It’s Time for Another Jesus Revolution! | Sunday Message

Hey there Victor, listening to the Greg Laurie part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org all right. Let's grab our Bibles and turn to Revelation chapter 3 Revelation chapter 3 and the title of my message is it's time for another Jesus revolution. How many of you agree with that. It's time. So if you watch the news like I do or you read a news feed, you know that America is at the crossroads right now. Literally our nation is unraveling before our very eyes. Why, because we have rejected God says in his word. You know, the closest parallel time that I can think of to today would be the late 60s early 70s. Yes, I've been around that long. I was born in 1952 Elvis was still singing Marilyn Monroe was on the screen. You know I was present, you probably never even heard of Isaac, and in all these decades that have come and gone since then.

I look good today and I especially look at this young generation today and reminds me a lot about what is happening in the late 60s early 70s we have a drug epidemic that this weekend sweeping our nation a big issue that is a problem today is spent in all and there are 300 Sentinel deaths every single day with this old drug revolution.

This whole stupid mentality propagated in the 60s up turn on soon in drop out that for it all started, and we basically smoked a lot of marijuana and took LSD. Here's what I find ironic those other two most popular drugs again. Right now the pot uses up so much now more people smoke pot then cigarettes. It's become really mainstream with edibles and all of the things legalizing that many states and now expert for the cannabis use disorder that causes psychosis and addiction. So our young people have all of this happening to them in any web, social media, that's like pouring gasoline on a fire so everything is amplified in many ways it's not as bad as it seems what it's right there in your face, self-harm among young people is up 334%. Overdoses up on hundred and 19% anxiety up 94% depression 84% of the US suicide rate is increased 30% since 2000 and tripled for young girls this generation meets up. Here's what I want to say or not can it take this lying down.

We are going to stand up and do everything we can hear in our best to reach this generation. I know other churches are doing this to and I applaud everyone that is all I can speak for is this church working to do everything we can to change this course and call people to Christ and pray for a mighty spiritual awakening to sweep our nation and beyond that we don't decide when a revival happened. God does, we can make it happen. We can organize it, but we can agonize for it in prayer we can prepare the ground. Maybe I should restated we can pre-prayer the ground get our hearts ready revival starts with you.

It starts with me. It starts with us as a church, but it begins right where we are. I was having a conversation with Pastor Chuck Smith some years ago and for those of you that don't know Chucky is called the father of the Jesus movement, and he was just that man that God used them in the show he was seen from the Jesus revolution film that will explain it many ways do you, but he was a man he was willing to take a risk, but he was right there at the epicenter of this great awakening.

I once asked Chuck Chuck. Do you think we'll ever see another Jesus movement. He paused for a moment. He said, would you stop asking me stupid questions no events that note he should've said that because I always was asking them questions and he said Greg I'm not sure if were desperate enough, that was some years ago. I think we may be desperate enough right now will really gonna start seriously praying about this, Psalm 85 success will you not revive us again that your people may rejoice in you at the prayer of the psalmist Lord, revive us again. I love these words from Habakkuk chapter 3 verse two where he says I've heard all about you, Lord, I filled with thought by the amazing work you have done in this time of deep need revive your work as you did in days gone by. So I know you that are younger you think will that's cool, but that was then and this is now your friend should be Lord, do it again.

It's our responsibility as those who are no older to pass this on to the next generation in Joel 13 it says tell your children about it. Let your children tell their children and their children. The next generation by generation.

One of our theme songs was for every young just isn't work anymore. You know, we've gone from acid rock to acid reflux. You know the who the great grandmother who you know that song talk about my generation. They've updated it to talk about my medication. See that's and you know the pedal so maybe you've heard of the Beatles.

Well that Ringo Starr is out touring right now is in his 80s and instead of singing I get by with a little help from my friends. He's thinking I get by with a little help from dependence. So these are the jokes on's helmet seriously, you know, we've had our day and now it's time for the next generation to have their own spiritual awakening.

Here's what's amazing the Jesus movement was not a political revolution. Though some call for that summer calling for today. It was not a moral revolution. It was a Jesus revolution. In fact, it's of all things. It was time magazine that adopted Jesus revolution. This is an original copy of the magazine. We then call it that we called it the Jesus movement but time saw it was more than a movement they sought was a revolution in the word revolution means up evil change means turning around and rotating a revolution I'm going to demonstrate a revolution get ready so can be exciting, pray, don't fall. Here we go revolution that's a revolution. Thank you.

Returning to something that's what it is and so what we were returning to or returning to New Testament Christianity were returning to the faith that was given to us from the Lord practiced by the early church. So this great movement happened when no one can pinpoint exactly probably 1969, 1970, and all these people started coming to Christ was happening all around the country, but the epicenter was California. I want to see it happen again in California because our state is so lame right now I want something good to come out of California with the number one export of California is right now. Californians I know this because I got of the places are all going to I just did a crusade not long ago in Boise, Idaho.

There were so many Californians move their I said to them. My job is to preach to the Californians to come back with me home again. They were very excited about that. But that would be great if we had a new export another Jesus, revolution, Lord, do it again and do it here. We would pray God is given us a tool. A tool that we've never really had before and it's a really amazing tool called a movie and adjourn or when it is become a good friend of mine came to me around seven years ago. We had lunch and he had this magazine with them is in his 30s. He's a great filmmaker. He's made films like Jurassic Park jaws know you that because lives.

But you know he made. I can only imagine how many view of the scene.

I can only imagine great film Woodlawn. I still believe American underdog very talented Christian guy who makes films so his little film studio called kingdom story company has become a part of Lions gate which is a major Hollywood film studio and also he came to me seven years ago onset. I want to make a movie about this. This story this Jesus movement. Any heard that I was around back then I said yes. I told my story. We got to know each other. He tried to make it there were things that interrupted it in that wasn't made as quickly as we are hoping that would be made but now seven years later it's done. It's been refined right now, but the movie is done and I think the timing is 100% perfect for what were at right now to his eternal credit. Pastor Chuck Smith stepped out of his comfort zone.

He let that crazy guy come preach in his church and before you knew it. Christian music was beginning Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee or like Nitro meeting glycerin. It was an explosive result. God used both of them and you know were so divided in America were even divided in the church and were divided over second and third tier issues and it's time for us to come together and pray together and work together and do something to change what's happening.

There's an old country preacher named Vance. After that, once said, if were too busy using our sickles on each other, will miss the harvest they sometimes were debating all these things when there's a lost world out there.

And of course the late 60s early 70s was a time of division as well is so bad right now that I read that 43% of Americans think were headed toward a Civil War.

This is crazy. We need God and we need another spiritual awakening.

One writer put it this way and I quote of all the sleeping people will wake up of all the lukewarm people will fire up of all the dishonest people will confess. Of all the disgruntled people will cheer up of all these strange people will make up of all the gossipers will shut about two soldiers will stand.

Of all the dry bones will shake up of all the church people will pray then we can have a revival well said right formula to the breakdown in culture were quick to point the finger in Hollywood. It's Hollywood. All or it's because of these politicians in Washington DC and they may all play a role in it to some degree, but when God sees the breakdown of the nation. He doesn't point his prick your finger at the White House. He pointed at his house. Second Chronicles 714 God says if my people, which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then God says. Then I will hear them and I will answer this prayer and I will forgive their sins and heal their land. You know we all gravitate toward the heal the land part.

Yes Lord, heal our land. God says my people. I means you mean to me that means I told her also evil look of the horrible things Roderick got maybe it's true what about you do need to humble yourself and seek his face and turn from your wicked ways. Do I need to do that.

That's a prescription for revival. According to Scripture that you're taking notes here is point number one of my message. The Holy Spirit was at work, the Holy Spirit was at work.

There was a sense of expectancy and those services back in those days no one was ever late for church right sometimes were late for church.

We can arrive late. We leave early know there's a sense of what is God going to do and this is what set the early church in the motion. It was the holy spirit God's Holy Spirit wants to work in your life. The question is do you want him to work. The Bible says that we should quench not the spirit so to quench means to extinguish something like extinguishing a fire like when you go camping in the camping trip is done and you extinguish the fire. Sort of reminds me of the beach.

My favorite time of going to the beaches right after I arrived in right when I leave right. The beat seems like such a great idea. When you get there you layout your talent and you get out your booking and then you know you got your sunscreen about your sunglasses and this is going to be great and five-minute spots in the whole beach is empty and some person comes and said Sir tell right next two years as I can at Arby's tell right next to yours and it even touches your tell. I think that's against the law and then and then starts getting hot and you're sweating now another person sets up their little Ford and now people are putting tents up on the beach, full-blown tents, they set a tent up in front of you and of course the guys having a conversation on his cell phone on speaker so your hearing the whole conversation. It is getting more crowded. And then this eagle flies off with your lunch, and then they come back for your small Google which is in that big of a loss, but you still want to go home again so that happiest moment of getting there. Leaving right but you know, if you build a campfire in the PG need to extinguish it. Sometimes God's Holy Spirit will not you should do this. Why don't you say that whether to go here and we say no that's quenching the Spirit to God wants to fill you with the holy spirit. The Bible says don't be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord so love the Lord says go to this instead do that. Don't get drunk. No-brainer don't do that. Don't waste your time doing that but be filled with the spirit so we don't need the spirit we need the Holy Spirit empowering us, filling us another earmark of the early days of the Jesus movement that I might out of the early church is there was a belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is coming again. I believe that we are seeing signs accelerating right now reminding us that Bible prophecy is literally being fulfilled before our very eyes, and I believe that the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the rapture of the church that summer caught up to meet the Lord in the air in a moment, in the twinkling of an know if you believe this, how many of you believe that surgery and so few believe this, it will affect you in the way that you live.

The Bible says he that has a soap that is the hope of the Lord return purifies himself, even as he is pure. So like when you were little kid, maybe you got in trouble and your mother gave you this ominous warning, just wait until your father gets home, so now you're dreading dad's arrival, poor dad. He does not think I'm always working. No wait until dad gets home. Let's say you are a good little boy or girl and her daddy's car pull up the driveway you run degree them see the ideas if I'm right with God. I get excited about, and I look forward to the return of Jesus have I not right with God.

It might fill me with a certain sense of dread and I want to shift gears now over to Revelation 3 because these are the words of Jesus to the church of the last day the church living in the time before the return of the Lord.

Revelation 3 verse seven and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David. He who opens and no one shots you shots and no one opens I know your works have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it. You have a little strength you've kept my word and you've not denied my name. Here's my third point Jesus is given to us an unprecedented open door verse seven he opened Sonoma and shuts the door and the Bible is a symbol of opportunity in the key is a symbol of authority all talk about this in second Corinthians to what he says I came to troll asked to preach the gospel of Jesus because it door was open to me of the Lord to God opens doors what is. I mean, it just means a conversation you're having with someone, all of them so there's a moment, there's an open door. They bring up something you will go you want to go through that door with the gospel in Jesus as the key. He opens the doors, but he has the keys provide the keys they would be lost by now.

I'm always losing keys I lose everything I have those little Apple air tags on everything the other day I lost my wallet and I didn't try to drag on my air target started beeping.

It was like right behind me on the chair to come out. It's embarrassing, but Jesus doesn't lose the keys he wants to open these doors not open the door for Chuck Smith. He walked through Atlas and there are some things only God can do. And there are some things only we can do. God will open the door. Only you only brown you fell asleep I saw that know you that she's contemplating only you Bramley only you, Larry in the church.

We want our doors open.

We don't want to put up a wall or God is put in a British we want to be a steppingstone, not a stumbling block to people coming to Christ.

It should never be difficult for people to come to Christ. A couple may show up at church are living together outside of marriage, they should come in here. The gospel someone might come there strung out on drugs or booze they need to hear the gospel they might be gay. They need to hear the gospel they may dress in a way that makes some people uncomfortable. Our job is to call them to Christ. I don't say clean your life up and come to Christ. I see come to Christ and he will clean your life up that's over here for as I've said so many times the church should be little for sinners, not a museum for St. so if you go to if you go to the ER.

The hospital and say to who are all these sick people there sick people in the hospital. There are people believe the doctor that's with the church is where here is a hospital for sinners, so let me tell you little bit about myself I was raised in a broken home. My mom was married and divorced seven times. She was a raging alcoholic. She pretty much passed out every night from drinking. It was a home filled with constant domestic violence every single night and so I went on a search when I was a kid I thought there has to be more to life than what I'm living. I heeded my life.

I was looking for meaning I was looking for purpose, but I didn't know where to find so now it's a late 60s old drug cultures, erupting, and I'm thinking maybe that's where it's at. So I started smoking marijuana every single day and I started seeing my creative abilities just drain out of me. My personality was changing. It was a very negative thing and yes it was a gateway drug that opened the door up to other things. So I experimented with LSD and one day I took acid or dropped us of this, we used to say that I completely flipped out. I had a bad trip and we rent a car and we had a kilo of marijuana in the trunk. That's a lot. By the way, and we working to sell it we were going to smoke it ourselves so stupid we were. The car spun out of control. I was flipping out and God got hold of me to. Here's my last point in my message God is given us the power and the resources we need. So were looking at this church of Philadelphia the church of the last days. Jesus as I opened the door before you, that no man can shut, and then he says in verse eight of Revelation 3 you a little string. By the way, that's not good and not a negative comment about its weakness but a commendation of its strength. In other words, this is a church coming back to life. I member when I got Kovic. How many of you have had Kovic out in the fun. Anyway, I got way back when I was way back when I got it so far back it became a news story. I have no idea why, but I got Kovic and I remember that, you know, I didn't know what was going to be like, and I was feverish and I was lethargic and I was tired usually have a lot of energy and I remember I thought I'm better now that I got up and down wasn't better. I just wanted to sit there and finally my strength started to return and I got stronger and stronger. Next thing you know I'm eating donuts okay so this is the picture here. It's a sick person coming back to life. It's a church coming back to life again and awakened shirts getting back to its roots and this is what we all want to do but starts individually. Just think about you. Was there a time in your life where you were stronger spiritually than you are right now. If there was, you can return to that we can talk about revival all day long we can talk about an awakening in America all day long, but it starts with you as an individual and wouldn't you used to do when you were a younger Christian will I would just that you read your Bible every day and I would just venture to say you probably got a prayer life and I bet you were regular church but I bet you share your faith.

Do you still do those things.

She sometimes we have a breakdown of the basics and we wonder what is going wrong. It's not rocket science people.

We need to get back into those things again listen if you want to see a revival to revival like things. Let's say that I'm talking to a married couple and see I don't see your all none of you have your spouses here, but I'll use you as an example, gave Jabez a wife named Tiffany and let's just say that you came to me and said Greg we've we've lost the spark in our marriage and Tiffany said I'll give want to do is play the guitar and sing and II would say, won't you guys listen instead of waiting for the emotion, whether to go back and do the romantic things you used to do when you first started going out in a just go back into the home. We don't feel it doesn't matter if you feel it.

Just do it.

Emotions will catch up say can be true of our relationship with God. I'm waiting for some big massive encounter with God. Some emotional experience that may happen great when it does, but often it's just getting back into doing those revival like things again and then I will personally have spiritual revival. Let me close with this Greg me that guy up on the screen.

It's a movie version of me. But the story is true. I knew nothing about God all literally I knew about Jesus was. I'd seen his movies and I like that was it. No one ever share the gospel with me.

No one ever read the Bible to be for the most part and then I heard the gospel for the first time from that guy Lonnie that you saw a portrayed on the screen and in that moment, I give my life to Christ and the statement that got my attention and turned me around was when Lonnie said Jesus said your for me or against me.

I looked around at the other Christians that will there definitely forum. I'm not one of them is that mean I'm against God. I didn't want to be against God. I just didn't know what it all meant. And I thought the Christians role a little bit crazy. Maybe we are but maybe were the most sane people in the room and the world's going crazy. That's a true I try to phone number, size, what if it's true what if Jesus is real. What if he can change my life because of my upbringing the cynicism I developed as a result, I quickly dismissed that there's no way it's true. No way it could work for me. Talking about but what if it is true I responded, it can't be true and that Lonnie said if you want to accept Christ get up and walk forward right now it's different than the movie.

I know I did it before the baptism in real life.

I walk Florida J it's okay I got say that's all that matters and that was the day I walk forward and give my life to Jesus and I want to close this special Jesus revolutions service with an opportunity for you to believe in Jesus. Your life can be changed by Christ just as surely as mine was just as surly as every person on this platform is had their life change of the people sitting around you. Jesus died on the cross for your sin. He paid the price for all the wrongs you've done, you'll come and forgive you and come and live in your heart. If you've never asked Jesus to come in your life you can do it right here right now. Let's pray father we pray for anyone that is joined us if they don't know you. If they don't have a relationship with you. If you're not sure they're going to heaven when they die which you speak to their hearts and help them come to you right now nobler heads about and her eyes are closed and were praying. Maybe there somebody here that would say I want a relationship with Jesus Christ. I want him to forgive me of my sin.

I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven. Pray for me.

I'm ready to say yes to Jesus today if that's your desire.

If you want Christ to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die wherever you are loved your hand at the let me pray for you raise your hand up Iraq and see it but I'll pray for you today. God bless you. God bless you anybody.

Wherever you are. Raise your hand up, let me pray for you. God bless you. God bless you some of you watching the screen during harvest Orange County harvestable Lonnie you crazy people sitting outside in the courtyard.

We love you, you can raise your hand as well that I want everyone of you that is, raise your hand. I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me say Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior that died on the cross for my sin I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and my Lord is my God, my friend. Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering it in Jesus name I pray, amen.

Everybody, thanks for 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