How to Have a Personal Spiritual Revival - I

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue you need personal spiritual boy coming up to Greg Laurie invite you to pause for a few moments and take stronger were you are in your relationship was your first one on your passion for Christ was your life when you read God's word faithfully more involved in church more than you are now a time when you shared the gospel more so you need a personal spiritual revival by Bill Moody said he needed to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit is because highly when it comes to having a passionate relationship with the Lord we have to continually refresher because we all have a slow week today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie see where we are really proper steps to re-energize our faith.

They were back of the book of Nehemiah that were in Nehemiah chapter 7 so turn there with me the title of the message is I have a personal spiritual revival. You know you look back in the late 60s. In the early 70s. There's a lot of parallels between then and now. I read a lot of interesting articles lately about this, noting how similar they actually are. It was a nation that was divided back then racial conflict a drug culture. Things were very dark to listen to this when things are really dark gods light can shine brightly and I think were due for another Jesus revolution. Listen to this description from the 1971. Addition of Time magazine talking about the spiritual awakening, I think you really captured what was going on. That's a style that's inconceivable that our own day. I can imagine reading this in time magazine today. Here's what they said, quote Jesus is alive and well and living in the radical spiritual fervor of a growing number of young Americans who proclaimed an extraordinary religious revolution in his name. The article continues their message.

The Bible is true miracles happen. God really did so love the world he gave his only begotten son Bibles about whether the chair is further covered King James version or scruffy back pocket paperbacks. There are invariably well-funded and often memorized. There is an uncommon morning freshness about this movement, writes time a boy an atmosphere of hope and love. Along with the usual rebel zeal, but their love seems more sincere than a slogan deeper than the frustrating sentiments of the flower children.

What startles the outsider is the extraordinary sense of joy. They are able to communicate." Great. Sounds like a revival to me and why. Let me make a distinction between two words that are often used interchangeably. Revival and awakening. Here's what it comes down to America needs a spiritual awakening the church needs a revival and awakening is when God sovereignly pours out his spirit and impacts of culture. That's what happened in the Jesus revolution that would happen in multiple spiritual awakenings in the history of America predating us being established as a country but a revival that is what the church must experience its when the church comes back to life when the church becomes what it was always meant to be returning to passion. I think many times we overly mystified the idea of revival.

We don't really need to because another word I could use a revival is restoration restoration, restoring something to original condition. WC a cool old car cruising down the road are restored to showroom condition you think while that's beautiful someone took time to do that that can happen in the life as well. Not just when the model first comes out with you and keep it beautiful and keep it in perfectly restored condition. That's what the church needs is a mini RA touring. He was a friend of DL Moody user initials a lot in those days. Anyway, RA Torrey, a great preacher and an evangelist in his own right who traveled around and spoke a lot and let a lot of people to Christ, made this statement and I find it interesting, he says, quote I can give a prescription double bring a revival to any church or community or any city honor. Tori says you need to do number one first get a few Christians they need up the money, get them thoroughly right with God.

This is a prime essential if this is not done the rest of what I say will come to nothing.

So number one get some people who are willing to get right with God. Number two.

Let them find themselves together in a prayer group to pray for revival until that happens. Open and God comes down number three let them put themselves at the disposal of God for him to use as he sees fit and wanting others to Christ. That is all that is sure to bring revival to any church or community. I'd given the same prescription around the world right story. It is been taken by many churches in many communities and in no instance has it ever failed and I cannot fail" let's review. Get right with God. Get together with other Christians and pray for revival number three make yourself available to God, especially in winning souls to we can do that now that spiritual awakening the outpouring of the Spirit. That's up to God. We can organize it, but we can agonize for it in prayer.

We can call upon God to send it, but let's just get out there and do these practical things that he recommends well for us here in Nehemiah 8 is a national revival. I love this definition of revival. I'm not sure who said it, but let me quote it quote revival is when God get so sick and tired of being misrepresented.

He shows up himself. Not great God get so sick and tired of being misrepresented. He shows up himself before we talk about revival here in the book of Nehemiah. Let's start with a few lists a lot of us of list right now God is list to lead to say that God is a stickler for detail and he also keeps very careful books, listen to this. Everything you say and do is recorded by God in heaven. And here's some good news.

Every person who believes in Jesus Christ has her name recorded in heaven.

Every Christian who believes in Jesus Christ as their name written in the book of life, so I don't know what you're going through today. But just remember this is your Christian your name is written in the book of life that's that's a big thing. It is one of the disciples of Jesus came to them and they're all excited because he leave them power to cast demons out of people, so they're talking about how wonderful was Jesus as guys listen don't rejoice because you can cast out demons, but rejoice, because your names are registered in heaven.

I don't know when this happens I don't know if God writes our name in the book, way, way back before even born because he knows who will believe in him and he knows who will not find an open happens when I believe in Jesus at that very moment what I'm confident of this once you've asked Christ to come in your life, your name is in the book and lesson it will never be blotted out of the book and secure your salvation is secure in Christ Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment. It's a privilege to bring the studies your way and were thankful for those who express encouraging words and I have learned how Mike from you and I would like, I realized how little I knew about the Bible is what I have learned from meeting held at the house for not taking my you are a blessing to me and I pray not letting you and your family had all that you will hear from you. It's not only a blessing. It also confirms that the program is touching lives here in this.

You can leave a message for Pastor Greg call 1-866-871-1144 again that speech 668-7111 44 today. Pastor Greg is presenting a message called how to have a personal spiritual revival from the book of Nehemiah and if you like a permanent copy of today's message or you just like an instant replay. What you missed. You can go to harvest.org during Nehemiah 7.

We have some lists we have a lot of names given will become the portions of the Bible, like the genealogy of Christ or a list like this week in a skim over it. For starters, it's hard to pronounce all those names but why does God record them because they matter.

These are people that mattered to him. People that contributed to the success of the rebuilding of the wall so we come to Nehemiah 7. We have a list of people in what they're doing. But no, it sort of shifts gears because were going out Nehemiah chapter 8 as well, will you look at the spiritual awakening. But listen first they had to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. They were getting Jerusalem ready for a big event to come will God is at work. He looks at the big picture, we tend to look at the small one were myopic.

We see what's in front of us. We see what's troubling us God's looking down the road. What is going to ultimately accomplish God was getting Jerusalem ready for the day when God incarnate, would walk their streets God incarnate, would be born in the manger in Bethlehem.

God incarnate, Jesus Christ would going to the temple there in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ would teach in the streets of Jerusalem, and ultimately Jesus Christ would be crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem. So these walls had to be built. But here's another list.

Nehemiah 7 verse one after the wall was finished and I set up the doors in the gates and gatekeepers the singers the Levites were appointed.

I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem.

My brother Hannah and I along with Hannah and I at the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

So now the walls are done and Nehemiah appoint some people to take care of business. His brother Hannah and I and Hannah and I they were faithful to God, the Bible says and they also feared God listen to this, the greatest ability is dependability. Again, the greatest ability is dependability. Are you a dependable person. See Nehemiah knew he could lean on these guys. He knew they would get the job done as there are people I know that many of them were care and under certain people. I know that if I give a test to get done.

I don't have to think about it. I don't even have to ask out when it is done and it's going to be taking care of because that's a dependable person of the biblical we can do this� Problem in the comeback of all the unit you know what to get the job done. So God's looking for people that can take a test and completed and he's looking for people who are faithful in the little things you want to be used by God one day. Would you like God to call you in the some form of service. That's a good thing to aspire to take care of the little things right now.

Do what is in front of you right now because Jesus said if you are faithful in the little things will be faithful in the large things. But if you're dishonest and little things you won't be honest with greater responsibility see everybody had a part to play in the small building project. Many of them rebuilt the wall near their home.

Everyone was vital because of there was a breach in any part of the wall. It was penetrable and they needed to keep the wall secure. The same is true of the church. We all have a role to play.

Not all of us are called to be kind, and ideas are Hellenized. Some of us are Nehemiah.

Some of us or someone else, but we all live apart to play, finding, developing and using the gifts that God is given us in the church that we shift gears to Nehemiah 8 and a new person. Emergencies been there all along, but that now were going to find out more about him. He has his own book. His name is Ezra he's a priest and he is now leading this great revival.

Nehemiah chapter 8 verse one when the people assembled with unified purpose of the square just inside the Watergate asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the book of the law of Moses what's alerted given for Israel to obey and on October 8. Ezra the priest brought the book of the law before the assembly which included the men and the women and the children old enough to understand he faces square just inside the Watergate from early morning to noon. He read aloud to everyone who could understand the people listen closely to the bulk of the law, and Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform been made for the occasion, and to his right, stood, and there's a bunch of people to do is right and left, let you review those things later because I Pronounce all of those names and address it on the platform in full view of the people when they saw them open the book they all rose to their feet. There so this was a full-blown revival what is revival its restoration.

What is revival its waking up from sleep. Its waking up from sin.

So what are some signs of revival will, according to the text will be looking at number one, you know you're having a revival when people are hungry for God's word again. You know you're having a revival when people are hungry for God's work, let me personalize up for you because the title of this message is how to have a personal spiritual revival. You know you are having a revival when you are hungry for God's word.

Are you hungry for God's word today. I hope so that's a good sign.

If you are these people were hungry for God in the Ezra is the one bringing it to them.

No, he's always been a part of this narrative. His book parallels the book of Nehemiah. When the Jews were originally released from the captivity of Babylon. They were led by Ezra and they rebuilt the temple so things started out well, but people look cool off a little. The passion wasn't really there, as it should have been.

The walls were in total disarray and growing in rubble. So God touches the heart of Nehemiah the Kings cupbearer who leads the second wave of people in as the walls are rebuilt. The people are revitalized and there inspired by an old Ezra would just waiting for what the Lord would do you been praying you been studying the word of God. Ezra 710 says that he studied the law of God to practice it and teacher standards in Israel and he had been praying Ezra 96 is Ezra prayed.

Oh my God, I'm utterly ashamed. I blush to lift up my face to you for our sins are piled higher than our heads and our guild has reached to the heavens. Later, when you look at the godly Ezra is not a lot of sin to identify their but yet he seen our sense.

This brings up a very important point revival starts with you is easy to say, those people are compromising, what about there since he what about you what about me. It starts with me, and realizing that God wants to revive me personally before they can be a revival in the church that was first be a revival in you. Here's my question. Do you need a personal spiritual life, so I don't know how can I tell if I need one let me ask you a few questions was a time in your Christian life. When your passion for Christ was stronger.

If so, you need a personal spiritual revival was there a time in your life when you read God's word more faithfully and more involved in church more than you are now. If so, you need a personal spiritual revival was a time when you shared the gospel more that you look for opportunities to engage people with the message of Jesus Christ and so you need a personal spiritual revival because these are signs of someone who was love.

Their first love, Greg Laurie good counsel today about reevaluating our lives and having a personal spiritual revival and there's more insight coming as he continues the study here on a new beginning. It's a message called how to have a personal spiritual revival and you can get a permanent copy of the full study, just call us at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or downloaded MP3 by going online to harvest.org fresh oregano. Chuck Swindoll is a friend of yours and at one of his quotes that I really like a lot. Is this one. He says we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations and many people are seeing this time as a series of impossible situations.

But I know you're seeing the great opportunities that this time presents our church exit. I guess you could call it making lemons into lemonade to use a clich� but but really it is and I you know disappointment can be God's appointment and so were not seeing God is sent cope with 19 but certainly God is aware of it and God allowed it, and God is using it in a way working despite it. Another way to say it because basically it's been a national wake-up call and people are turning to the Lord like no other time I've seen in over 45 years of ministry.

Let me illustrate in a four-week period with people watching our online service, harvested home we saw 31,000 professions of faith to think Greg get that number wrong. It's 3100. No folks, it's 31,000 because when I that's not just the number of people that are tuned in. That's the number of people who responded know there's around a million plus people tuned in a micro these are people from all around the world. These are older people.

These are younger people. These are men.

These are women.

And guess what a large percentage of them are millennial's about 30% of the people responding our millennial's, and I'm wondering is this a way that will get to see the next spiritual awakening in America through screens.

Here's a generation.

Certainly, the millennial's 100% generation Z that have never known anything but screens in their life they connect with each other through screens and remember reading the stuff that said, many millennial's and Jen's the people would rather text and talk so so here's a generation that connects to the screen that we can criticize that and we can deplore that but here's the truth they're connecting to the screen and there hearing the gospel maybe in ways that they wouldn't connect as well and alive service. Please understand I'm not suggesting we not to live services on when I say live I mean in person with congregations and so forth.

But what I am saying is, God is at work. So let's find this light in the midst of a dark time and give God the glory.

And I've written a book that really I think will help people get up biblical perspective on what were facing together and it's called bringing Christ into your crisis. This is a brand-new book. It deals with how to handle your fear, how to deal with your anxiety how to put the Lord first and all things how to look for the good despite the bad that you might be facing in your home or in other areas of your life and I want to send this to you right now for free.

Really, I just one chilly habit, but if you can support us financially in this time would really appreciate it because the Lord is opening up doors for us here at a new beginning that we've never seen open before to reach people we've never been able to reach before this is truly a significant moment in not just American history. But in global history. This is an opening for the gospel. Let's go to the store together so I appreciate your support for us financially. I really appreciate your prayers for us and I want to send this book as a way of saying thank you. It's called bringing Christ into your crisis. Yeah, that's right. And we have a copy waiting for you. Thank you so much for your investment in this important work of evangelism at this critical time in our nation's history.

But no matter what amount you can invest right now. Please contact us and ask for bringing Christ into your crisis. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here. I wanted tell you about a great way to hear God's word and worship with fellow believers, not only around the nation and around the world. It's called Harvest at Home.

Millions are turning in from all over the planet and tens of thousands of make decisions for Jesus Christ. When I joined just go to our website harvest.org we have our weekend services there. Of course, but we also have great industry. There every single day.

Sometimes it's visiting the message from a harvest Crusade another time. It's a Q&A session were doing.

Maybe it's something my wife is doing for the ladies, and we even feature Christian films will be such as lost boy's life story, Steve McQueen, American icon, and hope are hurting hearts with Jeremy can Nick voyage all that and a lot more harvest.org human resource for family enrichment and spiritual growth.

So join us for harvested home each week, harvest.org when more insights on how we can have a personal spiritual revival, including special insights on the danger of sin and how to resist in our lives. Join us next time and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email devotions and harvest.org