RLJ-871

WHAT IS A TRUE REVIVAL?
PART 1

John S. Torell

May 4, 2003

A TEACHING SERMON

In order for us to understand what a true revival is, we must begin by asking two questions?

1. Are you willing to be corrected? Proverbs 9:6-12
2. Are you hot or lukewarm? Revelation 3:14-19

Now we must ask ourselves this question: Is God a "sloppy God" or is he precise, demanding perfection from his angels and from the people he has saved from their sins? God had no mercy on Lucifer and the angels who followed him! Isaiah 14:12-20

God is expecting that a saved man or woman shall serve him to the best of their abilities, not being "sloppy" and giving whatever can be scraped up for God! 1 Peter 5:10

THE ATTITUDE OF A CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE LIKE THIS... Luke 17:7-10
Few Christians have a slave’s attitude, instead we have become our own "gods," dictating to God what we are going to do, when we feel like it and are good and ready and have finished our own projects! Instead of giving God our very best, we give him what is left (crumbs), when we are tired and cranky about the whole thing! Most Christians are in the same class as the Israelites and described in I Corinthians 10:1-10 and in Hebrews 3:7-19

WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT OUR ATTITUDES
Return to your first love- Agape! Revelation 2:1-7
What is the first love- Agape? OBEDIENCE! John 14:15
Obedience to what? The Word of God! 1 Corinthians 10:11-14
This obedience begins with getting out of idolatry!
When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, he started out with the first issue, which was the most important to God! Have no other gods! Exodus 20:1-6

Christians are extremely sloppy in this area. They often quote the following statement, which is not found in the Bible: "GOD WILL UNDERSTAND. I AM DOING MY BEST, WHAT MORE CAN GOD EXPECT?" This is a quote from the Devil’s writings, called "HUMANISM."

When a person purchases a new automobile, they expects the vehicle not only to run somewhat, but that every gadget on the vehicle is working and working properly, from the engine, the transmission, including all accessories. If the dome light does not work and the salesman makes the statement, so what? Look at how much is working on this car! The buyer will become furious and demand that the dome light is repaired.

Yet we tell God, look at how much I am doing for you. Give me some slack Lord. After all, I am only human. You can’t expect me to follow every commandment in the Bible. That is "legalism" Lord. I will pick and chose what I am going to obey, and God, you better be happy with that or I will get angry and quit going to church and paying my tithe! Look at all other Christians, they seem to be anointed and blessed and they are not keeping all your commandments, so why should I? This kind of sin is also known as rebellion, and the Word of God states that this sin is equal to the sin of witchcraft - 1 Samuel 15:22-23

REMEMBER THIS!
Cain decided to do his own thing in worshiping the Lord, and God rejected him! Genesis 4:1-7 Cain picked up an attitude and murdered his brother Abel (verse 8). When we are sloppy in our walk with God and we are corrected, most people become very angry and defensive!

The sons of Aaron decided, that they would spice up their worship of the Lord with a little extra something they have learned from the pagans, and they offered strange fire. God had not pity on them, no mercy, they were killed on the spot! Leviticus 10:1-7

Ananias and Sapphira decided to do some lying and wanted to receive some glory for which they did not deserve, and God killed them on the spot - Acts 5:1-11

If you claim that you believe that the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover, then live up to it and don't be a pretender, or as it is known in the Bible, a hypocrite!

Do you believe these verses in the Bible? Matthew 5:17-19; Hebrews 13:8 If you do say that you believe these verses, then step up "to the plate" and live accordingly, OR BE KNOWN AS A LIAR!

Do you have an ear to hear with?

To be continued...

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