South Union Sermons

Just as the four lepers did not do well to hold their peace as they feasted because of God's grace, we do not do well to hold our peace concerning the good news of the Gospel. We have been fed by the bread of life that came down from heaven. Why would we ever want to hold our peace concerning Jesus who is the only one that can truly satisfy the hunger of our souls?

Revival can happen and begins to happen when God opens our eyes to see that He who is with us is greater than they who are against us.

Bottom line: We experience God's sending of revival and restoration when we meet God's qualifications for revival and restoration.

The basis for revival is a relational connection with God. Those who are saved can be revived. Those who are lost are in need of a spiritual resurrection (salvation). The burden for experiencing revival is prayer: broken prayer, earnest prayer, holy prayer. And the blessings of revival are seen in the fact that God shows up, God hears and responds to prayer, God forgives sin, and God restores our souls.

Revival happens in and with the church, when we position ourselves for revival by surrendering to the person of God, the Word of God and the church of God. If we're not positioned (surrendered) we may very well miss what God provides.

Bottom line: When we fast for revival, our increased spiritual hunger is satisfied by God.

Prayer is the hand with which we reach out to God. Fasting is the hand with which we let go of the world.

There are at least four reasons why we should want to fast for revival: 1) fasting strengthens our prayers, 2) fasting expresses our repentance and desire to return to God, 3) fasting expresses our concern for God's work in us, among us, and through us to advance God's kingdom, and 4) fasting helps us to overcome temptation and sin in our lives.

The way Jesus spoke in the Mat. 6:16-18 implied that He expects us to fast, i.e. that we would and should fast. But we also have an expectation of God when we fast, i.e. that He will reward us. Isaiah chapter 58:11 gives us five rewards for fasting correctly: 1) God's guidance, 2) soul satisfaction, 3) inward strength, 4) outward fruit, and 5) hidden resources.

Bottom line: A church that genuinely prays together for revival will perceive God's presence and receive God's power.

We pray to God and make requests from God based on what we know about God. The church in Acts 4 knew God's power. They requested that God would grant them power to speak His word with boldness. They prayed in unison. They prayed in unity. They perceived God's presence among them. They received God's power within them. They went forth boldly proclaiming God's Word.

The R-word (repentance) is the first step toward the re-centering of, retuning to, and revival from God.

In 1 Samuel 7 we see where the Jews had drifted from God and even from their faith. After 20 years of the Ark being displaced from the center of Jewish life, the Jews began to lament after God. Samuel told them that if they truly wanted to return to God with all their heart, then they had to repent (change). They had to repent in mind, heart, and action. He told them to put away (forsake) their idols, direct their hearts to God (confession of sin), and serve (worship, love, obey, follow, etc.) God only.

Samuel's remedy was applied, and God brought renewed fellowship among the people and even more He brought deliverance from their oppressors. When we repent and re-center God in our focus, attention, priorities, worship, obedience, etc., then God brings revival and deliverance into our lives.

Bottom line: The "Everyday Challenge" is to ask the Lord of the harvest daily to send more laborers.

Jesus worked hard to show up and serve the needs of others. He was moved with compassion, and He challenged his followers to pray and ask that God would send more laborers into the fields holding a plenteous harvest.

Bottom line: When I dig ditches (prepare) by faith, I can receive the blessings that only God can send.

Sometimes our ability to receive the blessing that God sends is directly tied to the space we create to contain it. God told the Jews to fill the valley with ditches to catch the water that He would send. Is it possible that we may very well miss out on enjoying the blessing of God simply because we're not prepared to receive it?

We are dependent on God, but we must be diligent in doing what He has commanded. When we are, we not only see the display of His power, but we enjoy the delights of it.

Bottom line: When I trust God to give away the "more than I need," then I can be used by God to bless others that are in need.

In Luke 12, Jesus addresses the issue of what to do (how to think about) our "more than we need." He warns us to not look on our finances as absolutely necessary to life, i.e. don't equate your stuff with your life. When you do that you believe that every thing that comes your way is for you now or for you in the future. It squelches our generosity, our opportunities to be a blessing and to be blessed by God.

Generosity changes us. It allows us to look more like God. Generosity helps us to invest in what matters most, the eternal not simply the temporal. And Generosity frees our hearts. One of the best ways to combat greediness in our lives is to give generously to others' needs.