Can We Have Revival in Our Time? | It Starts With Us

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Jonah brought revival because nothing you first start with you. Only the rebar and bring revival today. Pastor Greg Laurie encourages us to take time to examine ourselves so we can go out of workplace and told us about Jesus Christ think sure you're walking lighting service candlelight handle goes out light any of the other hard to pass on the flyer when you got such is the case with the try to ignite someone else's faith with their own dog down today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie make sure revival begins with our own heart and then get pass along nationwide desperately needed go to job her suturing there with me if you would Jonah to my messages. Can we have revival in our time. One of the largest revivals in human history. This gives me hope for our own country because this nation were going to examine together deserve judgment and in a way I feel as though our country deserves judgment you sent to Greg what because knowledge brings responsibility. The only other nation, we would be closely like and she would be the nation of Israel, a nation, also founded on biblical principles that is how we started this country and that knowledge brings responsibility.

I think of the words of Thomas Jefferson who said quote I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just and that his justice cannot sleep forever.

But when you look at the story of a nation that he had a revival just like America needs they have the Bible, the name of this city is Nineveh. Let me make a distinction between the word revival and awakening.

We often use them interchangeably, but I think a distinction can be made. America needs and awakening the church needs a revival and awakening this when a nation comes alive spiritually sees its need for God and turns to God. A revival is when God's people come back to life again. That brings me to point number one what is revival, we need to take the the mysticism out of the word and just see it for what it is. It simply means to bring back to life, to restore to be revived just to wake up from a state of sleep. Sometimes I watch television with my wife and show slug something that to me is will. How shall I put it delicately boring and we just have different tastes in general, so I'll watch whatever it is she's watching them and all. Sometimes those prophets shall think Greg you fell asleep and I wake up to nine in what way do that is not a sin to sleep not to take a little nap, but especially of something is boring but that's the way we are we going to admit were asleep.

We don't think were asleep at the person that is asleep doesn't necessarily know there asleep. It's when you're awake that you can say all well I was asleep.

That's a revival is coming back. It's waking up. This is the kind of faith that God wants us to have. We need of the Christians of the first century. The faith that changed the world. The faith that turned the world upside down. Consider this everywhere. The apostle Paul went there was either a riot or revival, but there was always action and never got boring.

I feel the time is come for the church to start making a disturbance again revival is when God get so sick and tired of being misrepresented. He shows up self and that's what we need to pray for right now that that will happen. So number one revival is waking up sleep point number two. Biblical preaching can bring revival biblical preaching can bring revival and that's illustrated in the story the real a look at in the moment. The story of the prophet Jonah the reluctant prophet, the chicken of the sea. You might say. The original chicken of the sea. He did not want to go and preach to the city of Nineveh, but because he finally went with a little extra persuasion that resulted in the largest spiritual awakening in all of the Bible, God said, go Jonah said no, God said oh God will always have the last word know why did Jonah not want to go to Nineveh because Jonah was well up patriotic Israelites and the enemies of Israel were the Assyrians and their capital was Nineveh. And so when God said to Jonah go preach the Nineveh. He thought this through and he thought I know your nature. Lord, I know how gracious you are in loving you are and how willing you are to pardon my fear is a by going preach of those creepy people you'll forgive them and not judge them.

But if I don't preach. Jonah deduced, then God will judge them and that will be one less enemy we have to deal with, so he did not want to go and it is true.

The Ninevites were really cruel people there were known for their savagery event when the Ninevites of congregation. They would often torture the people they conquered before they executed them. There were known to burn Boys and Girls Club live and do torture others tearing the skin from their bodies and leaving them to die in the scorching sun rather than hide this depravity. They celebrated it and proclaimed it even build monuments to their own cruelty, reminds us a little bit of the Nazis during World War II or in present-day terms binds us a lot of ISIS.

The size of dinner was around 1 million that was a very big city for ancient times there would be about the size of San Francisco. There were the capital of mightiest area which was a superpower of the day and required three days to circle Metropolitan Nineveh and those Ninevites men. They lived large. They enjoyed the best chariots the finest food the most exotic entertainment and they had an extensive business and commercial system like none and all of the world, and in addition they been rolling out for 200 years and they were the reigning superpower on the planet at this time but unbeknownst to them, their days were number would not be all that long until Babylon would come and overtake her. So God was giving to Nineveh one last chance, so God says that Jonah go preach the Nineveh, Jonah's responses were no way they drink Gatorade and Nineveh. These people are wicked. I don't want to go to them and truly, as I said they were wicked, because God said they effectively stink the high heaven. So Jonah, you know the story got on the boat and with the opposite direction and a great storm came and all the sailors on the boat began to cry out to their gods for help bother with them is been a bad storm because most people I know that have their sea legs are pretty common storms, but this was a really scary one, so there crying out to their various deities, hoping one of them is the right one in the think about this mysterious stranger below deck and they bring about.

Of course, that's Jonah. They asked him what the story is one of the storm is here because of me and I'm a Hebrew and I'm running from God, and he told me to go preach the Nineveh and I said no there looking at them and thinking so why would you run from God.

This powerful then Jonah says listen if you throw me over the side of the boat the storm. The really bike over the side to go now.

The Lord brings a great fish to swallow Jonah and inside I have to say, Jonah was stubborn.

He spent days and three nights inside of that stomach it said I budget wrapped in seaweed humidity like you can't believe this stack of them in the face. I'm not barging finally came to her senses and Jonah got a personal revival in the belly of the fish we read about that in Jonah 2 verse one then Jonah then went after three days and three nights that he prayed to the Lord is God from inside the fish to remind you, you can pray pretty much anywhere you can pray from the inside of a fish, you can pray anywhere else he said. I cried to the Lord.

My great trouble and he answered me. I called you from the world of the dead Lord you heard me you throw me into the ocean depths and I say down to the heart of the sea I was buried beneath your wild and stormy way dropped on the verse seven what I lost all hope. I turn my thoughts once more to the Lord my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all of God's mercies, but I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise inside the belly of the beast.

Jonah had revival, meaning he was revived or brought back to life and what God had called him to do so.

Now that he had hope again as he turned his thoughts to the Lord. He was ready to go obey the Lord.

We often make the topic of revival way to mysterious. It's really quite simple.

RA Torrey, an excellent writer.

Among other things, is written on the topic of prayer. Put it this way. He said he had a prescription for revival. Torrey said of a church or a person followed it, they would be revived.

There's three things. Torrey said they should do number one.

He said let a few Christians.

They don't even have to be many get thoroughly right with God if this is not done, the rest will come to nothing.

A few Christians a lot get thoroughly right with God. Number two.

Torrey says let them commit themselves to pray for revival until God opens a windows of heaven and it comes down and number three let them put themselves at the disposal of God for his use as he sees fit. And when the others to Christ. That is all.

Torrey says I given this prescription around the world and in no instant hasn't failed. It cannot fail to Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, emails, phone calls, and even text messages from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of these studies to Greg and listening for a decade now and grow closer to God because of the way he speaks three asked to listen to your podcast. In my free time while driving your teaching through God's word is given me hope to work. There may be some child that they carried me into adulthood. I'm now married, has been, and I listen to getting he served in the Army.

Lima nursing. It's a little silly that we sometimes spend quality time laying on the floor with our dog and listening to your messages as a grown woman and wife Allison thoroughly enjoyed listening to your life I can just see her love for God and others. And I want to thank you both for providing such amazing resources for every stage of my life were so grateful to hear of changed lives to harvest ministries and if you have a story to tell of how the studies touched your life. Email Pastor Greg greg@harvest.org that's great harvest.org will today. Pastor Greg is examining the need for revival in our time, much as Jonah had a need for revival in his time. Pastor Greg continues now to know Jonah is revived and he's ready to do what God has called him to do. And so the fish cruises barks out Jonah. So Jonah was righteous and Ralph and he was revived and recommissioned by God. Listen to this. First, God sent revival to Jonah. Then Jonah brought revival to Nineveh. That's because nothing can happen through you until it first happens to you is to start with you.

You know you said I want to raise my children in the way of the Lord. Pray to that but make sure you're walking in the way of the Lord because some things are caught and other things are taught yellow listen to your bedtime stories and though listen to your little mini sermons. But there also to be watching your life to see if mom or dad live that out. Sure, we can go out into our workplace and tell people to work with us about Jesus Christ. Make sure you're a model of what it is to follow Christ. It can't happen through you to live this first happened to you. That brings us to Jonah chapter 3 let's find what up so it shows up in Nineveh and here's his message. Look at verse four. One day Jonah entered the city and shouted to the crowds. 40 days from now in Nineveh will be destroyed.

That's a very hopeful messages, no promise of forgiveness no way out. Basically you're all going to die.I bet that Shirley would make it different from what happens verse five the people of Nineveh believed God's message from the greatest of the lease and they decided to go without food to wear sackcloth to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying.

He stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes and dressed himself in sackcloth Saturday.

Keep a batches in the king and the nobles that this decree through the city. No one, not even the animals we eat or drink anything at all, so they were asking everyone is required to wear sackcloth and pray earnestly to God.

Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all of their violence. Who can tell. Maybe God will have pity on us and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us and what God saw, they put a stop to their evil ways. He had mercy on them didn't carry out the destruction you threatened stop there. That brings me to point number four. A revived person will be an evangelistic person a revived person will be an evangelistic person, let me turn that around. If you have no desire to share your faith. You need personal revival. Why is a revived person and evangelistic person because their evangelism. As a result of a Christ filled life you want to know an interesting statistic. Most people to come to Christ do it because someone who was young in the faith shared with them eating the 90% of people of the gospel shared with them are from people who have known the Lord for two years or less. If you hear that eating the 90% of people who love the gospel shared with them are from people who have known the Lord for two years or less. Net interesting. Why is that why is it not from 10 years or more. The reason it's from two years or less is these are people who are often still and what we would call the first love relationship with Jesus Christ.

There still discovering what God is done for them there still excited about it. But as we get older and the faith and we walked to the Lord for a time. Sometimes we start taking these things for granted.

You know what that means. It means we need revival. We need to be brought back to the place we once were. We realize how important it is to share with others what Jesus is done for us.

Listen you want to experience revival in your life, get a brand-new believer next to you and hang out with them to. Here's a problem if you hang around with a bunch of jaded Christians. Some would even become cynical and after church, you critique the sermon you need some new friends hang out with some new believers are hearing this over the first time that are fired up and they have questions about you digging back into scripture again. It's the best thing you can do your own spiritual help you stabilize them and they reenergize you everybody benefits but you see, sometimes we get away from that and we need to have a revival of that brings me to my last point number five even revived people need to be revived again even revived people need to be revived again. Why do I say this well here's a thought some spiritual awakening. Thousands of people are believing God is not judging them. How does Jonah react busy dancing in the streets to little happy dance no he's angry he's upset.

In fact, he's hopping mad look at Jonah 4 verse one. This change of plans. Upset Jonah became very angry and complained of the Lord about it, saying, didn't I say before I left home you would do this, Lord. This is why run away to Tarsus. I know you're a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans or destroying these people don't just kill me now Lord, I'd rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted, is going to happen when a brat look at how the Lord reacts Lord replied right for you to be angry about this easy.

Jonah is just having a pity party. I wanted to see the structure vacuum is so excited he pulled up a ringside seat to watch it.

He had his popcorn and his milk duds and it was going to be great is going to put it up on Snapchat and Instagram and Facebook and everything else. Nothing happened. Judgment didn't come so is angry Lord is like, what is wrong with you son. I spared these people you should be rejoicing. You should not be set to the prom with Jonah is he was preoccupied with himself. Here's a man who survived three days and three nights in officious stomach and then repent some praise and preaches the truth of the people of Nineveh. Amanda God uses they will bring about a spiritual awakening. And yet this guy falls into sin. It's a good reminder to matter how long you've known the Lord, you can still mess up no matter how long you've known the Lord, you still may need to be revived again revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be revival is being in the bloom of first love for a lifetime.

Working closely with the Lord know you can always have those initial emotions you cat is a new convert anymore. The new can of butterflies in your stomach like when you first met your husband or wife to be.

I still felt the same way toward my wife is IPO. When I first met her and I told her I will like this.

My head feels a little dizzy just because I'm in a heart attack or something that's unrealistic, but your love can grow deeper your love can grow stronger. That's how we are to be followers of Jesus. Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God and then it's long obedience in the same direction. Listen only God can send an awakening to America will revival can happen right here right now where I need to do were members. Second Chronicles 714 set up my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way. Then God says all care from heaven forgive their sin and heal their land.

That can happen for you now the people of Nineveh repented of their sin.

They call it what it was. God sent his healing. God can do the same for you. We need to get back to that again. Greg Lord important encouragement today about revival how it's needed and how to get it started and he'll follow up on what we've heard today as we close today's addition of a new beginning investor Greg, I'm not sure of ever ask you this.

You know pastors are the go to encouragers when a life or death crisis comes up. Yes, where do pastors go when a crisis comes up. Obviously, God's word but can they go to someone with skin on well I hope they can. I know that when my son died 13 years ago I sought out counsel and help from many wonderful men of God people I got to know, just as a father who lost his son being a preacher doesn't give you a leg up on crisis or tragedy think it would, but you're still just a human being. Remember pastors those that serve administrate their people just like you they hurt just like you do and sometimes it's hard for them because they don't have anywhere to go. Thankfully, I have a wide circle of very godly friends that I can turn to and I did turn to and I told them I need help I need to hear the Scripture. And please pray for me in and I reached out I think one of the problems Dave is something some people are hurting as they isolate they separate themselves and that's a huge mistake.

You know we weren't meant to do life alone. We need one another, were designed that way and I think it's very important for us to give help to others when they needed but also to receive help when you yourself need it. So I've a great resource that's going to encourage you that's going to bring hope to you and it's written by my friend Tony Evans. Now y'all know Tony you listen to Christian radio is a fantastic radio program called urban alternative and Tony is just such a powerful communicator of God's word and so he's written this book with members of his family's written this book with his children, so he's got his daughter Crystal and his daughter Priscilla along with the sons Anthony and Jonathan.

They all got together and wrote this book called divine disruption subtitled holding on the faith when life breaks your heart and it focuses on the departure of their mother, Lois J heaven. She had such a profound influence on all of them took a really honest book. It's candidate talk about the struggles the pain they're going through but it's a hopeful book and appoint you to Christ. I know this book will be a blessing to you or maybe someone you know that is recently lost a loved one again.

The title is divine disruption by Tony Evans and his children.

I will send you a copy of this book for your gift of any size. Let me tell you the reason we offer these great spiritual resources as we want to strengthen you in your faith, but also this is a way for you to help us do what we do, which is reaching people with the teaching of God's word and with the proclamation of the gospel. I know you believe in that you're listening to us which you help us to do that even more effectively. So whatever gift you send will be used. To help us to continue in our mission and will rush you in return your own copy of this great new book divine disruption by Pastor Tony Evans and his children it's right it's powerful encouragement from five gifted communicators and just the tip.

Chapter 11 has some of the most powerful teaching from Dr. Evans you want to take some notes that you may want to post some of those thoughts on social media again will send divine disruption your way to thank you for your investment in keeping Pastor Greg studies coming your way. Each day we would be able to continue without the generosity of those who partner with us were completely listener supported so you can connect with us online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime of the day or night at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300, the world tells us to find happiness. We need the latest electronic gizmo for her new car to buy a certain miracle diet product.

There are so many products that promise happiness. Why aren't all of his wildly happy because they don't work next time. Pastor Greg takes us to the Bible to tell us what does work, but before you go today. Pastor Greg closes our discussion of revival.

This way I wonder right now the Lord has spoken to your heart and I wonder if you feel as though you need to have a spiritual revival. I wonder if you would been revived need to be revived again same.

I don't care about lost people.

I don't have a passion for the word of God like I once had. I don't really care that much about prayer, but I want to be revived. I want to get back to that place where God wants me to be, or maybe the Lord has spoken to you, and there are some wicked things you need to turn from listen if you want to do it.

You pray this prayer out loud after me mean it from your heart. I believe it's a prayer that God will hear and definitely a prayer that God will answer. Pray this after me now, Lord Jesus, I need revival. I need to wake up. I need to be refreshed.

I want to be passionate for you. I want to be on fire for you. I want to greater hunger for the word of God, a greater desire to pray stronger burden for nonbelievers.

Lord revived me roof freshly fill me with the Holy Spirit right now. I receive payment I bless you that phrase after everybody thinks you're listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God