselves. Before our church can experience 375 00:32:29,009 --> 00:32:35,939 revival, we've got to experience it ourselves. Heavenly 376 00:32:35,939 --> 00:32:41,899 Father, we know this is tough, this is difficult. It's not easy. 377 00:32:42,859 --> 00:32:47,139 And Father, I pray that you'll make us ready and prepare us for 378 00:32:47,139 --> 00:32:51,259 the change, for the radical change that may come to our lives. 379 00:32:52,139 --> 00:32:55,259 We may have to stop certain things, quit doing certain things, 380 00:32:55,339 --> 00:32:58,579 quit looking at certain things, quit hearing certain things. 381 00:32:58,579 --> 00:33:03,079 We just may have to see our life turned around. And if our life 382 00:33:03,079 --> 00:33:08,599 needs to be changed and turned around, our church needs to be changed 383 00:33:08,599 --> 00:33:14,759 and turned around. Speak to us now through your spirit and this 384 00:33:14,759 --> 00:33:22,039 invitation. Help us, Lord, now to realize that I must die to self, 385 00:33:22,759 --> 00:33:27,319 but be alive unto you, for it's in Jesus name we ask and pray. 386 00:33:27,639 --> 00:33:28,279 Amen. 387 00:33:28,359 --> 00:33:28,689 It's.